The Institute for Energy Efficiency (IEE) is an interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to cutting-edge science and technologies that support an energy-efficient and sustainable future. IEE’s research activities leverage the considerable expertise of UCSB’s highly acclaimed faculty, scientists, engineers and researchers. By fostering collaborations, sponsoring research, and expediting the commercialization of new technologies, IEE is a key driver of significant advances in energy efficiency.
Photo Credit: Jeff Liang, UC Santa Barbara
The Institute’s energy efficiency research focuses on critical energy issues in three broad interdisciplinary themes; Smart Societal Infrastructure, Energy Efficient Computing and Communications, and the Food-Energy-Water Nexus. Projects within these themes build on and integrate UCSB’s world-class foundational research in electronics, materials, photonics, computing and systems architecture, artificial intelligence / machine learning, and environmental sciences and policy.
The results of these interdisciplinary research projects are changing the way we use energy, while concurrently educating and training a new generation of energy-aware and sustainability-aware scientists and technologists.
IEE by the Numbers
Our impact, quantified.
$1M+
awarded in seed funding, fellowships, and research grants
The IEE runs projects in several areas, from quantum computing to energy policy. Our roster of professors and graduate students are constantly innovating to meet our grand challenges and research goals. Find out more by looking at our news and events page!
80+
academic faculty engaged in research
150+
academic personnel engaged in research
10k
people reached through seminar and lecture series
40%
less energy used than other labs on campus