Developed by an LBNL team, the Berkeley Lamp is a high-performance, energy-efficient table lamp that saves energy in homes and offices while greatly increasing lighting quality and visibility. The lamp uses two independently controllable and fully dimmable compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). One lamp's light is directed downward to illuminate the table or desk, the other directs light toward the ceiling, providing high-quality indirect lighting. An optical "septum" separates the two lamps, allowing three modes of lighting: down, up, or up and down simultaneously. At full power, the two-lamp fluorescent system matches the combined luminous output of a 300-watt halogen lamp and a 150-watt incandescent table lamp while using one-quarter of the energy.

The patented technology was transferred through licensing agreements with three California utilities - Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Southern California Edison, and Pacific Gas and Electric - along with Light Corporation of Grand Haven, Mich. To date, 600 prototypes have been manufactured, and demonstration projects are underway with a number of companies and institutions, including: Doubletree Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills Hotel, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Energy Headquarters, City of Berkeley, California Energy Commission, and the University of California.

With its superior lighting, competitive price, and projected energy savings of more than $1 billion, high levels of sales are projected for the Berkeley Lamp. By reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, this technology will benefit the U.S. and in turn, the nation's security.