Solid State Lighting and Energy Center

The College of Engineering at UCSB Launches the Solid State Lighting and Energy Center
Second Generation Center Broadens Focus to Include Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency to Reduce Global Warming:  Read the Full Press Release

 Hot News for 2009

 May 2009

• Green Promise Seen in Switch to LED Lighting (link)
  By Elisabeth Rosenthal and Felicty Barringer, The New York Times
  Light emitting diodes (LEDs) could decrease carbon dioxide emissions by up to 50% in just over 20 years.

• UCSB Simulations Support Auger Droop Theory
  compoundsemiconductor.net (link)
  First principle calculations expose Auger recombination as the predominant cause of LED droop and the green gap, but offer few solutions.  The calculations by UCSB's Kris Delaney, Patrick Rinke and Chris Van de Walle show that droop in visible LEDs is caused by interband Auger recombination, a form of non-radiative recombination that peaks at 2.5 eV.

• Atom Probe Aids UCSB's Cluster Search
  compoundsemiconductor.net (link)
  A new analytical tool just placed into service at UCSB is set to solve a wide range of problems in GaN-related electronic materials.  That's according to Jim Speck, a professor in UCSB's materials department and a specialist in wide-bandgap semiconductors.

• DenBaars to Speak at the Santa Barbara Summit on Energy Efficiency (link)
  The inaugural Santa Barbara Summit on Energy Efficiency will bring together global influencers and stakeholders in energy efficiency technologies, commercialization, and policy for two days of in-depth discussions and the latest industry updates in the fast-moving sector.

Energy Efficiency Emphasized at UC Santa Barbara Summit
http://venturacountystar.com/news/2009/may/21/no-headline---na8fcefficency21/

April 2009

• Prospects for LED Lighting (link)
  Siddha Pimputkar, James S. Speck, Steven P. DenBaars, & Shuji Nakamura
  More than one-fifth of US electricity is used to power artificial lighting.  Light-emitting diodes based on group III/nitride semiconductors are bringing about a revolution in energy-efficient lighting.  It is anticipated that further advances in white LEDs will revolutionize the lighting industry and lead us into a more energy-efficient and bright future.

 March 2009

•  [Lighting Fair] Key Figures Discuss Future of LED, OLED Lights (article)
  
  
• LED Lighting Market To Grow At 28% To $5 Billion by 2012 (article)
  In recent years, LED technology has made impressive performance gains, which in turn have improved the efficiency of LED lighting fixtures.  During 2008-2012, white LED fixtures will make gains in market share as the best commercially available high-performance white LEDs.
  
  
• National Geographic Article on Energy Conservation (full article)
  Changing Bulbs (follow up article)
  The Ligh-emitting diode (LED) looks like the eco-bulb of the future.  With no filament, just a microchip, it uses significantly less energy than an incandescent.

February 2009

• UC Profits From Patent Technology
  Inventive Investments Benefit Budget, Industry (article)
  Despite the profit generated by such technologies, Sherylle Mills Englander, Director of the UCSB Office of Technology & Industry Alliances, said the reason for patenting UCSB inventions is not simply for the financial benefits, but rather to provide helpful resources for the public.
  
  "Our biggest potential impact in the next few years is our Solid State Lighting & Energy Center," Englander said.  "Their predominant focus is on LEDs.  They use ten percent of the energy and they never burn out.  Imagine if you could replace every stoplight in the community with LEDs how much energy you would save."
  
  
  
  
• Umesh Mishra, Newly Elected Member of The National Academy of Engineering (NAE)
  Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to "engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature," and to the "pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education."
  
  UMESH K. MISHRA, professor, department of electrical and computer engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara. For contributions to development of gallium-nitride electronics and other high-speed, high-power semiconductor electronic devices.
  
  http://www.semiconductor-today.com/news_items/2009/FEB/UCSB_090209.htm
  
  http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-02/naos-nao020609.php
  
  
• LED's Good Housekeeping Seal (article)
  By Eric A. Taub, New York Times: Technology
  The D.O.E. is bringing LED lighting products into its Energy Star Program.
  
  
• Residential LED Lighting for Consumers (article)
  ENERGY STAR qualified LED lighting is a natural fit for cutting-edge renovation, new construction projects, or do-it-yourself upgrades. ENERGY STAR qualified residential LED lighting uses at least 75% less energy, lasts 25 times longer than incandescent lighting and provides optimal light color.