Los Angeles is leading interdisciplinary RD&D programs to advance the science and commercialization of alternative fuels while addressing the social, economic, and policy issues associated with a transition away from carbon-based sources of energy. Los Angeles’ broad RD&D portfolio encompasses technology developments in renewable energy, energy efficiency in buildings and transportation, improved efficiency of combustion and oil recovery, smart grid, and the environmental, economic, and security impacts of energy. 

Los Angeles Basin Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC)

Awarded by Department of Energy in 2009, this initiative helped combine the expertise of researchers from top research institutions and across fields in Los Angeles  to focus on the development of emerging materials for solar energy conversion and solid state lighting and to further strengthen the theoretical understanding of light-material interactions in energy conversion.

The collaborators in LA EFRC are CleanTech LA members California Institute of Technology, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of Southern California.

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Four Advanced Energy and Cleantech Research Centers in Los Angeles featured but there are more in the Los Angeles areas than these.

Clean Energy Research Center- LA

UCLA Smart Grid Energy Research Center

USC Energy Institute

Caltech Resnick Sustainability Institute

Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis

In 2004 the University of California adopted the Policy on Sustainable Practices. The policy includes goals for the university to achieve by the 2020, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50%, purchasing 20% sustainable food and sending zero waste to landfills. The UC has already earned 87 LEED certifications and with the help of energy investments, is  saving $32 million annually.

See the video here