College of Engineering at UCSB Launches New Solid State Lighting and Energy Center
Santa Barbara, California – The College of Engineering at UC Santa Barbara is formally launching the Solid State Lighting and Energy Center (SSLEC) March 1, 2007, directed by Shuji Nakamura, Cree Professor in Solid State Lighting and Displays, and Steven DenBaars, Mitsubishi Chemical Professor in Solid State Lighting and Displays.
The SSLEC, the second generation of UCSB’s original Solid State Lighting Center, is broadening its scope to include new research interests, including clean energy and energy efficiency, critical to reducing global warming.
SSLEC will provide a forum for industry members and UCSB faculty to collaborate across several disciplines -- materials science, electrical engineering, chemistry and physics -- to address the most challenging problems in solid state lighting.
SSLEC's researchers will develop new materials, devices and advanced fabrication technologies for consumer electronics and energy. The Center will focus on energy efficiency; solid state lighting; power switching; and clean energy.
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, of Tokyo, Japan, is the first industrial member to join SSLEC, giving $2.5 million over the next six years to support the Center and its research. SSLEC members will participate in the research program and have access to certain intellectual property developed at the SSLEC. Companies interested in exploring membership in SSLEC should call Yukina Warner, Management Services Officer, at 805.893.5039, or email sslec@engineering.ucsb.edu.
Lighting consumes 22% of all electricity produced in the nation. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates over $98 billion in energy savings could be realized by 2020 if solid state lighting can achieve these breakthrough efficiency targets. The SSLEC is developing novel LED lighting technologies to achieve an efficiency target of greater than 60%.
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