Our Publications

California's new residential Building Energy Efficiency Standards take effect on January 1, 2017. The 2016 Standards focus on several key areas to improve the energy efficiency of newly constructed buildings, additions and alterations to existing buildings. The most significant efficiency improvements address attics, walls, water heating and lighting. The California Energy Commission estimates that the 2016 standards will deliver approximately 281 gigawatt-hours of electricity savings annually and reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 160,000 metric tons.

Popular Science — Popular Science highlights health damages of the light we have been using for the past 100 years and new plans of improvement. Professor Michael Siminovitch shares his insights. This article was originally published in the January/February 2016 issue of Popular Science.

Read more: "Big Idea For 2016: Lightbulbs Can Make Us Healthy"

The 2015 Lighting Technology Overview (LTO) provides overviews of commercial and residential lighting technologies and strategies with the potential to significantly reduce California’s lighting energy use. The guide includes information on expected energy savings, factors to consider when comparing products, sample products, and case studies for indoor and outdoor lighting and controls technologies. Products in the guide include:

Advanced lighting control systems provide networked control and monitoring capabilities of connected luminaires via onboard metering and system reporting features.  These advanced features allow system owners to dynamically balance visual comfort and lighting energy use.  CLTC, in collaboration with SDG&E, developed a technology validation program to determine the accuracy and reliability of onboard metering and system reporting features of advanced lighting control systems.

One of the promises of networked lighting controls is to monitor energy use over time and adjust the system to achieve the best possible performance.  Facility managers can match the reporting to expectations and change settings to capture maximum savings.  The promise of real-time energy monitoring has also piqued the interest of utility program managers in locations in the U.S. where rebates assist with the accelerated adoption of emerging technologies. 

To address California’s critical need for targeted, practical technology improvements that reduce lighting energy use and advance building energy-efficiency, in 2009, the California Energy Commission initiated a comprehensive lighting research, development, demonstration and outreach program in partnership with the California Lighting Technology Center.

CLTC is partnering with Liberty to create a zero net energy community in West Sacramento along the Sacramento River. The Liberty Lighting Guide provides design and technical specifications, application of directives, as well as Title 24 code compliance requirements for residential, outdoor, private community clubhouses, K–8 schools, private clubhouses, neighborhood commercial spaces, parks, greenbelts, trails, sports, and recreation centers.

The retail sector, which represents 13 percent of California's commercial lighting electricity use, has historically not embraced the use of lighting controls.  Reasons for this are many including perceived high cost, system complexity, and the potential for negative impacts on customers and sales.  California building lighting energy efficiency standards for the retail sector have a higher lighting power density allowance and fewer requirements for mandatory controls in sales areas than other commercial and industrial building space types.