Sharp Corporation has developed a series of new LED Lightings, including the "oblong" type that features a brightness equivalent to the fluorescent lamp fixtures*¹ that are currently the main lighting in factories, offices and commercial spaces, and the "downlight" type with a brightness equivalent to a standard 150-watt incandescent light lamp. Sharp will introduce a total of 11 models into the Japanese market, including four oblong, one square, and six downlight models.

Today, looking at a breakdown of the amount of electric energy consumed by lighting in Japan, business and commercial applications typified by factories and offices consume roughly double the amount used for residential home use*². Thus, there is increasing demand for replacement lighting options with a view toward switching to the next generation of lights that offer high environmental performance and which do not use hazardous substances such as mercury.

LED lights, which have low energy consumption compared to incandescent lamps and fluorescent tubes, and which feature outstanding environmental performance including a long product life and being mercury-free, are expected to serve as the next generation of lighting sources. Sharp has been involved in the development and commercialization of LED devices for more than 30 years. Sharp has been working to take full advantage of its know-how nurtured over that time to enhance the brightness of these devices and assemble them into modules in order to develop new lighting fixtures, undertake mass production, and bring new LED Lightings to the marketplace.

The "oblong" lightings being introduced at this time feature an elongated form factor and deliver brightness equivalent to conventional fluorescent light fixtures equipped with twin 40-W straight-tube fluorescent lamps thanks to an luminaire efficacy*³ of 74 lumens/watt, the highest in the industry for LED lighting*⁴. They also offer a high level of energy efficiency, consuming about 25% less power than conventional fluorescent fixtures. Both the oblong model and its companion "square" type model, which is ideal for conference rooms and reception areas, provide even, uniform illumination thanks to diffused surface-emitting light technology. Further, the "downlight" line-up includes a model with light output equivalent to a conventional 150-watt incandescent bulb, the highest brightness in the industry for LED Lightings. These downlight models are suggested for use in commercial spaces such as shopping centers and department stores, as well as hotel lobbies and entrance foyers of business offices.

LED Lightings manufactured by Sharp will be adopted as the main lighting in all plants to be located within the "Manufacturing Complex for the 21^st Century" now under construction in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, and scheduled to begin operations by March of 2010. This will represent the world's largest collection of LED Lightings installed in buildings on this scale*⁴. Using this achievement as a springboard, Sharp will be working in the future to further expand its LED lighting business into factories, offices and commercial spaces around the globe.