Residential electrification is accelerating faster than the electrical infrastructure designed to support it. As more households install EV chargers and switch to electric appliances, existing electrical panels are being pushed to their limits, with upgrades often being too costly, complex, and inaccessible to homeowners. Smart electrical panels provide an alternative pathway by dynamically managing circuit-level loads to prevent overcurrent conditions and defer upgrades.
California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) is researching how to improve the outdoor lighting landscape, with paying special attention to ecological concerns, as opposed to human needs. BALANCE (Biologically Appropriate Lighting Aligning Nature, California Codes & Energy Efficiency) studies the ALAN systematically with its effects on essential species, including nocturnal pollinators, bats, and migratory birds that are critical to California's biodiversity and agricultural output.
New research from California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) in collaboration with the Center for Mind and Brain has revealed that ambient lighting can play a critical role in how we recover from stress. Backed by Toyota Boshoku America, Seoul Semiconductor, and Color Kinetics, the study involved more than 100 participants undergoing a stressful social scenario—delivering a speech and performing math in front of masked judges in white coats. The team, led by CLTC researcher Jae Yong Suk and Dr.
New testing at the California Lighting Technology Center highlights the potential of SunLike lighting as a strong alternative to traditional LEDs. The results show that this technology closely replicates natural sunlight, offering benefits in both energy efficiency and visual comfort. With its ability to enhance lighting quality while reducing power consumption, SunLike is emerging as a promising option for various applications.
Advancing Human-Centric Lighting Systems for Offices
With funding from the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, CLTC and partners are developing a cutting-edge, human-centered lighting system for the global market. This project focuses on improving lighting quality and user satisfaction in both private and open offices by testing and validating the performance of these new, advanced lighting technologies.
At UC Davis, the California Lighting Technology Center is establishing “The Color Lab” in collaboration with the Center for Mind and Brain to explore the impact of discrete color spectra on stress, mood, and alertness.
CalNEXT is a statewide initiative to identify, test, and grow electric technologies and delivery methods to support California’s decarbonized future. CLTC is excited to be part of the CalNEXT team to support the evaluation of electric emerging technologies.
The California Lighting Technology Center, in collaboration with Southern California Edison, RMS Energy Consulting LLC, and the California Energy Alliance, are establishing a working group of industry stakeholders to help develop recommendations that will simplify and clarify the nonresidential lighting and lighting controls language contained in the 2022 Title 24, Part 6 Building Energy Efficiency Standards.
Renewable Energy & Advanced Lighting Systems for Grid-Connected Exterior Applications
In many communities, exterior lighting operates from early evening through early morning—times when renewable energy generation is minimal. Consequently, most exterior lighting relies on carbon-dense fossil fuels, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, poor air quality, water pollution, and land degradation.
The California Lighting Technology Center developed a series of lighting education videos in support of the 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24). Videos cover four key topics:
