Cree, Inc just announced that its LED downlights have qualified for both commercial and residential EnergyStar Certification. The commercial EnergyStar qualifications are much tougher than the residential qualifications, as products are required to last 40 times longer.

"Being rated for both commercial and residential applications is especially significant since more than three-quarters of the LED lighting we are deploying today is in commercial installations," said Neal Hunter, president, Cree LED Lighting. "Cree also provides the highest color rendering of any ENERGY STAR-qualified LED downlight. In stark contrast to compact fluorescent devices that contain toxic mercury, Cree’s non-toxic LED fixtures deliver better efficiency and render colors such that the user doesn’t have to compromise their lighting experience."