As part of its ongoing green initiatives, Alfred University has installed LED lighting throughout its newest residence hall, "Ann's House."

"Ann's House was constructed as part of Alfred University's commitment to becoming a greener, more sustainable campus," said Alfred University's president Charles M. Edmondson, in a statement. "The widespread use of LED lighting around our campus is certainly something we're looking at as we continue to find new ways to reduce our carbon footprint."

Ann's House was designed to be certified at the Silver level or above by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.

Ann's House is fficially opened for the Fall 2009 semester and is the school's first environmentally-friendly dormitory featuring more than 175 Cree LED lights and 18 LEDDynamics EverLED TR fluorescent tube replacements throughout the 15,000 square-foot hall.

In addition to lighting the 48 student bedrooms, hallways, lounges and stair towers, Ann's House also features LED televisions, high efficiency boilers and instant hot water heaters, natural stone and cement composite siding and low VOC (volatile organic compound) materials used for flooring, paints and building materials.

The building is equipped with solar panels to provide approximately 8 percent of the electrical demand during daylight hours.

"LED lighting can be an effective way to help commercial buildings like Ann's House gain valuable LEED points," said Deb Lovig, Cree LED programs manager. "Joining Cree's LED University program makes Alfred University a model for other schools looking to deploy LED lighting."

Other LED University participants include North Carolina State University; Marquette University; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Arkansas; Madison Area Technical College; Joliet Junior College; Notre Dame; University of California, Davis; University of Miami; University of Alaska at Anchorage and Tianjin Polytechnic University in China.

Alfred University was founded in 1836 and is the second oldest co-educational college in the United States. The university has been recognized in a National Science Foundation study as one of ten small research institutions with an exemplary record of technology transfer and commercialization.