Project Announcement: Pilot Block Selection

The EcoBlock Team is pleased to announce the selection of the Pilot EcoBlock site in Oakland’s Fruitvale District. This will be the first-of-its-kind block to demonstrate neighborhood-scale solutions to urban resilience, including energy and water efficiency, a communal solar-powered microgrid, and shared electric transportation.

The Fruitvale EcoBlock is home to a diverse community of residents in single- and multi-family buildings with a shared commitment to sustainable living. The project, led by UC Berkeley, will run from 2020 to 2023, with efficiency retrofits and microgrid construction planned for 2021-22. 

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Getting Off Gas, Block by Block

Despite its complexities, block-level decommissioning is likely more effective than an individual, house-by-house approach, offering untapped economies of scale that can be replicated across California. Dr. Therese Peffer provides insight into the challenges of pruning gas at the neighborhood block scale and its implications for the Oakland EcoBlock project.