In Title 20, California set a standard for LED light bulbs that they must have a 90+ CRI and 90+ R9 light quality. Several companies have expressed concerns that the light quality requirement would force manufacturers to compromise on efficacy or increase the cost of LED bulbs. Cree reported performing a demonstration that showed an LED with high-quality light that Cree says does not compromise on efficacy or increase cost.
The lab-based demonstration was of a single high-power LED that delivered 1,587 lumens at 134 lumens-per-watt (LPW). The 2700K LED achieved maximum output of 1587 lumens at 350 mA with 90+ CRI, and 90+R9. According to Cree, the lab-based LED result boasts a similar color quality to an incandescent light bulb.
Cree says that the demonstration showed a 25 percent increase in lumens per watt (LPW) compared to production LEDs of similar color quality under real-world operating conditions. Cree expects this performance milestone coupled with the company’s latest SC5 Technology™ platform will lead to LED systems with improved performance, lower cost and better light quality.
“Today, advancing LED technology goes beyond just increasing LPW,” said John Edmond, Cree co-founder, and director of advanced optoelectronics. “Cree is also focused on improving the spectral content and the efficacy of warmer color temperatures while pursuing tremendous opportunities to increase LPW at real-world operating conditions. This R&D result continues Cree’s high power LED technology innovation and provides a path to better lighting experiences at the lowest overall system cost.”
Cree asserts that LEDs often compromise efficacy to offer excellent light quality. Therefore, high CRI and high R9 LEDs frequently have lower system performance or increased system cost, Cree said.
Cree’s claims that its demonstration provides a no-compromise solution that enables high-quality light at the lowest cost. The company points to the example of upgrading a current 60W LED replacement lamp with average light quality (3000K CCT and 80 CRI) to incandescent-like light quality (2700K CCT, 90+ CRI, and 90+ R9) with the same light output and power consumption levels at no additional cost.
