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Community-Scale Environmental Measures and Urban Heat Island Impacts
March 5, 2012
Community-scale environmental measures can reduce energy use community wide, but the impacts of the technologies and their interactions are not well quantified. This project will use advanced computer simulations to predict the outcome of community-scale environmental measures.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-13 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
Improving Real-World Efficiency of High-Performance Buildings
March 5, 2012
High-performance buildings are designed to maximize energy efficiency, but those improvements aren’t always realized. A study will assess achieved performance in selected California buildings, and follow-up projects will identify feedback loops and tools to help stakeholders optimize building performance. ...
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-14 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
LED Manufacturing Process Modifications Will Boost Quality and Cut Costs
February 9, 2012
Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting products have made great strides in terms of performance, but LED manufacturing techniques have not kept up. Researchers will develop an advanced layering technique that will cut manufacturing costs and increase the efficiency of the process by which LEDs convert electricity ...
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-12 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
How Efficient Are New Homes in California?
January 5, 2012
A study examined 40 single‑family and 40 multifamily units (apartments and townhouses) that were built under the 2005 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential Buildings. Data showed that the homes often didn’t perform up to code.
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-62 | Author: Ira Krepchin
Advanced LED Downlighting System
October 10, 2011
Newly designed downlights use light-emitting diodes to their full potential while maintaining the features and functionality that have made them popular.
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-52 | Author: Essie Snell
Developing Energy-Efficient Communities
July 21, 2011
The potential exists to make new communities far more efficient than current codes require. This brief describes research that helped to quantify that potential and explored the technologies, strategies, and policies that would make it real.
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-46 | Author: Ira Krepchin
Achieving Zero-Net Energy Affordable Multifamily Homes
July 21, 2011
Developing affordable zero-net energy (ZNE) multifamily housing requires unique technical and financing models. Two San Diego developers have demonstrated the success of such development models in supporting California's bold ZNE goals.
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-48 | Author: Bryan Jungers
Planning for Renewable-Based Energy Security and Prosperity in Humboldt County
May 1, 2011
The project team will develop and implement an energy‐optimization model to determine a renewable‐based energy portfolio for Humboldt County that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, maximizes local economic benefits and maintains grid stability.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-3 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
Lighting the Way to Demand Response
April 21, 2011
Commercially available advanced lighting-control systems can be used today in demand-response programs. This Tech Brief examines the cost, the potential savings, and the best way to implement these systems.
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-47 | Author: Ira Krepchin
The Advanced Natural Gas Vehicle Fuel Tank Project
April 1, 2011
This research will develop a replacement for the bulky cylindrical, heavy‐walled compressed natural gas tanks currently used in natural gas vehicles. The tank will have a storage capacity that meets the U.S. Department of Energy target.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-2 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
Research on External Power Supplies Will Save Californians Millions
April 1, 2011
If all existing stock of power supplies were upgraded to the California Energy Commission’s external power supply standard, Californians would save an estimated 644 gigawatts per hour the amount of energy used by 92,000 homes in one year, or about $90 million annually.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-1 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
Efficiency and Air Quality Implications of Distributed Generation and Combined Heat and Power in California
March 1, 2011
This project is investigating the efficiencies of distributed generation power combined with heating and cooling usage. Specific market sectors were identified as having the highest potential for wide‐scale urban implementation of distributed generation/combined heat and power in the near future.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-4 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
New Energy Efficient Infrared Drying and Blanching Technologies for Fruits and Vegetables
March 1, 2011
The proposed research is to develop and demonstrate an infrared dry‐blanching and drying system for fruits or vegetables that results in high quality products. The sequential infrared and freeze‐drying method and infrared dry‐blanching and dehydration method are discussed.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-5 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
Life-Cycle Energy Assessment of Smart Growth Strategies
March 1, 2011
This research will develop a life‐cycle assessment methodology that will help stakeholders analyze and evaluate the energy and emission impacts of smart growth projects. This method will include a means to quantify the embedded energy in the infrastructure.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-8 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
Comparing Utilization Data for Siting New Wind Power Generation
March 1, 2011
Avian use data from the Altamont Pass wind resource area in Alameda County will be adjusted for observer biases so the data can be used to develop predictive models of avian use.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-6 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
Healthy Zero Energy Buildings
March 1, 2011
The Healthy Zero Energy Buildings program is a six‐year, two‐phase multidisciplinary program that includes field and chamber studies and modeling to investigate indoor air quality, energy use, and human outcomes as a function of ventilation rates.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-9 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
Collaborative Lubricating Oil Study on Emissions
January 1, 2011
This project will determine the sources of particulate matter and semivolatile organic compound emissions in vehicles.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-7 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Consumption Improvement
January 1, 2011
The purpose of this research was to evaluate the combination of vehicle platforms and technologies that would result in the largest real‐world emissions reductions and fuel consumption improvements.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-10 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
New Engine Technology for California’s Combined Heat and Power Market
December 1, 2010
The project will adapt a modern automotive engine to run on natural gas and then modify the engine mechanisms to improve its fuel efficiency by about 10 percent.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-11 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
Automated Demand Response Cuts Commercial Building Energy Use and Peak Demand
December 3, 2008
Automated demand-response (AutoDR) systems use Internet-based electricity pricing and demand-response signals to initiate preprogrammed control strategies that provide fully automated management of building energy use. When electricity prices are high or when the grid is nearing full capacity, these ...
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-31 | Author: Jessica Rivas
Builder’s Guide: Reducing Mold Risk
November 30, 2008
To better understand the problem of mold occurrence, the California Energy Commission sponsored an investigation, led by the Gas Technology Institute, into the causes of moisture intrusion. This research consisted of laboratory and field studies of structures that are designed to keep building materials ...
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-35 | Author: Peter Criscione
DC Power Distribution Cuts Data Center Energy Use
November 1, 2008
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory led a demonstration project that showed that alternative, direct-current (DC)–based power distribution systems can reduce the total system energy use in a data center by 5 to 7 percent compared to the most efficient alternating current (AC) systems and by ...
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-40 | Author: Peter Criscione
Wireless Lighting Controls Make Retrofits Practical
October 1, 2008
An innovative wireless lighting control, monitoring, and management system developed by Adura Technologies is easy to install, cost-effective, and can provide significant energy savings. It eliminates the costly and time-consuming installation of control wiring and can be easily installed by facilities ...
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-38 | Author: Ira Krepchin
Task/Ambient Lighting: Efficient, Stylish, and Portable
October 1, 2008
A desk lamp has been developed to provide individually controllable uplighting and downlighting. The designs incorporate improved optics and features that will enable low-cost manufacturing. The California Lighting Technology Center worked with Full Spectrum Solutions to develop the products. Full ...
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-43 | Author: Ira Krepchin
LED Hybrid Porch Light Cuts Energy, Maintenance Costs
September 1, 2008
A hybrid fixture featuring light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and either an incandescent lamp or a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), and integrated with an occupancy sensor, addresses both energy and security concerns. The design features a low-wattage, high-brightness LED that runs continuously during the ...
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-37 | Author: Ira Krepchin
Variable Speed Comes to the (Kitchen) ’Hood
September 1, 2008
A new technology that reduces ventilation rates during slow periods makes it possible for restaurants and institutions to significantly reduce the amount of wasted energy. Lower fan speeds also means less noise. The concept calls for control of kitchen ventilation-fan speed based on the amount of ...
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-42 | Author: Spencer Sator
Savings Persist with Monitoring-Based Commissioning
August 1, 2008
Monitoring-based commissioning (MBCx) is a program approach that combines permanent building-energy-system monitoring with standard retrocommissioning practices to provide substantial, persistent energy savings. It’s based on the ability of permanent monitoring systems to increase the effectiveness ...
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-39 | Author: Jessica Rivas
Energy Use of Household Electronics
Taming the Wild Growth
August 1, 2008
On behalf of the California Energy Commission, researchers from Ecos Consulting, EPRI Solutions, and RLW Analytics have performed field measurements to document the use patterns, energy consumption, and load profiles for electronic devices in homes. This study, which included 50 California homes, ...
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-32 | Author: Ira Krepchin
Static Pressure Reset Strategy Boosts VAV System Efficiency
August 1, 2008
A new control strategy called SAV with InCITe™ can provide substantial energy savings by optimizing a variable-air-volume (VAV) system's fan speed and airflow. Static-pressure adjustment from volume flow SAV increases the efficiency of VAV air handling units by reducing duct pressure at part-load ...
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-34 | Author: Jessica Rivas
Uninterruptible Power Supplies
A Data Center Efficiency Opportunity
August 1, 2008
A detailed study characterized the efficiencies of various types of uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) for data centers under a variety of operating conditions, proposed an efficiency label for UPSs, and estimated the current energy use of the existing stock of UPSs and the potential savings if ...
Content type: Tech Brief | Document ID: CEC-TB-45 | Author: Ira Krepchin
