Electrifying Existing Buildings in Oakland: Challenges and the Path Forward
Why is electrifying buildings so challenging? How can it be done? What about installing electric vehicles chargers in older buildings? What are the issues and opportunities?
The City of Oakland is developing policies to encourage electrification of existing buildings, and needs to hear from you!
Join the discussion on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 from 10 am - 12 pm!
The use of gas in homes and other buildings – for space and water heating, cooking, and clothes drying – is associated with increased risk of asthma and other respiratory illnesses, fires, and explosions. It is also a major contributor to climate change. In 2020, Oakland began requiring all new construction to be all-electric. The City has committed to eliminating gas in all existing buildings by 2040, beginning with major renovations. The City is also exploring ways to encourage installation of electric vehicle chargers in older buildings. But how do we get there?
Join City staff, developers, builders, labor, business leaders, and others in discussing the challenges and optimal strategies for transitioning Oakland’s existing buildings away from gas use. The event will include small- and full-group discussion. Outcomes will directly inform the City’s policy development for building electrification and vehicle charging infrastructure.
Panelists will include:
o Tom White, Eden Housing: Eden is an affordable housing developer with a large portfolio of properties across the region. Currently, they are renovating a large property to be all-electric.
o Nick Dirr, Association for Energy Affordability: AEA is a leader in building electrification, with a focus on affordable housing and large multi-use buildings. Nick recently co-authored a guidebook on electrifying multifamily buildings in the East Bay.
o Beckie Menten, East Bay Community Energy: Beckie leads the Building Electrification program at EBCE, including grants, incentives, policy design, and technical assistance for both local governments and property managers and developers.
o Shayna Hirshfield-Gold, City of Oakland Climate Program: Shayna led the process of creating the City’s Equitable Climate Action Plan (ECAP), and helped to develop the City’s 2020 Ordinance requiring all-electric new construction, and 2017 Plug-In Electric Vehicle Ordinance.
o Eric Simundza, City of Oakland Economic Analyst: Eric manages strategic planning initiatives for the City’s Business Development division. He leads the division’s efforts to support the industrial sector, and is helping to develop a comprehensive industrial lands policy as part of the General Plan update process.
o Brian Warwick, City of Oakland Housing Development Coordinator: Brian implements affordable housing policy, compliance, monitoring, and finance for the City’s Housing & Community Development Department.
This workshop will inform the following:
o Zero Emission Vehicle Action Plan
o Staff Report to Council on Electrification Opportunities in Major Retrofits
o Building Electrification Roadmap
Responses