CLTC is engaged in a variety of projects and activities. All encourage innovation and advance the development and commercialization of lighting and control technologies. From market assessment to lab testing and prototyping, CLTC helps next-generation solutions become market-ready and commercially available more quickly. Education and outreach efforts at the center include UC Davis courses in lighting design and daylighting, as well as a variety of workshops and resources for professionals and the general public. CLTC also partners with policy makers, utilities and regulators to help improve standards and broaden the use of best practices.

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Proposition 39

Each year, California schools spend approximately as much money on energy—$700 million—as they do on books and supplies.1 Education spending is a frequent point of debate among politicians and citizens, and maximizing the implementation of energy efficient technologies in school facilities could act as a way to increase education budgets without allocating additional public funds.

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Multi-Pin Base LED Replacement Lamps

Lighting projects that involve updating CFL lighting systems should consider all viable retrofit options. When retrofitting between CFL four-pin lamps and LED solutions, it is important to observe safety precautions and consider performance variables.

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Advanced Outdoor Lighting Control Systems

The California Lighting Technology Center partnered with San Diego Gas & Electric and two Southern California cities on a project to help accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient advanced outdoor lighting control systems.

The project evaluated outdoor wireless lighting control systems that allows for remote operation and monitoring of fixtures using a web-enabled central management system. Laboratory and field assessments were conducted for separate systems installed as part of citywide retrofit projects in San Diego and Chula Vista.

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UC Davis Lighting Design Courses

DES 136A: Lighting Technology and Design

Students interested in interior design will build a lighting vocabulary and a fundamental understanding of lighting technologies. Students will take a hands-on approach in the course which includes lectures, demonstrations, and site visits. 

Topics will include:

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LED Linear Retrofit Solutions and Advanced Lighting Control Systems for Small Commercial Retail Applications

Linear fluorescent lamps account for 83 percent of installed lamps in the California commercial sector per a lighting market characterization performed in 2014. LED lighting products are receiving attention for their potential to replace fluorescent lighting, reduce energy use and improve lighting quality in a variety of indoor commercial applications, including offices, classrooms and retail stores.

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Light-RITE California: The Lighting Retrofit Information, Training and Education Program

Public buildings across California are undergoing retrofits as part of efforts to meet state energy and climate goals, including those mandated by AB 1109, Executive Order B-18-12 and the Lighting Action Plan of the California Public Utilities Commission. As funding expands and legislative deadlines approach, facility managers feel increasing pressure to act, but they face a daunting task in selecting from the growing number of lighting solutions on the market.

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All High Efficacy Lighting for Residential Applications

California’s 2013 Title 24 requirements for building energy efficiency call for some high-efficacy lighting in a limited number of residential space types, such as kitchens and bathrooms. A future code requirement that all residential lighting be high efficacy has the potential to yield significant energy savings across the state, but implementation must first be proven practical and cost-effective.