Research, Innovation & Experience

Commercial kitchens remain heavily reliant on gas-powered cooking equipment, including conveyor ovens and charbroilers. Emerging electric alternatives, such as electric conveyor ovens and charbroilers, could potentially improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality.

Smart, single-unit washer/dryer appliances ​​integrate both functions into a compact footprint, offering an ideal solution for homes with limited space, including apartments and multifamily dwellings. In parallel, AI-enabled stand-alone washers and dryers provide similar smart capabilities within traditional two-unit configurations.

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.

The Plug Load Energy Testing to Inform Codes & Standards project, funded by the California Energy Commission, sought to identify energy efficiency opportunities in noncovered plug load devices to inform future codes and standards. The project was conducted by the California Energy Alliance and its partners, and it targeted commercial office equipment, residential networking equipment, and laboratory equipment.

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.