Samsung Electronics today introduced the industry's first AC Direct step-dimming LED linear replacement for T8 and T12 fluorescent tubes at the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Convention 2014. Designed for use in commercial environments, the new LED Tube (L-Tube) offers an alternative to traditional fluorescent lamps to maximize energy efficiency and lower facility maintenance costs. It will be on display in booth #2112 at Chicago's McCormick Place West from September 27-30.

Unlike the current market offering, this industry-first LED Tube does not require an external driver for dimming; rather, it's built directly into the lamp and can easily operate with existing switches. Additional features include:

AC Direct three level step-dimming ranging from 100 percent to 40 percent to 15 percent

Up to 50,000 hour life providing maintenance free operation

Wide beam angle of up to 220 degrees

Up to 140 lumens per watt, ranked as one of the best on the DLC qualified products list

UL, DLC and NSF (FDA) certifications

No mercury or hazardous materials, providing savings on recycling costs

No emission of UV or IR radiation1

"The new Samsung LED Tube Series provides an uncompromised upgrade from fluorescent technology, featuring a combination of maximum efficiency and minimal power consumption that is well suited for lighting commercial spaces, from hospitals to parking garages," said Pooja Vig, Director of Marketing at Samsung's Consumer Business Division. "We're proud to be the first company to introduce step dimming to an AC Direct product, providing businesses with a seamless retrofit solution for energy and cost savings."

The Samsung LED Tube Series has been installed in several marquee commercial (corporate, education, healthcare and industrial) environments. Chicago's Metropolitan Tower replaced more than 500 fluorescent lamps in its indoor parking garage with Samsung LED Tubes, experiencing significant energy and cost savings.

"By making the transition from fluorescent to LED with the Samsung L-Tube, we were able to reduce our total system wattage from 185W to 36W and our annual energy expenses by nearly $20,000," said Richard Vicens, Property Manager, Metropolitan Tower. "In addition, utility rebates from ComED helped reduce the payback to less than two years. This product has not only resulted in significant cost savings across our current facilities and maintenance budgets, but will continue to bring us a return on investment for many years to come."

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Provided by Samsung