From installing a laundry-to-landscape system to constructing a bioretention facility and planting trees, Sherwood Design Engineers shares the inside scoop on the implementation of stormwater retrofits for the Oakland EcoBlock.
Between 1940 and 1944, the Bay Area experienced a huge surge in population. Wartime industry jobs attracted over half a million new residents, including many people of color, who settled in different neighborhoods throughout a rapidly suburbanizing Oakland.
Dr. Therese Peffer presented EcoBlock at KQED’s Climate Adaptation Science Fair, where kids and adults explored sustainable solutions through hands-on activities.
Once known as the “Harlem of the West,” West Oakland’s Seventh Street harbored a vibrant Black music and commercial scene. While the neighborhood is still recovering from the impacts of post-war urbanization, it has begun to bounce back, turning to local blues and jazz artists to revive the sounds of a long-forgotten era.
From establishing a non-profit community association to conducting block-scale efficiency and electrification retrofits, the Oakland EcoBlock has made significant headway over the past four and a half years. EcoBlock principal investigator Dr. Therese Peffer shares a behind-the-scenes look into the project.
In recent years, electricity rates have risen significantly across California, affecting us all. It's key to understanding the underlying causes behind these changes and exploring effective strategies for managing electricity usage and costs together.
Oakland is known for hosting many vibrant festivals, but few can match the continued popularity of Oakland First Fridays, which celebrate the city's vibrant community and culture.
Decarbonizing the U.S. housing sector, while crucial for combatting climate change, faces challenges of market scalability and affordability. A recent report by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory identifies key challenges to advancing residential decarbonization and explains how solutions—such as the Oakland EcoBlock project—offer opportunities for a clean energy future.
Here in California, we are working to be world leaders in the fight against climate change. State law requires that by 2030, 60% of electricity be supplied by renewable energy, and by 2045, 100% of electricity be from carbon-free or renewable energy sources. To reach these goals, we will need to build and use more renewable energy, primarily solar and wind generation.