THE INSTITUTE FOR
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
UC Santa Barbara’s Institute for Energy Efficiency (IEE) is a world leader in developing breakthrough technologies that substantially save energy while advancing the standard of living worldwide. IEE’s award-winning research has been the foundation for numerous energy-saving innovations including bright and energy-saving white light LED lighting, more energy-efficient data-center communications and interconnects, and software that reduces energy usage in buildings worldwide.
Research Themes
Projects within each theme attack critical energy-efficiency grand challenges to develop new technologies for improving and ensuring a more sustainable future.
Highlights
Learn more how the Institute of Energy Efficiency influences the world
Hair-width LEDs could replace lasers — and a UCSB doctoral student is helping make it happen
LEDs no wider than a human hair could soon take on work traditionally handled by lasers, from moving data inside server racks to powering next-generation displays. New research co-authored by UC Santa Barbara doctoral student Roark Chao points to a practical path forward.
February 23, 2026
IEEE Fellow and IEE Director Steven P. DenBaars is honored with the 2026 IEEE NICK HOLONYAK, JR. MEDAL FOR SEMICONDUCTOR OPTOELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES
Professor Steven DenBaars is honored for pioneering gallium nitride semiconductors and LED technologies that enable the bright, energy-efficient lighting used in homes, smartphones, automotive headlights, and large-scale displays.
December 19, 2025
The Institute for Energy Efficiency Expands its Scope — and Pulls in SSLEEC
When John Bowers, inaugural director of the Institute for Energy Efficiency (IEE) at UC Santa Barbara, retired in June, Steven DenBaars, professor of materials and electrical engineering and a longtime IEE affiliate who has served as co-director (with Shuji Nakamura) of the Solid State Lighting and Energy Electronics Center (SSLEEC) at UCSB since its founding twenty-five years ago, became the new IEE director. One of his first actions has been to increase the number of IEE research themes from three to six and to begin the process of folding SSLEEC into IEE. He spoke with us in October.
