Congratulations to the Energy Graduate Group Class of 2024!
We are thrilled to congratulate Sagal Alisalad, Peter Ambiel, Shannon Andrew, Billy Evans, Hyundong Ju, Nattida Jubju, Tierney Kilgariff, Andres Martinez, Tom Patten and Vedant Sinha upon your graduation! As you embark on your new journeys, may you continue to innovate and lead in creating a sustainable future for us all. Best wishes for your bright and impactful careers ahead!
Barriers to Residential Heat Pump Adoption and the Strategies to Overcome Them
California has identified heat pumps as a cornerstone technology in its journey toward decarbonization. The state has set an ambitious target of six million heat pump installations by 2030. To achieve this goal demands a significant boost in adoption rates, and UC Davis researchers are leading the way in this effort.
Transforming Outdoor Lighting in Underserved Communities
CLTC is working to develop Renewable Energy and Advanced Lighting (REAL) systems that integrate solar power, smart batteries, and advanced controls to improve safety and reduce carbon emissions in underserved communities. Initial surveys show a strong community preference for enhanced lighting and safety features, guiding CLTC’s efforts to tailor sustainable solutions that meet local needs.
Ongoing surveys and site assessments will gauge the impact of these new systems, ensuring they enhance safety and sustainability effectively. This initiative aims to pioneer safer, more resilient communities through innovative lighting technology.
A Recipe for Clean Energy: Waste Heat Solutions for Food Processing
An initiative at UC Davis aims to improve sustainability in the food processing industry by harnessing waste heat to reduce carbon emissions. Led by WCEC Director Vinod Narayanan, the interdisciplinary team secured nearly $2 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop efficient methods for extracting and utilizing ultra-low grade waste heat. This initiative targets the significant energy loss from industrial processes, particularly in the food and beverage sector, promising substantial reductions in fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Partnering with industry leaders, the project aims for adoption of these technologies, potentially transforming the energy landscape of food processing and achieving significant environmental benefits.
Indoor Air Quality Takes Center Stage in Building Design
A team of experts, including four from UC Davis, recently published an opinion piece in the Journal of Environmental Engineering emphasizes the urgent need to rethink how we design and operate indoor environments to support public health. The authors from UC Davis include WCEC Research and Development Engineering Manager Theresa Pistochini, College of Engineering Dean Richard Corsi, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Christopher Cappa, and Department of Chemical Engineering Assistant Professor Matthew Ellis, along with several of their counterparts at the University of Colorado, University of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania State University and Virginia Tech.
In the piece, the authors share how the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical health implications of our built environment, highlighting the role that poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can play in spreading respiratory infections and exacerbating health issues like asthma and allergies. To combat these problems effectively, the authors argue we must adopt a holistic approach that integrates engineering controls such as ventilation, filtration, and disinfection, while balancing energy efficiency and thermal comfort. This shift is essential not only for occupant health but also for reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
Technological advancements in sensors, building controls, and data analytics provide a unique opportunity to optimize indoor environmental quality. By co-optimizing IAQ, thermal comfort, and energy use, we can design buildings that are both “clean and green.” The opinion piece calls for a revolution in building design, urging the development of innovative, cost-effective solutions for both new constructions and existing structures.
Dig Into “Energy Bites”
Every Thursday this spring we are hosting our Energy Bites seminar series in-person and remotely. Each seminar features two short presentation “bites” over the lunch hour (12pm to 1pm). We hope you can join us and check out some of our latest research.
