7/17/2018 1 Oakland EcoBlock IMPLEMENTING URBAN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION BY MEANS OF AN INTEGRATED DESIGN SOLUTION City of Berkeley – June 27, 2018 EcoBlock Pathway to Urban Sustainability: A Transformative Response to Climate Change U.S. cities represent a huge climate change problem 80.7% of the U.S. population lives in urban areas 40% of U.S. GHG emissions emanate from buildings Residential share of GHG emissions ≈ 53% of all total buildings Our CO2 & water footprints are invisible during the day Late Communications Energy Commission July 25, 2018
U.S. cities represent a huge climate change problem
80.7% of the U.S. population lives in urban areas 40% of U.S. GHG emissions emanate from buildings Residential share of GHG emissions ≈ 53% of all total buildings
Our CO2 & water footprints are invisible during the day
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The extent of the challenge is revealed at night California’s energy footprint is not sustainable Urban sprawl is putting severe pressure on infrastructure systems Climate change uncertainty is exposing cities to heightened risks
Los Angeles San Francisco Bay Area
Climate change is a huge long‐term risk for CaliforniaWarming trends average temperatures rose nearly 2F during the 2nd half of 20th century & are still rising (Source: NASA)
Probable future climate regime: extremes of drought & rainfall
Cities are exposed to greatest risks & CA is the nation’s most urban state 95% of population lives in cities 2016 pop. = 39 million 2030 pop. = 44 million no long‐term, budgeted solutions
The integrated design problem of greening our cities Social outreach, engineering, legal/regulatory, finance & environment
energy transportation
wastewater microclimate food business & finance
waterpeople
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The ‘sweet spot’ that solves the integrated design problem
Global Continent Country Region City District Neighborhood Block Family Individual
Too Abstract
Too Big
Sweet spot
Too small
The EcoBlock Hypothesis:
The most cost‐effective level to drive
zero‐carbon, resilient urban systems at
affordable cost, based on environmental
equity & shared prosperity is the block‐
neighborhood‐district scale.
Why can the city block be a key to urban sustainability?
U.S. cities are built on a grid plan
1865‐1940: birth & expansion of the block system…Oakland, 1869.
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There are 3,500 potential EcoBlocks in OaklandOakland, 1939.
Modesto Sacramento
The same pattern of grid plan development was repeated throughout California (& the U.S.)
Despite varying geometries all residential blocks are the same The aggregation of houses into closely‐packed, discrete parcels
By aggregating energy, water, wastewater & transportation on a block‐scale, EcoBlocks can drive dramatic cost‐efficiencies,
impossible at the individual house‐scale
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EcoBlock – Opportunities & ChallengesConfronted with the threat of climate change & ageing housing: Opportunities – The future is retrofitting
• a vast market: 80% of U.S. residential housing inventory • +50% of US GHG emissions from residential housing & private cars• huge demand for investment in green jobs & efficiency technologies• untapped supply of ‘green infrastructure financing’ in debt capital markets
Challenges – The size of the task• gigantic housing stock in urgent need of repair and/or upgrades• inefficient home energy & water systems• deferred maintenance of water, storm water & sewage infrastructure • dependence on fossil fuel cars • global warming ‐ predicted severe heat‐waves & long‐term droughts
Block‐scale retrofits can solve the integrated design problem of greening our cities ‐‐ at affordable cost
1. People2. Energy3. Transportation4. Water 5. Wastewater6. Microclimate7. Food8. Financing
Solving the integrated design problem of greening cities
• 30‐year design life • minimal operations/maintenance• zero CO2 emissions • no capacity degradation• unlimited daily cycling• > 88% round‐trip efficiency (DC)• passive air cooling: no HVAC required• operates in extreme high & low temperatures with zero efficiency loss
• no hazardous materials • low cost manufacturing process • high end‐of‐life value material• 100% recyclable
Nighttime storage for homes, EVs, smart street lighting
Environmental case for solar electrifying California’s cities:
• Average Oakland block = 40 homes
• 40 homes produce = 450MWh/year
• Oakland has 3,500 potential EcoBlocks
• 450MWh/year x 3,500 blocks = 1,575 GWh/year
• > Topaz Solar Farm in San Luis Obispo = 1,100 GWh/year
Solving the integrated design problem of greening cities Treated wastewater: re‐using a resource
1. no loss of water to sewer
2. waste solids transformed into valuable compost
3. nutrient‐rich water ideal for fruit & vegetable gardens, landscaping & streetscaping
4. nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium (NPK) re‐cycled to enrich local soils
Environ. Sci. Technol. 2011, 45, 7100–7106.
EcoBlock design: potable water savings up to 70%
• estimated home savings: 40% roof‐top water capture & reuse efficient water conservation fixtures sink & shower gray water re‐cycling = 40% of potable water consumption
• estimated landscape savings: 30% average California home uses 30% potable water for landscaping & gardens
Solving the integrated design problem of greening cities
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Microclimate solution: recycled wastewater irrigation For home gardens & streetscape: avoids potable water use re‐charges local aquifer retains microclimate benefits
Solving the integrated design problem of greening cities Green Infrastructure Financing
‘green bonds’ fund projects with positive environmental benefits
asset‐backed securities with payment obligations supported by secure cash‐flows
green bonds finance low‐carbon, climate‐resilient infrastructure – like EcoBlocks
investing in climate‐smart development projects key to achieving 2015 Paris goals
dramatic growth of green bond market growing investor appetite for long‐term investments with environmental benefits
Financing the EcoBlocks of Tomorrow
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Green bond financing strategy in California: ‘Mello‐Roos’ Community Facility Districts – ‘CFDs’
Defined as voter‐approved, land‐secured financing for projects of “public welfare”
2/3rds vote from district residents required. If passed, the project is financed by a bond ‐ that can be a green bond if ‘climate‐friendly’
tax‐deductible: “assessments on real property owners may be deductible if they are levied for the general public welfare by a proper taxing authority at a like rate on owners of all properties in the taxing authority's jurisdiction.” – U.S.Internal Revenue Service
municipalities receive a tax subsidy: interest‐income not taxed
