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The idea of an “eco-block” stems from a comprehensive vision of neighborhood sustainability—one where self-sufficient communities generate renewable energy, recycle and reuse all water and waste, enable carbon-free transportation, and cultivate their own food. The EcoBlock concept was first developed by Harrison Fraker, Professor Emeritus of Architecture and Urban Design at UC Berkeley, as part of an urban design studio in 2005. In the course, students developed principles and prototypes for high-density, transit-oriented developments in China based on a triple net-zero approach toward water, energy, and carbon neutrality.

Over the years, EcoBlock has shifted its focus from new construction to existing buildings. Buildings consume about half the energy used in the US. Getting all buildings to net zero emissions is a critical task for climate change mitigation, but new building construction creates significant new emissions—typically two to four times more than renovations—and house-by-house retrofits are too slow.

The EcoBlock concept recognizes the neighborhood block as a common unit of organization in urban and suburban America—in fact, most cities in the world. Blocks come in different sizes and shapes, but the basic block structure appears in all places with moderate to high population density. EcoBlock aims to harness this structure to make clean energy more affordable for communities in California and beyond.