Research, Innovation & Experience

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency in Non-Residential Buildings (The Consortium), supported by the National Council for Science and Technology and Secretary of Energy in Mexico, is focused on reducing electricity demand in Mexico’s non-residential buildings through collaborative efforts with industry, government and universities.  Specifically, the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, with assistance from UC Davis, is funded to implement an energy efficiency laboratory featuring lighting and air conditioning technologies for non-residential buildings.

Phase 1 of the Million LED Challenge was officially launched!  The MLC Phase 1 purchasing standards follow the Voluntary California Quality LED Lamp Specification published by the California Energy Commission and used by California investor-owned utilities to determine which lamps are eligible to receive incentives.

The Residential Lighting Design Guide outlines best practices in lighting design to help builders comply with California's 2019 Title 24 Energy Standards requirements. 

Topics include:

• Explanation of the code
• Technical and compliance information
• Lighting design examples

The lighting design guide will cover code explanation and floor plan examples of the following areas:

This Office Lighting course is designed for those who design, specify, or inspect lighting installations in new and remodeled commercial office spaces. The curriculum includes an overview of current lighting technologies, including LED luminaires, and updates on new lighting requirements and sections in the 2019 standards.

Learning outcomes for course participants include the ability to:

The CLTC provides technical assistance on a variety of lighting topics as they relate to the Energy Standards. CLTC’s expertise assists the Energy Commission and utilities on lighting-related issues to clarify, update and maintain the existing Energy Standards and provide support for the development of the 2022 Standards.

To date, CLTC has focused on outdoor lighting measures and outdoor occupancy sensors.

The California Energy Alliance (CEA) unites representatives of a broad range of organizations concerned about energy and the built environment. As a member-based organization, CEA works to improve California’s energy future and the migration toward a Zero Net Energy horizon. CEA focuses on the promotion and realization of deep energy savings, sustainable energy generation, and integration. The Alliance actively participates in the development and implementation of pragmatic, environmentally and economically sound building energy standards and other initiatives.

CLTC is supporting the Center for Sustainable Energy develop classroom and on-the-job workforce training in SB 535-designated disadvantaged communities in IOU service territories. This project is funded by the California Energy Commission.

Electrical apprentices will learn to install and maintain automated demand-response (ADR) communications equipment in existing buildings to improve grid reliability and advance to goals of AB 758.  Specifically, CLTC's role in the project is to:

The California Lighting Technology Center, in collaboration with the California Energy Commission, conducted research to refine and deploy technology strategies that integrate and optimize automated controls for heating, ventilating and air conditioning, electric lighting, and dynamic fenestration (window and door) systems. Project objectives were:

1. Refine and publish an integrated building control system specification for commercial applications including necessary hardware and software components.