Entire Line of Cree LED Troffer Replacements Qualified by DesignLights™ Consortium

Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE), a market leader in LED lighting, announces its entire family of LED-based troffer replacements, including the latest Cree CR series of troffers, have been qualified by the DesignLights Consortium^™ (DLC), ensuring they meet the highest level of quality standards. Cree’s CR14^™, CR 22^™ and CR24^™ troffers, along with the LR24^™ and LR24-HE troffers, are the most efficient and have the highest CRI of any products rated in the DLC "Linear Panel” categories.

A collaboration of utility companies and regional energy efficiency organizations, the DLC has taken the lead in certifying the quality and performance of energy-efficient lighting. Its goal is to ensure that high-quality, energy-efficient lighting design becomes commonplace in all commercial lighting installations. The DLC Qualified Product List is used by utilities around the country to incent the deployment of high-performance solid-state lighting fixtures not covered by existing ENERGY STAR^® standards, such as LED-based troffers and low/high-bay fixtures.

"For non-ENERGY STAR lighting categories, the DLC Qualified Product List is the de facto standard for high-quality, energy-efficient lighting,” said Craig Lofton, Cree, vice president of sales, LED Lighting. "Cree continues to drive the commercial lighting market, particularly with the release of our LED-based troffer family, and we are pleased that many utilities are now offering rebates on our products to accelerate the LED lighting revolution. In fact, the Cree CR14 and CR24 are the only 1x4 and 2x4 troffers qualified by the DLC.”

Cree LED troffer replacements are sold through Cree LED Lighting sales channels and are available for immediate shipment. More information about the DLC solid-state lighting qualification program can be found on its website.

About Cree

Cree is leading the LED lighting revolution and making energy-wasting traditional lighting technologies obsolete through the use of energy-efficient, mercury-free LED lighting. Cree is a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, LED lighting, and semiconductor solutions for wireless and power applications.

Cree’s product families include LED fixtures and bulbs, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and radio-frequency/wireless devices. Cree solutions are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, electronic signs and signals, variable-speed motors, and wireless communications.

For additional product and company information, please refer to www.cree.com. To learn more about the LED Lighting Revolution, please visit www.creeledrevolution.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, including the risk that actual savings may vary from expectations; customer acceptance of LED products; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render Cree’s products obsolete; and other factors discussed in Cree’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 26, 2011, and subsequent filings.

Cree is a registered trademark and CR14, CR22, CR24, and LR24 are trademarks-of Cree, Inc.

DesignLights is a trademark of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.

ENERGY STAR is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.