“Progress Lighting believes now is the time for LED systems to illuminate our homes and not 2-5 years from now like most industry analysts predict,” said Jim Decker, Vice President of Brand Management for Progress Lighting.
The two companies will use Nichia and Cree as their primary suppliers of warm white LED sources with efficacies exceeding 40 lumens per watt.
The joint development focuses on creating high-efficacy interior products that exceed rigorous energy standards outlined in California Title 24 and comply with Title 22 California Household Hazardous Waste Disposal laws. This venture addresses energy consumption and lifestyle issues that will benefit the environment, as well as consumers across North America.
“Progress will offer a home lighting fixture solution that incorporates warm color, dimmable LED lighting fixtures that appear and operate like incandescent sources," added Decker, explaining that the company will be using Permlight’s breakthrough LED technology as the core of the new product line.
“Permlight’s patented low-cost thermally managed LED technology coupled together with Progress Lighting’s leading presence in the residential lighting market is a recipe for bringing cost-effective, energy-efficient and environmentally safe LED lighting systems to the home construction market,” commented Manuel Lynch, President and CEO of Permlight.
“We have demonstrated repeatedly that the time for LEDs to light our homes is now, together with Progress Lighting we will make it known that this is the light source from now on,” added Lynch.
The life span of an LED is in excess of 30,000 hours, compared with 1,000 hours for an incandescent lamp, 2,000-4,000 hours for halogen, and 8,000-10,000 hours for a compact fluorescent lamp, said Decker. "One of the greatest advantages to this technology is an LED lighting system can last as long as some roofs," he said. "Think about not having to change a lamp for 15-20 years."
Permlight’s patent pending technology enables the fixture to be dimmed with a standard dimmer, which cannot currently be done with compact fluorescents.
Details about the HI-EF line and the launch date were not disclosed, although Lynch said that it would be "much sooner than later and a much larger offering than most would expect. The complete product offering will be available through Progress Lighting distributors at launch."
