Researchers at UC Berkeley’s California Institute for Energy and Environment are testing a revolutionary approach to reducing carbon emissions from buildings through a project called EcoBlock.
This initiative explores whether retrofitting neighborhoods simultaneously can save money and time while reducing the planet-warming pollution generated by buildings.
In the United States, buildings account for roughly one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to their reliance on fossil fuels like natural gas.
The process of upgrading homes individually is often slow and costly, limiting the potential for significant progress.
Frustrated by the focus on new construction instead of existing buildings, Therese Peffer, who leads the project, emphasizes, “New construction is easy, right? It’s sexy and it’s fun, but it’s not where the biggest problem is.”
According to Peffer, the true challenge lies in overhauling millions of existing structures—offices, warehouses, restaurants, and residences—to combat climate change effectively.
In 2019, Peffer and her team received a $5 million grant from California to implement their block-scale approach, setting the stage for a transformative experiment.
Isaac Zones was among the first volunteers to sign up his neighborhood as a participant in the EcoBlock project.
Gathering community support was essential, and Zones, along with his wife, Vivian Santana Pacheco, worked diligently to engage their neighbors.
Having previously organized neighborhood gatherings, the couple approached residents with a renewed sense of urgency fueled by their desire to create a better world for their child.
“It feels more tangible than showing up to a protest,” Santana Pacheco remarked.
Their outreach paid off as they convinced 15 out of 25 properties on their block to support the EcoBlock initiative.
However, not everyone was on board; some residents had their reasons for opting out.
Steve Johnson, a retired contractor living in his family’s Victorian home, expressed concerns about the disruption caused by extensive renovations.
“I just didn’t want to go through a lot of new construction all over again because I really don’t need it,” he said.
Johnson’s low energy bills and reluctance to abandon natural gas cooking further contributed to his decision to decline participation.
Additionally, some residents hesitated due to prior unpermitted work done on their homes or distrust towards the organization steering the project.
The EcoBlock initiative encountered other obstacles, including the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and supply chain issues, which led to a streamlined scope of work.
Ultimately, the project prioritized addressing the primary sources of pollution in homes—heating and cooling—rather than pursuing the more ambitious goals initially set, such as community microgrids and shared electric vehicles.
By 2024, construction activities commenced on the block, marking the beginning of a significant transformation.
Workers were seen throughout the neighborhood, installing new HVAC systems, enhancing insulation, and adding solar panels.
“We had this joke on the block: who’s getting the porta-party in front of their house? That’s how we know who’s getting construction done,” Zones shared.
Five-and-a-half years after the initial enrollment, residents enjoyed improved comfort through upgraded heating and cooling systems, insulation, and other enhancements.
The neighborhood itself underwent a makeover with new trees and native plants incorporated into previously paved areas.
Despite the loss of certain project components due to funding and logistical challenges, residents remained appreciative of their new amenities and the project’s coordination.
As the EcoBlock project nears completion, the crucial question arises: did the block-scale approach yield faster and cheaper results compared to individual home upgrades?
Peffer’s findings indicate success, highlighting several key factors.
Although this pilot project came at a higher cost—$8 million in total, including funding from a private donor—the insights gained set the stage for more efficient future endeavors.
Peffer predicts that the next iteration could cost only a third of this initial investment, with the processes streamlined by the lessons learned during the EcoBlock experience.
Buying materials in bulk proved effective in cutting costs, with Peffer estimating savings of 10-20% on items such as appliances and electric panels.
The project was also able to obtain more competitive bids from contractors by offering multiple simultaneous jobs.
A significant challenge emerged related to the return on investment in energy efficiency for low-income residents.
Due to discounted energy rates and already low energy consumption, the timeline for recouping costs from energy upgrades could be excessively long, which presents an obstacle for many participants according to the California Energy Commission.
Despite the hurdles faced, the EcoBlock project stands as a promising model for reducing carbon emissions in existing urban environments, demonstrating that collaboration within communities can lead to significant advancements in the pursuit of a greener future.
image source from：https://www.kqed.org/science/1997283/this-oakland-block-tried-to-quit-fossil-fuels-heres-what-they-learned
