California Plug Load Research Center - CalPlug

10/05/2022

Today is ! There are many simple ways to save energy in your home or office, such as making sure power management settings are properly enabled on your electronic devices! For more info on plug load energy efficiency, visit the CalPlug website: www.CalPlug.org !

CalPlug and its partners, the California Energy Alliance, the California Lighting Technology Center at UC Davis, and California State University Northridge, were awarded $997,000 in funding from the California Energy Commission to identify and test plug loads that present the best opportunity fo...

04/25/2022

CalPlug's first in-person conference in two years is right around the corner!

At this special event. we will recognize a decade of energy efficiency research and welcome our next ten years of working together for our planet. Our theme for this occasion is Climate Resilient Solutions -- and our mission is to continue improving energy efficiency and productivity as well as lowering GHGs to mitigate climate change for the good and inclusivity of all. Our speakers are experts in their respective fields and are excited to share their knowledge with everyone. Please join us on May 10 for this all-day, in-person celebration!

For more information and to register:
https://www.calit2.uci.edu/event/calplugs-10th-anniversary-registration/

04/22/2022

Happy Earth Day!

This Earth Day comes with an urgent message to make climate and energy efficiency top priorities to meet the increasingly visible challenges of global warming. California’s recent extreme droughts and wildfires are only one local example of a changing world that demands action at all levels, from policy-making to technology innovation, and from educational programs to household decision-making. With this call to action in mind, the CalPlug team invites you to think about how you can participate in activities toward a greener, healthier planet. Every little bit makes a difference! For example, you can…

* Take the JUMP pledge to buy less, eat healthier, and travel more sustainably: https://takethejump.org/
* Demand climate action for 100% renewables and support policy for net-zero emissions by 2050: https://www.nrdc.org/demand-climate-action
* Learn more about Time of Use programs for home energy efficiency (California residents): https://energyupgradeca.org/time-of-use-faqs
* Find out more steps you can take to lower your carbon footprint: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/02/22/climate-change-actions-carbon-footprint/
* Read factsheets from the IPCC’s recent report on impacts, adaptation and vulnerabilities of climate change: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/about/factsheets/
* And check out all of UCI Sustainability’s Earth Week events: https://sustainability.uci.edu/earthweek/earth-week-2022/

April 22, 2022, marks the 52nd anniversary

01/06/2022

JOB OPENING!

We've received a large DOE grant to start a new center at UCI, the SMART Industrial Assessment Center. We'll be training students here at UCI to conduct energy and waste assessments for small and medium manufacturers, and training students at local community colleges on assessments for small and medium commercial companies. We need a top-notch Program Manager to help manage this exciting new venture, preferably someone with experience in energy assessments, who can grow with us and make a meaningful contribution to our future.

UCI is currently working remotely and all interviews will be virtual. Future work will be primarily on campus.

Click here for more information about the job posting, and how to apply:

https://www.indeed.com/job/smart-industrial-assessment-center-program-manager-7b67f39bff4f11a8

10/12/2021

Registration is still open for our CalPlug Workshop next week. It will be virtual again and free -- so everyone is welcome!

CalPlug’s 18th workshop will bring together experts in their respective fields to discuss the future of our energy consumption in all spaces (residential, commercial, industrial and more) and our climate challenges and solutions.

Click below for the agenda and the registration link. Hope to see you there!

CalPlug’s 18th workshop will be hosted virtually via Go2Webinar and it will bring together experts in their respective fields to discuss the future of our energy consumption in all spaces (residential, commercial, industrial and more) and our climate challenges and solutions.

07/27/2021

I am thrilled to announce that our team was just awarded a five-year contract from the US Department of Energy to establish an Industrial Assessment Center at UC Irvine. The new SMART IAC will conduct energy and productivity assessments for local small manufacturers while training the next generation of college students in smart manufacturing and energy efficiency. We will also collaborate with a team of Orange County community colleges, led by Cypress College, to run a sister program with their students focused on conducting assessments for local small commercial buildings. We couldn't have done it without the help of our many partners, particularly those at California State University Northridge, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and California Manufacturing Technology Consulting.

This is an exciting opportunity for us to advance both our energy efficiency and smart workforce training goals, while supporting local small businesses. Great job, team!

On July 26, 2021, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced $60 million for 32 higher education institutions located in 28 states across the country to set up and operate regional Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC).

05/21/2021

See our latest publication on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on residential energy use:

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to assess energy use during times of emergency that disrupt daily and seasonal patterns. The authors present findings from a regional evaluation in the city of Los Angeles (California, USA) with broad application to other areas and demonstrate an ap...

03/11/2021

Said Shokair has been a strong supporter of student research in CalPlug, Calit2, and the whole campus. I know that many of our students, past and present, would want to know about this chance to support him in turn.

Reinstate Said Shokair as Director of Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program at UCI

03/10/2021

BEYOND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

CalPlug’s research director Dr. Joy Pixley will be the speaker at the Better Buildings Alliance webinar on Wednesday, March 17, 10 am PT/1 pm ET. She’ll demonstrate how device usage patterns strongly affect their energy consumption – and how to reduce inefficiencies. You can attend this free webinar by registering at this link:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3183241606160939022

02/17/2021

A little plug load levity to brighten your day.

When we at CalPlug said we encouraged more effective use of smart sockets in homes, this is NOT what we meant! WOW!

A PERFECTLY ordinary looking five-bedroom house on the market for £1.3m has horrified house-hunters after one look inside. The “family haven” in Pinner, Middlesex, has baffled would-be …

02/02/2021

Check out NRDC's post about the new Xbox and PlayStation consoles -- and what settings you can be sure to select on yours so you don't waste a ton of energy.

The latest Xbox and PlayStation gaming consoles are out, and NRDC's initial testing indicates their annual energy will likely increase in most cases, depending on how the user sets them up and operates them.

12/17/2020

Buying new holiday lights this year? Consider saving energy and investing in LEDs. Good for you, good for the planet!

Christmas lights guide to understanding how much power Christmas lights use and electricity costs.