Habitat for Humanity broke ground on the world’s first all-LED home in Durham, NC. Construction began just a few days ago, and the home is expected to be completed in October.
It’s the first Habitat home to begin construction after Cree, Inc. signed its three-year, $1.5 million pledge to provide LED downlights to all Habitat homes built in the US. The LED lighting is expected to save the future homeowners about $250 in electricity costs per year!
Hopefully, Habitat for Humanity will release photos once construction and lighting installation is complete. We’ll keep you posted.
LED residential lighting is not currently common because it’s still relatively expensive when compared to incandescent and CFL bulbs. However, in the past year alone, the cost of manufacturing LEDs has fallen from $80 per 1000 lumens to $40 per 1000. Prices are expected to continue to drop as manufacturing costs decline. Some reports predict that the LED market will explode in growth over the next decade, capturing 50% of the lighting market by 2010.
How long do you think it will be before all the lighting in your home is LED?
I have used the CREE LED Down lights and they are awesome. Outdoor lighting is another place where LEDs will continue to decrease in price and become more practical. Exciting!