Manipulation　of　Curie　temperature　and　ferroelectric　polarization　for　enhanced　room　temperature　electrocaloric　effect　(ECE)　was　systematically　investigated　in　lead-free　Ba1-xLaxTiO3　ferroelectric　ceramics　prepared　by　a　two-step　solid-state　sintering　technology.　The　experimental　results　and　analysis　showed　that　La　dopants　significantly　influenced　the　morphology,　Curie　temperature,　ferroelectric　properties　and　electrocaloric　effect　of　BaTiO3　ceramics.　Especially,　based　on　the　analysis　and　calculation　via　the　Maxwell　relationship,　a　large　electrocaloric　strength　Delta　T/Delta　E　=　0.30　K.mm/kV　near　room　temperature　(T-C　=　303　K)　was　obtained　in　Ba0.96La0.04TiO3　ceramic.　The　present　work　implied　an　effective　and　reliable　way　to　realize　the　room　temperature　electrocaloric　effect　in　lead-free　ferroelectric　materials　for　the　future　application　of　solid-state　refrigeration　technology.