An LED lighting element having an H-shaped housing. The housing, which may be an extruded housing, has a first section and a second section which is separated from the first section by a cross bar. A back plate is positioned opposite of the crossbar and is removably secured to the first section. A heat sink is located within the housing while a microcontroller and LED drive/control technology and integrated power supply contacts the heat sink and is attached to the back plate. An LED PC board that is electrically connected to the microcontroller and LED drive/control technology and integrated power supply is positioned in the second section and is attached to the housing. An end cap for the housing along with a method for constructing the lighting element are also disclosed.