Dr. Therese Peffer and Rich Brown discuss the challenges and highlights of implementing the Oakland EcoBlock project at the 2023 Annual Institute.
The use of residential smart technology has led to new energy efficiency investments, but important questions remain regarding who benefits from home energy digitalization and how to ensure it is equitable. Empowering and engaging with people, particularly the most vulnerable, is key to better understanding and utilizing these technologies.
EcoBlock Project Manager Therese Peffer discusses the project as a pathway to scalable, equitable energy at the 2022 MIT A+B Applied Energy Symposium.
EcoBlock Principal Investigator (PI) and Energy team co-lead Dr. Alexandra “Sascha” von Meier discusses the Oakland EcoBlock project as part of the “Breakthrough Technologies Redefining Our Energy Future” panel at the 2022 Milken Institute Global Conference.
The Oakland EcoBlock team recently participated in a panel discussion at the 2022 Diversity in Tech Symposium. EcoBlock’s Eunice Chung provides a recap of the discussion, which considered decarbonization in the built environment through the lenses of business, policy, and research.
Co-hosted by the Building Efficiency for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) Center and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL), the 2022 BEST Annual Institute was held from January 5-7. This year’s agenda featured a wide range of speakers and covered topics from decarbonization and sustainability to building automation. EcoBlock’s Eunice Chung shares highlights from the 3-day virtual conference.
On Thursday, October 28, EcoBlock Principal Investigator and co-Energy team lead Dr. Alexandra “Sascha” von Meier gave a presentation at the C3DTI Symposium on the Digital Transformation of the Built Environment. In her talk, Sascha described the Oakland EcoBlock’s progress to date and explained the working hypothesis guiding the project.
On Monday, November 8, the Oakland EcoBlock team participated in a panel discussion at the 2021 Virtual Behavior, Energy, and Climate Change (BECC) Conference. The event centered on the development of two Advanced Energy Communities (AECs)—the Oakland EcoBlock and Bassett Avocado Heights Advanced Energy Community (BAAEC)—and highlighted each project’s approach to accelerating the transition to community-scale clean energy.
COP26 calls attention to the need for coordinated global action on the climate crisis to promote sustainable farming, redefine water and land use, end deforestation, and more. Read on to learn more about author Michael Pollan’s view on why sustainable agriculture is so critical, and the important role of individuals in combating climate change.
The first declaration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day took place in 1992 in Berkeley, California. This year marks the first time a U.S. president has officially recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a national holiday. The EcoBlock team recognizes and honors Indigenous People’s Day and the importance of recognizing the land we are on and our responsibility to become better stewards of the environment.