"I would really like to serve as a leader within the IHOP community by demonstrating success within our restaurants and expand the LED program nationally," Paul Belle, VP of Wilhelm Restaurant Group, Inc. said. "It is normal to invest a little more in a new technology, but it's worth it. Somebody has to be first and I'm glad to be on the cutting edge."

Project Highlights

• The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) franchise in Northern Virginia, owned and operated by Wilhelm Restaurant Group, Inc., has adopted Cree LED lighting products as the preferred lighting for all existing and future restaurants.
• Since testing began in January, 2008:
  • More than 100 retrofit LR6 six-inch LED downlights have been installed in two locations,
  • Six additional locations have retrofit plans in progress, and
  • Construction plans for a new IHOP have been modified to specify Cree LR6 LED downlights.
• According to Belle, the IHOP employees prefer the LED lighting as it is very bright, easy on their eyes and enhances the general appearance of the food. “The light is not offensive like CFLs can be; the LEDs give off a warm, white light,” Belle said. "The best way I can describe it is to compare the light to a high-definition television. Everything under the LED lighting appears to have a better clarity, like HDTV versus standard definition."
• Cree's LED lighting products use approximately 85 percent less energy and last up to 50 times longer than incandescent lights, and they use 50 percent less energy and last up to five times longer than CFLs.
• Previously, lighting products in the industry fell short in color quality, efficiency or longevity. Cree has created a dimmable LED lighting solution that leads the industry in a combination of all three critical elements.