BALANCE: Biologically Appropriate Lighting Aligning Nature Conservation and Energy Efficiency

The BALANCE project, titled Biologically Appropriate Lighting Aligning Nature Conservation and Energy Efficiency, is a research initiative led by the California Energy Commission and conducted by the Regents of the University of California at the Davis campus. The project focuses on paper research, computer modeling, and stakeholder engagement to evaluate the effects of different lighting spectra, shielding, and intensity on various species in California. Research activities, including lab experiments, spatial analysis, and ecological modeling, are performed at the Visual Performance Laboratory within the California Lighting Technology Center at UC Davis. The project is classified as a forecast and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under sections 15301 and 15306, as it involves basic data collection and the use of existing facilities without altering the physical environment. Key outputs include quantitative analyses of lighting impacts on species and recommendations for biologically appropriate lighting designs. Julia Harnad serves as the primary point of contact for the California Energy Commission. No specific contract value, performance period, or federal acquisition clauses are defined in the current documentation.