California Lighting Technology Center Could Save More Than $675 Million

DAVIS, Calif., Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — California cities could save more than $675 million over the next 15 years through economic streetlight upgrades, based on research conducted by the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) at UC Davis. Sponsored by Chevron Energy Solutions, the new research findings on the state of street lighting in California will be presented in a free webinar, “Lighting the W ay to Safety, Savings and Innovation,” 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 29. Advance registration is required at https://cc.readytalk.com/r/n47js0iu5ya8 to view the webinar online. Audio dial-in is also available at: 866.740.1260, access code: 7473824. “We found that 74 percent of California cities rank energy efficiency as a high priority yet only five percent of the streetlights in those cities use energy-efficient lighting technologies,” said Kelly Cunningham, outreach director for the California Lighting Technology Center at UC Davis and a key member of the research team. “This is a glaring gap that, if closed, could help struggling cities pay for vital services, for decades to come.” Planning and implementing retrofit projects can be daunting, especially for understaffed city offices. The webinar is aimed at helping cities meet their energy efficiency and operating goals. In addition to sharing research findings, CLTC will provide best practice recommendations and helpful resources. Chevron Energy Solutions will share information about available technologies and the steps cities can take to implement change. CLTC is part of UC Davis's Energy Efficiency Center (EEC), which accelerates the development and commercialization of energy efficiency technologies and trains future leaders in the field. Chevron has been a long-time supporter of the EEC. “Chevron's commitment to California goes back 130 years, and it remains strong and vibrant today,” said Jim Davis, President of Chevron Energy Solutions. “We hope that by sharing this information, we can help cities become more energy efficient and meet their sustainability goals.” About California Lighting Technology Center CLTC is a nonprofit research and education facility advancing energy-efficient lighting and daylighting technologies. The Center works in partnership with utilities, manufacturers, end users, builders, designers, and government agencies on research and development, demonstrations, outreach, and education. Part of the Design Program at UC Davis, CLTC was established through the California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program, in collaboration with UC Davis and with support from the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. Logo courtesy of http://cltc.ucdavis.edu.