Topic: Urban Planning & Process
Picking a tree is a matchmaking game. Sherwood Design Engineers is gathering a list of the best tree options for the Oakland EcoBlock that have relatively low water usage, low isoprene emissions, and high resiliency in a changing climate. Learn more about Sherwood’s tree selection process for EcoBlock.
Living in a clean and safe community with access to opportunities for employment, education, and transportation are key to promoting individual and community well-being—yet not all individuals have equal access to these resources. In this blog, EcoBlock communications assistant Anna Haefele discusses the concept of environmental justice within the context of Oakland, highlighting historical challenges and future opportunities to advance social equity and improve quality of life for communities.
The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) is a key opportunity to catalyze global efforts and address climate change. Learn more about why this year is so critical, and the importance of California climate leadership.
Place-based efforts play a key role in improving communities’ sustainability and resilience to climate change. EcoBlock intern Amit Cohen writes about Oakland's environmental journey and highlights how community groups have driven progress on climate and public health issues in the City.
The Aardehuizen Project is a community microgrid serving 23 homes in Olst, Netherlands. Few other ecovillages around the globe have been built at a scale as successful as the Aardehuizen. In this blog, Erin Yu highlights why Olst became the ideal location for a sustainable community and highlights several factors critical to the community’s success.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) describes the quality of the air that circulates inside a building and how it affects people’s comfort and safety. With the average American spending 90 percent of their time indoors, it is important that our built environment supports our health and well-being. Read on to learn more how you can improve indoor air quality and stay safe during wildfire season.
Urban beautification and community gardening are making the City of Oakland cleaner, greener, and more beautiful. While planting trees, flowers, and other greenery help provide shade, improve air quality, and increase access to local food, it can also bring people together to share knowledge and build meaningful relationships. Read on to learn about some of Oakland's exciting urban beautification and gardening projects.
The Water team has been developing ways to implement water conservation and stormwater management strategies for the Oakland EcoBlock. Some of the strategies include installing water-efficient appliances, rainwater harvesting systems, and modifying landscaping strips for stormwater management and filtration.
Last month, Dr. Sascha von Meier gave a presentation on the Oakland EcoBlock for Berkeley’s Science at Cal lecture series. In this blog, Miriam Aczel provides an overview of the engaging public lecture, and highlights what EcoBlock's co-PI is optimistic about.
In the decade since the 2011 East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, microgrids have sprung up across Japan to help the country meet their energy demands and build resilience. Japan's National Resilience Program led to the development of several microgrids. This article describes the development of the first microgrid community established in Higashimatsushima.