This Oakland block tried to quit fossil fuel. Here's what they learned

KQED | By Laura Klivans / KQED

Published June 12, 2025 at 2:32 PM EDT

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Nick Corlett stands next to a newly installed heat pump at his home in Oakland on Nov. 13, 2024, as part of the EcoBlock project. As the innovative project to cut gas out of an entire block comes to a close, residents and researchers share their lessons.

The initiative, headed by researchers at UC Berkeley, invited entire neighborhoods to apply for major upgrades: energy- and water-efficient appliances, insulation and solar panels, along with a shared back-up battery and microgrid to protect the street from power blackouts. All for free.

Click through to read the full story.

How does climate change affect where and how we live? The energy used to operate buildings results in more than a fourth of global carbon dioxide pollution. And climate change threatens communities with risks like floods and wildfire. So NPR is dedicating a week to stories about climate change solutions for living and building on a hotter planet.

Explore the full series here.

This story originally appeared on KQED, June 12, 2025. Read the full story at kqed.org.