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Home , East Bay Green Corridor, Laney College, Oakland Army Base

February 27 – March 5, 2009 special advertising supplement to the Oakland: On the inside:

Green real estate Building Interest in green commercial buildings keeps growing. 3

Green How much can Energy efficiency save you? Community programs offer help Business with efficiency upgrades.5

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Trained to meet local demand: MEMBERS OF THE GREEN JOBS corps INSTALL SOLAR PANELS. 2 oakland: building green business advErTISINg SUpplEMENT SF BUSINESS TIMES | FEBrUary 27 – March 5, 2009 A letter from Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums

he cities of America are the future transforming our community to create and capitalize on the new green economy. Our Green Jobs Corps program – in partnership with Laney of America. College, Cypress Mandela Training Center and Growth Sector, Inc. – iden- tifi es entry-level employment opportunities for individuals with barriers People will continue to move into to employment and provides them with the skills necessary to fi nd meaningful employment in the green economy. This program was founded on metropolitan areas for environmental integ- the premise that we can fi ght poverty and pollution simultaneously. It is elegant in its simplicity: bringing in green businesses, creating green jobs, rity and Oakland is well positioned to address and training residents to be part of this new expanding green workforce. the challenges of global warming and envi- We are also strategically planning the next major milestones of Oak- land’s development as a sustainable model city. Late last year, San Francis- ronmental protection through smart planning, co Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and myself stood together to commit the Bay Area to becoming the electric car capital of Ron Dellums sustainable development, green jobs, easy ac- the world. Early this year, I had a chance to talk to senior members of the Oakland Mayor Obama administration about developing an infrastructure in this region to cess to transit, and healthy, green homes and help us achieve our goal. I believe that the development of infrastructure that will support electric cars ought to be part of the focus in providing offices. revenue support to the region. We must develop this type of new green infrastructure to enable a future in which people can more easily place Oakland was recently once again ranked among the top 10 greenest cit- solar panels on their homes, recycle water for landscaping, charge their ies in the country by SustainLane Media. This was the sixth time in the electric vehicles and bicycle safely on daily trips throughout the city. Green last three years Oakland has been recognized in the top ten by a leading infrastructure improvements would put scores of people back to work and national survey. I am proud to say that Oakland has become a model for create business opportunities for manufacturers and retail, all while mak- the nation in terms of greening a city. Our four-fold strategy includes: ing signifi cant progress at further sustaining our environment.

■ Growing the Green Economy by attracting the emerging fi eld of I’m committed to making this vision a reality and I am humbled and green businesses and jobs; honored to be working with such a capable and insightful community of ■ Creating Green Opportunities by training residents to secure and businesses, business leaders, city staff and community leaders to do just succeed in green jobs; that. ■ Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions by increasing energy effi ciency, shifting to clean, renewable energy sources, and achieving Respectfully, our zero-waste goals; and ■ Ensuring a Green, Safe, Healthy Environment for all residents and visitors.

Oakland is dedicated to leading the country in creating green jobs and Mayor Ron Dellums

The East Bay Public Affairs Team of Alicia Bert, Roxanne Cruz, Carol Lee and Tom Guarino appreciate our partnership with the Greening of Oakland.

Passing the torch to the next generation.

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PGE_SFBT_CFL_10X6_75_4c_Ad.indd 1 2/20/09 12:07:10 PM SF BUSINESS TIMES | February 27 – March 5, 2009 advertising supplement oakland: building green business 3 Building owners investing in Green Downtown’s green retrofits shrink carbon footprints while boosting bottom lines

By Jennifer Roberts “We knew we were going to do a significant renovation,” Zeff said of the 1950s-era prop- ough economic times notwith- erty. “We decided to proceed with LEED EB standing, interest in green com- even though it’s difficult to do. You have to mercial buildings keeps grow- deal with existing systems. It’s much harder ing. Oakland already boasts than new construction where you’re starting Center 21 is a seven commercial projects that with a clean palette.” Thave been certified by the U.S. Green Building Despite the challenges, he said, “the addi- new two-build- Council’s LEED rating system, including Cen- tional cost implications of certification are not ter 21, a two-building complex that includes as significant as the additional benefits you ing complex Oakland’s first LEED certified high rise. receive from operating efficiencies and from Center 21, which was purchased last fall by more market awareness and differentiation.” that includes CIM Group from Brandywine Realty Trust, Oakland’s first consists of a 20-story office tower at 2101 Making Buildings More Efficient Webster and a new nine-story, 215,000-square- LEED for Existing Buildings is a volun- LEED-certified foot green addition at 2100 Franklin. In De- tary rating system that provides standards for cember, CIM Group signed the first tenant for building owners to use in measuring their op- high rise. 2100 Franklin, biotech firm Cerexa Inc., which erations, improvements and maintenance pro- is moving from Alameda. grams. It addresses cleaning and maintenance While brand-new green buildings tend make issues, recycling programs, exterior mainte- the headlines, the fact is that buildings don’t nance, and upgrades of building systems, with have to be new to be green. Green renovations the goal of maximizing operational efficiency run the gamut from eco-friendly build-outs of while minimizing environmental impacts. in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mak- room and a unisex shower for tenants who individual suites and floors to whole-building “Certain components of LEED EB were a ing sure janitorial closets where chemicals are bike to work or go for a run around the lake upgrades of lighting and mechanical systems. lot easier to implement than others,” said Zeff. mixed are vented to the outdoors to prevent at lunchtime. Historic properties slated for restoration are Most of the operations and maintenance im- indoor air pollution, and using vacuums with With the renovation now complete and the also prime candidates for green improvements. provements relate to how you run building, he high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. new systems and procedures in place, Zeff RPR Architects proved this with the LEED- said, which means “you need to retrain the The building’s maintenance vendors have and his green building consultant, Oakland- Gold renovation of their offices in the 1920s building staff,” including building manage- been largely supportive of the improvements. based KEMA, are preparing the paperwork Uptown Arts Building on Telegraph Avenue. ment and cleaning services. “Some of the changes are investments for the for LEED EB certification. Despite the cost On Lake Merritt, the Municipal Boat House New procedures at Plaza 360 included janitorial company,” Zeff said. “We’ve been and administrative effort entailed in getting is undergoing a green and historic restoration switching to cleaning compounds that are low a little ahead of curve with some of our ven- certified, Zeff believes it’s worthwhile. that’s anticipated to be LEED certified. dors but they’re very eager to learn because “The payback is higher tenant retention and R i For building owners looking to bring oper- c they realize there’s added value for their other market differentiation. And there are savings k St u ating costs in check, attract tenants and help buildings. They know this is the direction the from the operating efficiencies of the mechan-

lower the region’s carbon footprint, rehabbing ltz. Co industry is going.” ical systems,” he said. an existing building is the way to go. “The most difficult portion of the process Zeff is optimistic that Plaza 360 will reach u

rt es we’ve encountered is the mechanical systems,” 70% occupancy by the end of the first quarter 360 Degrees of Improvement said Zeff. LEED EB requires recommission- of 2009. Recently, he leased 10,000 square y of Pay of It pays to go green. That’s the conclusion of ing of the building’s systems, which means feet of space to new tenants who were at-

David Zeff of Pacific Real Estate Partners, which c evaluating and testing them to make sure tracted to the building specifically because of ifi

owns the 8-story multi-tenant office building at al E s c Re they’re working as efficiently as possible. its green features. “Our LEED initiative was 360 22nd Street in downtown Oakland, a few instrumental in helping us to attract those ten- blocks from Lake Merritt. The 115,000-square- Green Upgrades Get Thumbs-Up ants to the building,” he said. “Everyone is so

foot building, once known as Broadlake Plaza, tat e Partn Although LEED EB addresses ongoing op- aware of climate change and carbon footprints. was recently rebranded as Plaza 360. erations and maintenance, Plaza 360 also un- We’re showing we can make a big difference Zeff expects the building to soon receive derwent a significant amount of construction. with better management and more efficient e

certification from the U.S. Green Build- r “We used green building standards for the con- lighting and mechanical systems.” ing Council’s LEED for Existing Buildings s struction,” said Zeff, including recycling de- (For more about Plaza 360’s energy effi- (LEED EB) rating system. After a green renovation, Plaza 360 molition debris, using recycled and low-VOC ciency upgrades, see page 5.) When Pacific Real Estate Partners and their building materials, retrofitting lighting with capital partner, ASB Capital Management, in downtown Oakland is on target more efficient systems, and installing low- Jennifer Roberts is a San Francisco–based bought the building in December 2006, it was flow toilets and faucets. writer and the author of Good Green Kitch- half empty. for LEED certification. New amenities include a bicycle storage ens, Redux, and Good Green Homes. Green buildings in Oakland Project Name Owner/Developer Project Type Status Goal - Rating System

StopWaste.Org Offices StopWaste.Org Commercial office Completed & Certified LEED NC 2.2 Platinum Natural Science Building Mills College Laboratory, Higher education Completed & Certified LEED NC 2.1 Platinum 2100 Franklin Street Prentiss Properties Commercial office Completed & Certified LEED CS 1.0 Gold Tassafaronga Village Unlisted Residential multi-unit Completed & Certified LEED ND 1.0 Gold Uptown Arts Building RPR Architects Commercial office Completed & Certified LEED CI 2.0 Gold Uptown Oakland FC Oakland, Inc. Residential multi-unit, retail Completed & Certified LEED NC 2.1 Silver Earthjustice National Headquarters Earthjustice Commercial office Completed & Certified LEED CI 1.0 Silver Oakland Airport Terminal 2 Port of Oakland Terminal expansion Completed LEED NC Silver UC Office of the President Offices UC Office of the President Commercial office Completed LEED EB Silver Gate 48 Housing Shasta Production Services Residential condominiums Completed & Rated GreenPoint score 76 288 third Street Condos Signature Properties Residential condos Completed & Rated GreenPoint score 57 Fruitvale Avenue Homes Habitat for Humanity Residential single-family Completed & Rated GreenPoint Pilot Eades Avenue Homes A Habitat for Humanity Residential single-family Completed & Rated GreenPoint Sheffield Village City of Oakland Recreation Center Completed Selective Green Measures Studio One Art Center City of Oakland Arts Center Completed Selective Green Measures 1111 Broadway, 24th Floor Wendel, Rosen, Black & Dean, LLP Commercial office Completed Selective Green Measures The Reuse Store Renovation East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse Commercial Completed Selective Green Measures 14th Street Apartments BRIDGE Housing Residential multi-unit In Construction GreenPoint Rated Jack London Gateway Senior Housing East Bay Asian Local Development Corp Residential multi-unit In Construction GreenPoint Rated Ironhorse at Central Station BRIDGE Housing Residential multi-unit In Construction GreenPoint Rated Approximately three dozen additional Oakland projects are currently in the green building pipeline having registered with the LEED program. 4 Oakland: Building green business advertising supplement SF BUSINESS TIMES | February 27 – March 5, 2009

the Oakland Green Finance Network about and low interest rates, typically 5% over five what we are doing in Oakland — as well years, the RRLF has funded over 40 loans to as our U.S. expansion plans — represents reuse and recycling-based businesses since Green financing a real value added reason to locate a green inception. Of these deals, over one third business in Oakland.” have been made with Oakland companies, showing the local strength of the recycling Smaller, Still Beautiful – and Green sector. Just as new as the Oakland Green Finance One recent RRLF loan went to The Re- blossoming Network, but catering to smaller firms is the use People, an East Oakland non-profit that Oakland Business Development Corpora- deconstructs buildings and sells used build- tion’s (OBDC) Bay Area Green Business ing materials to contractors and the public. Loan Fund. Co-sponsored by Wells Fargo The Reuse People used the $100,000 loan Bank, this fund offers loans between $10,000 amount to buy a used truck and additional and $50,000 to certified green businesses in trailers. in Oakland Alameda County. Such specialized access This expanded capacity will help increase to capital can be of particular value in these The Reuse People’s revenue and keep an ad- challenging economic times, and represents ditional 10,000 to 15,000 tons of building By Steve Lautze a $200 million regional fund that targets a real reward to qualifying businesses with material out of the landfill each year. number of green financing double bottom line investments. resource-efficient operations. The “older cousin” to the RRLF is the products are available to Oak- The Oakland Green Finance Network held One Oakland green business that has Recycling Market Development Zone loan land’s businesses, from loans two forums in its first year, featuring seven benefited from the program is Premier Or- program. The Oakland/Berkeley Recycling as low as $10,000 to larger local firms. Sustainable Systems helped to ganics, a seven-year-old company that pro- Market Development Zone (or RMDZ) is one loans and venture capital plays screen and prepare these firms for present- duces, markets and sells high quality gour- of 33 such zones around the state; only com- of $2 million dollars or more. Some of these ing information to the investors. met, organic and all-natural nut and seed panies in these geographic areas are eligible sourcesA of capital have been operating for The events also featured remarks by Oak- butters. for the RMDZ loan fund, which can lend up years, while others are relatively new. land Mayor Ron Dellums and U.S. Represen- A certified organic business operation, the to $2 million and currently has an interest rate tative Barbara Lee, each of whom amplified company incorporates energy efficiencies of 4%. Funds for Larger Ventures the connection between green investment into its operations and limits waste as much This loan fund is available to RMDZ- One of the newest sources of green fi- and job creation in Oakland. as possible, which qualified it for $38,674 of based companies that utilize recycled mate- nancing is the Oakland Green Finance Net- Among the firms presenting in the pair of expansion capital via OBDC’s Green Busi- rials to produce a value-added product. Over work (OGFN). Hatched in 2007 out of the forums were Blue Sky Biofuels, a pioneering ness Loan Program. the years, the Oakland/Berkeley RMDZ has Green Tech Cluster of the public/private local manufacturer of biodiesel (which will channeled over $5 million to 8 local com- initiative known as the Oakland Partner- soon be rebranding and expanding as Sirona Loans for Reuse and Recycling panies, most recently including an $850,000 ship, and founded by James Nixon of Sus- Fuels); CleanAirLogix, which is helping the Also administered by the Oakland Busi- loan to high-tech recycled glass processor tainable Systems, the OGFN helps connect Port of Oakland to achieve cleaner air for ness Development Corp. is another special- eCullet, and a $250,000 loan to nationwide Oakland’s established and emerging green trucks and ships working at the port; Cyber- ized countywide program that has done a mattress recycling pioneer DR3. entrepreneurs with more than 30 debt and Tran International, whose automated ultra lot of deals since it was founded in 1996: With so many financing options for green equity funders. light rail technology promises to increase the Alameda County Recycling Revolving businesses both large and small, Oakland re- Each of OGFN’s funders focuses on fi- both environmental and cost performance Loan Fund, or RRLF. Funding is provided wards businesses that focus on environmen- nancial as well as environmental and social of urban transit systems; and eCullet, which by StopWaste.Org, the countywide agency tal efficiency and sustainability. returns on investment, also known as “dou- uses proprietary sorting equipment to re- that spearheads regional and local efforts ble bottom line” investing. This exciting cover and color sort glass that would other- to reduce generation and landfilling of solid Steve Lautze works on green business proj- new venture is sponsored by the Bay Area wise go to the landfill. waste; OBDC screens the loan applications ects in the City of Oakland’s Economic De- Community Investment Network and has As eCullet founder and CEO Farook Af- and handles the financial details. velopment Division. 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adv_SFBT_Oakland_0209_511RRP.indd 1 2/13/2009 4:37:06 PM SF BUSINESS TIMES | February 27 – March 5, 2009 advertising supplement oakland: building green business 5 How much can you save? Oakland businesses gain from energy efficiency support

By Garrett Fitzgerald the lighting technology and nothing for labor. Now Garcia is saving money on his electric bill, and staff and customers are undreds of Oakland companies are upgrading enjoying the improved light quality. their lights, tuning up their equipment and improv- “I’ve been in this building 30 years. The lighting is ten ing their bottom lines. Through East Bay Energy times better than it’s ever been, and the lights aren’t hum- Watch, a joint project of Pacific Gas and Electric ming now. I don’t know why anybody would not want to do Company and East Bay cities, Oakland businesses this. It’s a no-brainer.” Business owner Al Garcia installed energy- have access to valuable incentives and turn-key support to help Since 2002, the Smart Lights program has performed retro- themH save energy and money. fits for nearly 800 Oakland businesses, saving over 7.5 million efficient lighting with help from Community “We make it easy for the business owner,” said Derrick kWh of electricity, worth nearly $1.2 million to their collective Rebello of QuEST, which manages East Bay Energy Watch, bottom lines. In addition to this energy savings, the program Energy Services Corporation. ‘I don’t know “and we are able to help customers quickly. Businesses don’t has provided over $300,000 in free technical assistance and have to get in line and wait for assistance. We provide the level disbursed rebates totaling nearly $800,000 to help cover the why anybody would not want to do this,’ he of hand-holding business owners need and here in the East Bay cost of over $1.5 million in equipment upgrades. The average said. ‘It’s a no-brainer.’ somebody can be there tomorrow.” participating business experiences an energy reduction of about Two of East Bay Energy Watch’s best opportunities for savings 9,500 kWh per year, saving approximately $1,500 annually. which owns the building. “The team that came in really guided are found in the Smart Lights and Building Tune-Up programs. The payback period associated with the Smart Lights lighting us through the process, showed us where we could achieve retrofits is usually less than one year, a nearly unrivaled invest- energy efficiency, and helped us take full advantage of the Smart Lights for Small Businesses ment opportunity, especially in today’s market. resources that were out there.” Plaza 360’s upgrades included Smart Lights, a program of the Community Energy Services installing new high-efficiency lighting throughout the build- Corporation, helps small businesses upgrade to energy-efficient Building Tune-Ups for Large Businesses ing and maximizing the efficiency of the heating, cooling and lighting by providing a free, no-obligation lighting evaluation, The Building Tune-Up program, designed for buildings ventilation system. technical assistance, subsidies towards installation of new light- over 100,000 square feet, provides no-cost evaluations to help “We identify measures that fit within the budget of the busi- ing, and pre-screened contractors to perform the work. Small optimize complex building systems, such as controls, heating, ness,” said Rebello, whose team at QuEST guided the upgrades. businesses and institutional facilities with up to 10 employees ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting. Customers receive They started with an assessment of the building’s systems and are eligible, and often receive subsidies of as much as 80% on incentives to implement energy efficiency retrofits and reduce provided a report summarizing all the savings opportunities, the lighting upgrades they install. the cost of recommissioning their buildings to improve energy estimated costs and payback periods. Installed project upgrades For Al Garcia, co-owner of Reed Supply appliance store in performance. They also receive written guidelines to help facility created annual energy cost savings of over $40,000, and a net Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood, the program couldn’t have managers ensure that the energy savings last. payback period of 1.25 years. (To read more about Plaza 360’s been much easier. The program provides a full economic analysis of potential green renovation, see page 3.) “Our lighting fixtures had to have been 30 or 40 years old. energy efficiency measures, and assists with finding contractors “Their advice was very sound, user friendly, and easy to We were constantly replacing bulbs and ballasts and fixtures. It to do the work, developing the scope, selecting contractors, and convey to contractors,” said Zeff. “Now we’re looking forward to was like a circus going up and down ladders all the time chang- even finding financing. some significant operating cost savings.” ing bulbs around here,” said Garcia. Oakland’s Plaza 360 building, located at 360 22nd Street, Smart Lights contractors upgraded all the lighting in the recently received an energy tune-up. Garrett Fitzgerald is the City of Oakland’s Sustainability store, and even installed a device to save energy in the store’s “They knew exactly what we were looking for and what we Coordinator. He saves money and combats climate change by vending machine. Reed Supply paid a portion of the cost of needed to do,” said David Zeff of Pacific Real Estate Partners, saving energy.

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C a s t I r o n N o - H u b P i p e & F i t t i n g s l S V P i p e & F i t t i n g s l N o - H u b C o u p l i n g s l A c c e s s o r i e s 6 Oakland: Building green business advertising supplement SF BUSINESS TIMES | February 27 – March 5, 2009 What’s going down in uptown Dining, arts and entertainment destination is also a great place to live

By Jennifer Roberts

roximity to jobs, easy access to public transit, and a vibrant Greening cultural life have long drawn people to downtown living. These perks also add up to greener living because they get Oakland, people out of cars and onto city sidewalks. In Oakland, options for the green life have just expanded, thanks to the opening of The Uptown Apartments. Located in the down- block by block town’sP Uptown district, the new development spreads its 665 apartments among three buildings designed and scaled to complement the neighbor- By Jennifer Roberts hood. Urban infill has long been considered a smart and sustainable develop- “What does a green city look like?” ment strategy, but The Uptown has gone a step further by earning a LEED asks architect Erick Mikiten, principal of Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the first multi- Mikiten Architecture, a firm specializing family residential project in Oakland to receive the coveted certification. in environmentally responsible multi- “Many residents are choosing to live at Uptown because of its green family housing and universal design. features,” said Susan Smartt, Senior Vice President, Forest City Residen- Mikiten is one of dozens of local lead- tial West, Inc. “For some, that means being close to transit instead using ers from government, business, educa- a car to get to work, shop or go to out to eat. Others appreciate our dedi- tion, labor and the community who cated car sharing, bicycles and organic food delivery. It’s another draw have been participating in the Oakland in a neighborhood that is emerging as the arts, entertainment and social Partnership, a public-private collabora- tive that’s generating ideas and plans heart of downtown Oakland.” Co

u for a more vibrant Oakland economy.

Built as a public-private partnership between Forest City and the City rt es of Oakland Redevelopment Agency, and as a joint venture between Forest During a brainstorming session at City and MacFarlane Partners, The Uptown’s green features include en- F or y of a meeting of the Green Tech Cluster, ergy-efficient lighting and appliances, low-flow faucets and showerheads one of the Partnership’s subgroups,

that reduce water use by 20 percent, healthier carpets, paints and other es Mikiten floated the idea of transforming interior materials, abundant daylight and views, water-conserving land- e Ent t City certain areas of the City into “Green scaping, and plenty of open space. Blocks.” His suggestion was not merely to encourage green improvements to

Explosion Of Eateries r individual buildings “but also to think p ri

“Build it in Uptown and they will come” seems to be the motto of suc- ses about it in terms of the whole block,” cessful restaurateurs flocking to establish their second or third location in he said. what’s shaping up to be one of the Bay Area’s hottest dining destinations. Energy-efficient and green buildings The big news as 2008 drew to a close was the opening of the contem- Many residents are choosing to live at Uptown can be found everywhere in Oakland, but from the street, most of them don’t porary Japanese restaurant Ozumo, in a stunning space inside the new Apartments because of their green features. Broadway Grand building. The East Bay counterpart of Jeremy Umland’s stand out as being more eco-friendly San Francisco restaurant, Ozumo Oakland features a sushi bar, robata than their neighbors. grill and sake lounge with more than 90 brands of sake. Samee Roberts, with the City of Oakland’s Cultural Arts and Market- That’s a problem, Mikiten points out, Directly across West Grand, the perennially popular Luka’s Taproom ing department, credits the neighborhood’s artists and art galleries with because without more visibility, the rate and Lounge continues to draw crowds for food, the bar scene, and as the putting Uptown back on the Bay Area’s cultural map. of acceptance for building green can be night wears on, DJs and dancing. Judging by the throngs on a recent Fri- “I can’t underestimate the role that art galleries are playing. Art Mur- slow. Mikiten thinks it’s time to change day night, it seemed like news hadn’t gotten out to the public that there’s mur is really drawing a broad range of people from Oakland and beyond that. “Make it dramatic, make it visible,” a recession on. and getting them out of their cars,” she said. “They’re experiencing the art he said. “If you can do enough in a Buoyed by the success of Luka’s, in late 2007, proprietor Rick Mitch- and the vibe that’s Oakland.” block that’s convincing and visible, it ell opened Franklin Square Wine Bar just across Broadway, where they can be contagious.” serve lunch, dinner and over 35 wines by the glass. Curtain Rises on Restored Fox Theater Plaques As if the Broadway and Grand hub didn’t have enough buzz, in March The biggest buzz in Uptown is the reopening of the Fox Theater, a grand designating green buildings are a

look for the doors to open at Picán, a Southern-inflected restaurant boast- 1920s-era movie palace that was once one of the largest entertainment s ing the Bay Area’s largest collection of handmade single-batch bour- venues on the West Coast. Shuttered for decades, the ornate interior of t start, but Mikiten also suggests bons. the massive domed theater had badly deteriorated until the City of Oak- hit ec A short walk down Telegraph to 19th brings you to Flora, in a former land purchased the property in the late 1990s and developer Phil Tagami c street-level Art Deco flower depot just steps away from the newly restored Fox The- stepped in to lead the restoration effort. n A r improvements like

ater. Thomas Schnetz and Donna Savitsky, co-owners of the Temescal After years of careful reconstruction, the historic Fox has been reborn. ikit e more trees, bulb- M neighborhood’s Doña Tomás and Berkeley’s Tacubaya, helped fuel the The theater’s entertainment events are run by Another Planet Entertain- Mikiten outs that widen Uptown restaurant revival when they opened Flora in 2007. ment, also the promoter for the Greek Theatre in Berkeley and the Inde- sections of the The sweetest news is that another Temescal favorite, Alison Barakat’s pendent in San Francisco. The Fox is well positioned to become a regional sidewalk to create Bakesale Betty, will be opening a second eatery in Uptown in 2009. Look arts center, said Gregg Perloff, CEO of Another Planet. more pedestrian-friendly streets, and for it on Grand Avenue just off Broadway, on the same block as Vo’s, the “We’re finding in sales that people from all over the Bay Area are buy- more places like micro-parks where recently renovated Vietnamese restaurant. Also on that block, keep an eye ing tickets,” Perloff said. “We’re very fortunate because the 19th Street people can gather. out for the opening of Farley’s East, the second branch of Farley’s, this BART station is literally right across the street from the Fox, so it’s less Through the Oakland Partnership, reporter’s long-time favorite local coffeehouse on San Francisco’s Potrero money and quicker to get there. That’s so unusual.” he’s hoping to identify a pilot block Hill. In addition to its entertainment and performing arts space, the Fox that’s anchored by a major green complex provides a permanent home for the Oakland School for the Arts, building. Although Mikiten envisions the Art Murmur Gives Uptown Something to Shout About a charter school with a college-prep curriculum and conservatory-style project starting off with a downtown Uptown isn’t all about food. The neighborhood’s renaissance started with training in the arts. OSA’s students will be in good company: the neigh- commercial block, he emphasizes that art, and on the first Friday night of every month, the local galleries throw borhood is also the home of Youth Radio, the award-winning media voice the concept readily translates to resi- open their doors and pack in the crowds for the art walk event known as for young people in the East Bay. dential and retail neighborhoods. Art Murmur. The evening starts out quietly, with visitors politely squeezing With its vibrant restaurants, clubs, galleries and two major performing “Take the Oakland section of College into storefront spaces to admire works by local artists, but as the night goes arts theaters — the Paramount and the newly restored Fox — it’s safe to Avenue in Rockridge,” he said. “That on the scene gets livelier, with people spilling out onto the streets to mingle say that Uptown is no longer an emerging arts and entertainment district. could be the next district. Someone with musicians and other performance artists. It’s a true destination. with some time and some grant money Kimberly Johansson, owner and curator of the Johansson Projects gal- And here’s the kicker: the neighborhood’s dwellings and hot spots are could walk the street and identify busi- lery on Telegraph Avenue at 23rd Street, was originally introduced to within walking distance of the 19th Street BART station, making it easy nesses” that would be likely candidates Oakland through Art Murmur. for residents to get to work or school and visitors to go out on the town — for spearheading a Green Block. With “I joined in the fun because it felt not only fresh and more experimental without the hefty carbon footprint of the Bay Area’s more car-dependent Oakland’s plethora of progressive busi- but more genuine than some other art scenes,” she said. “Each month I neighborhoods. nesses, he said, “it’s probably a pretty am surprised at the enthusiasm from museum curators, artists, tourists easy sale to help them become green and proud locals. The businesses that have opened around the galleries Jennifer Roberts is a San Francisco–based writer and the author of businesses.” are also involved.” Good Green Kitchens, Redux, and Good Green Homes. SF BUSINESS TIMES | February 27 – March 5, 2009 advertising supplement oakland: building green business 7

Left: Zephyr Gate Housing market Community townhomes have been GreenPoint rated. cloud has a bright Below: Oakland

Co residents enjoy u rt es year-round walk- y of P y of able neighbor-

green lining u lt e H hood farmers om Green housing spectrum ranges from es markets. affordable apartments to custom houses

By Jennifer Roberts Pulte Homes’ Zephyr Gate development an- chors one end of Central Station, with condo- espite the housing market’s miniums built to be 15 percent more energy coast-to-coast slump, there efficient than required by the state’s building is a bright spot. In Oakland, code. Pulte has completed construction of developers who anticipated nearly half of Zephyr Gate’s 130 three-story the rising tide of concern townhomes. about climate change and Zephyr Gate has been green-certified by volatile energy costs now stand ahead of the GreenPoint Rated, a home rating program pack with green residential properties al- run by Berkeley-based Build It Green. The Dready in their portfolios. townhomes’ green features include “cool When it comes to energy efficiency and roofs” that reflect the sun’s heat away from smart urban design, Oakland’s developers, the buildings, energy- and water-efficient building owners, and design and construction appliances and plumbing fixtures, water- professionals aren’t Johnny-come-latelies. conserving landscaping, and permeable pav- But until recently, according to Bay Area ar- ing that allows rainwater to percolate into the chitect Erick Mikiten, “other cities like Port- soil rather than running off into sewers. land, Oregon, and Austin, Texas, have been “Even given this economy, Zephyr Gate in the limelight of green building.” has been doing pretty darn well,” said Sandy Through his involvement with the Oakland Richert, general sales manager with Pulte. Partnership’s Green Tech Cluster, Mikiten “With so much heightened awareness of tak- has helped kick off a vision for a block-by- ing care of the planet and going green, buyers block greening of Oakland (see page 6). The are truly appreciative of the green amenities Green Blocks initiative, Mikiten said, can Pulte Homes is offering at Zephyr Gate.” help focus attention on Oakland as a center Homebuyers are also drawn to Central Sta- for green jobs, green tech and green build- tion’s central location. “It’s difficult to find ing. a community where it’s easier to get around From the perspective of both economic and navigate the Bay Area’s freeways,” said and environmental sustainability, Oakland’s Richert. Located just a few blocks from the central location and world-class transit sys- West Grand Avenue entrance to the Bay tem already give it a leg up over other cities. Bridge, “it’s actually closer to San Francis- Developers have capitalized on those advan- co’s Financial District from Zephyr Gate than tages to create a green housing market that’s from many parts of San Francisco. There’s as diverse and cosmopolitan as the City’s also a bus that goes right by Zephyr Gate that residents. takes you right to the West Oakland BART Oakland’s green housing scene stretches station,” she said. their most recent projects, 26 new houses in square-foot dwelling, built by McDonald’s from a master-planned community in an Adjacent to Zephyr Gate are the Pacific East Oakland. company, McDonald Construction and De- up-and-coming section of West Oakland to Cannery Lofts, developed by long-time col- Further south, construction is underway at velopment, earned Platinum certification, a glamorous hill house topped with a living laborators Holliday Development and ar- Tassafaronga, where the Oakland Housing LEED’s highest rating. It has attracted notice roof, from a stylish apartment complex in the chitects David Baker + Partners, the team Authority is replacing 87 units of public hous- as much for its contemporary design as for heart of the Uptown district to a state-of-the- responsible for the Clocktower Lofts in San ing with 157 green apartments. The project’s eco-features like a 4,000-gallon rainwater art homeless shelter east of the Coliseum. Francisco, the Emeryville Warehouse Lofts plans have been certified at the Gold level un- collection system and a vegetated roof. Here’s a whirlwind tour of some of Oak- and other notable urban infill projects. Built der LEED for Neighborhood Development, For every brand-new showstopper, there land’s new green dwellings: on the site of a former canning company, the said Bridget Galka of the Housing Authority, are dozens of older homes in Oakland that project’s 163 live-work lofts, flats and town- and “we’re also shooting for LEED for Homes have been remodeled to save energy, water New Neighborhoods homes are also GreenPoint Rated. Platinum certification,” the highest rating un- and other resources. David Gottfried, CEO Fall 2008 saw the grand opening of The A few more years down the road, the Mac- der the LEED system. “We pushed the green of Regenerative Ventures and founder of Uptown Apartments, a much-anticipated de- Arthur BART Transit Village promises to envelope for affordable housing,” said Galka. the U.S. Green Building Council and the velopment that has been awarded LEED Sil- transform nearly seven acres of land, most In 2008, not far from the Coliseum, East World Green Building Council, recently ver certification by the U.S. Green Building of which is surface parking, into a vibrant Oakland Community Project opened Cross- completed a top-to-bottom renovation of Council. The 665-unit complex is already mixed-use, transit-based development with roads, Alameda County’s newest and largest the 1,500-square-foot Craftsman bungalow bringing more life to the Uptown neighbor- market-rate and below-market housing. The homeless shelter. Built green from the ground where he lives with his wife, Sara, and their hood, an area that’s fast becoming one of village has been designated a pilot project un- up, the building gets as much as one-third of two children. The Rockridge home received the Bay Area’s top destinations for perform- der the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED its electricity from a 30-kilowatt solar electric the highest LEED score in the country for a ing arts, galleries, dining and nightlife. (For for Neighborhood Development program, a system on the roof. green renovation. more about Uptown, see page 6). rating system for neighborhood designs that Back in Uptown, nonprofit developer Re- But the truth is, you don’t have to be Got- Meanwhile, in West Oakland a new resi- integrate smart growth, transit access and sources for Community Development is tfried, one of the world’s leading experts on dential community is taking shape that in- green building. wrapping up construction at Fox Courts green building, to have a green home. cludes green-certified townhomes, lofts and Apartments, 80 units of green housing for “It’s approachable and reachable by every- affordable housing. Known as Central Sta- Real Affordability very low- and low-income families expected one,” said Gottfried. “You can start small. tion, the community’s centerpiece is a land- Green building sometimes gets a bad rap to be ready for occupancy in April. You can green your dog’s house, you can mark Beaux Arts–style train station, once as a luxury only the wealthy can afford, but green your bathroom. I went to an extreme the Western terminus of the transcontinental developers across Oakland are proving that From Glam to Everyday Green but a lot of things we did in our house you railroad and now slated for restoration as an when it comes to creating healthy, sustain- Oakland’s custom-building and home-re- can do in any house.” events and performance venue. able, high quality homes, no one need be left modeling sectors are also on a green roll. When fully built out, Central Station is ex- behind. Some green houses, like Mike McDonald Jennifer Roberts is a San Francisco–based pected to have between 1,200 to 1,500 new East Bay Habitat for Humanity has been and Jill Martenson’s new home in the Oak- writer and the author of Good Green Kitch- homes from a number of leading developers. building green since 2000, including one of land hills, pull out all the stops. This 4,600- ens, Redux, and Good Green Homes. 8 Oakland: Building green business advertising supplement SF BUSINESS TIMES | February 27 – March 5, 2009 Green Jobs Corps helps businesses and residents Oakland program turns local residents into a new green workforce by Garrett Fitzgerald ating opportunity, access, and restoring hope for some of our communities.” Imani and his ocal efforts to reduce energy de- colleagues played a lead role in driving the pendence and slow the threat of creation of the Green Jobs Corps. global warming have the poten- Several local companies have formed the tial to create significant business Oakland Green Employer Council and agreed opportunities. But as the emerg- to provide paid internships, partially funded

ing “green economy” grows in Oakland and by the program, to the first class of Green e Lthroughout the East Bay, where can business Jobs Corps graduates. These businesses have lla b ak leaders turn for skilled green collar labor? also helped to shape the program’s training e

Enter the Oakland Green Jobs Corps — a and curriculum components. r ce new program recently launched to meet the “We’ve designed the program specifically to needs of local green businesses and provide meet the needs of business,” said David Gru- nt e green job training and employment opportu- ber of Growth Sector. “This program is deliv- r / g nities for low-income residents. The Green ering to employers a corps of trained individu- altrid e Jobs Corps is preparing trainees for careers als who should equal or surpass the level of in emerging green industries such as solar talent they are normally looking to hire.” rnativ es energy generation and green construction. Participants move through the program in Graduates will have the skills and training to phases. Students first receive hands-on train- install solar panels on rooftops, weatherize ing in the skills, tools, and techniques of ba- homes to save energy and lower utility bills, sic pre-apprenticeship construction and trade and help construct new green buildings. skills. Next, classroom instruction covers “Providing quality jobs in a growing eco- topics such as solar panel installation, build- Green Jobs Corps workers are trained to meet nomic sector is crucial for the future of Oak- ing energy efficiency improvement, green land,” said Mayor Ron Dellums. “Expand- construction techniques, and principles of ecol- the needs of local businesses. ing existing entry points into our workforce ogy, sustainability and environmental justice. through the creation of green jobs will so- Finally, participants are placed into paid green- ties for more businesses to participate. coverage, has completed the first phase of the lidify this city’s position as a national leader collar internships for on-the-job training. “We are eager to establish relationships with program and earned certifications in a variety on green economic growth and advance our “The training curriculum is very hands-on additional business partners interested in our of building-related trades. vision of Oakland as a model, sustainable to prepare the students to go into industry and training and job placement services,” said Gru- “With the training I’ve already received, city.” be very successful,” said Peter Crabtree of ber. “Green businesses looking for skilled em- I can go into any construction company and The City of Oakland launched the Oakland Laney College. The program continues to pro- ployees who will work hard and perform well have the confidence to do just about anything Green Jobs Corps in Fall 2008 by providing vide support services after graduation to help should be eager to connect with this initiative.” they ask me to do,” she said. Vanek hopes her $250,000 to partners Laney College, Cypress ensure successful transition into long-term The Green Jobs Corps is creating benefits training and internship will be the first step Mandela Training Center and Growth Sector employment. for its trainees as well, providing instruction toward a career in solar design work. to recruit and train the first class of partici- “We aren’t looking at this from the perspec- that goes beyond the classroom to include cus- “I’m excited about the opportunity to not pants. Together, this partnership will provide tive of creating jobs,” said Art Shanks, Execu- tomized life skills coaching, support services just get a job but get into a fast-paced work en- world-class job training, environmental edu- tive Director of the Cypress Mandela Training and job-readiness training. vironment in which I’ll have the opportunity cation, and connections to green jobs. Center. “We’re looking at it from the perspec- “I’ve seen a lot of people go into this pro- to climb the ladder, get medical coverage for “The Oakland Green Jobs Corps provides tive of creating careers.” gram and really get their lives turned around,” my family, and contribute to a better world for real opportunities for the trainees and for lo- The Oakland Green Job Corps is already said Mary Vanek, a mother of five and current my children and their children.” cal green businesses who need skilled labor,” growing, having recently received over $600,000 Green Jobs Corps trainee. “The transforma- said Jakada Imani, Executive Director of of additional support from the State of Califor- tion is like a flower opening up.” Vanek, who Garrett Fitzgerald is the City of Oakland’s the Ella Baker Center. “Our work at the Ella nia and the Yahoo Foundation to expand enroll- hasWMTPWEW99000 been making endsDTucker_SF_GreenBusin meet for years as a ScreenSustainability Match 349 Coordinator, 4.875" x 3.25" and a promoter Baker Center for Human Rights is about cre- ment in Oakland. This has created opportuni- housekeeper and landscaper without medical of www.sustainableoakland.com.

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By Steve Lautze CyberTran International (CTI). Though it is still in its late developmental stage, success- hile Oakland remains a ful commercialization of CyberTran’s “Ul- Bay Area stronghold for traLight Rail Transit” or ULRT could have traditional green indus- just as powerful an impact as BrightSource

tries such as green build- Energy’s solar thermal technology. Cy be ing, recycling, and manu- There are three principal advantages to Cy- facturing with recyclable materials, it is also berTran’s ULRT system: an order of magni- e int rtran Whome to a growing and thriving cluster of tude reduction in capital cost (10 to 25% of green and clean tech firms. the cost to build BART); the elimination of

operating subsidies in many corridors; and rnational BrightSource Energy improved convenience due to having more This group includes BrightSource Energy, stations and allowing riders to program one which is among the leading solar thermal firms of CTI’s smaller vehicles from point to point worldwide. BrightSource is about to begin con- without stopping in between. CyberTran’s lightweight vehicles could be powered by solar panels. struction of a utility-scale solar energy generat- CyberTran corridors can interface with ex- ing station in the Mojave desert, consisting of isting BART stations and serve as lower cost thousands of mirrors reflecting sunlight down extensions to the existing BART system. They Blue Sky Becomes Sirona Fuels activating rail access at the Blue Sky plant onto a giant “power tower.” The intense 550- can also significantly reduce greenhouse gas in East Oakland, a move that was always an- degree F heat focused on the tower boils the emissions by cost effectively serving bedroom In the green tech/alternative fuels arena, ticipated by the brothers that founded Blue water, turning turbines that will supply PG&E communities with long commutes, such as Oakland-based biodiesel manufacturer Blue Sky, Patrick and Ralph McIntyre. Both of the with 500 megawatts of green energy. Each mir- Stockton and Gilroy. Sky Biofuels has recently been acquired by a McIntyres will continue with the new firm. ror captures enough electricity to supply one Because of the high relative cost of design- new group of investors. They are in the pro- With businesses like these, as well as sev- household with its average needs. ing and building any transit system, the institu- cess of rebranding the company as Sirona eral other green and clean tech firms calling This project is a huge step forward in help- tional barriers to entry for CyberTran are high. Fuels and expanding its production capacity Oakland home, the city is well equipped to ing the utility reach its required mix of 20% That is why “executing a successful, high pro- and sales. be part of the solution to reducing fossil fuel renewable energy by 2010. BrightSource and file demonstration project is critical to accep- Besides investing in additional hardware to use and realizing a more sustainable trans- PG&E have plans to follow the first installa- tance and diffusion of our technology,” says “brew” more biodiesel, Sirona has bold plans portation infrastructure. tion with 400 megawatts of additional clean Neil Sinclair, CEO of CyberTran. Sinclair’s to import vegetable oil produced from a new, energy capacity, for a total of 900 megawatts. management team, which includes BART’s more cost-effective feedstock called jatro- Steve Lautze works on green business More recently, BrightSource completed former manager of Research and Development pha, a plant that grows on otherwise non-ar- projects in the City of Oakland’s Economic a deal with Southern California Edison to Eugene Nishinaga, is now actively pursuing pi- able land in countries including Haiti, India, Development Division. He can be reached at build 1,300 megawatts of solar thermal ca- lot applications of ULRT in both Oakland and and Indonesia. Sirona also plans to invest in [email protected] or 510-238-4973 pacity, enough to power all of the homes in San Jose, and expects to be able to construct Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco com- and operate a pilot system in as little as three bined, making this the largest solar energy years once sufficient funding is assembled. deal in the world. CTI’s system doesn’t use “trains”, per se. BrightSource garnered the biggest take of Instead, it uses shorter and lighter vehicles 1000 Marina Welcomes venture capital funding of all firms in the that operate as single or paired units each only East Bay in 2008, concluding a $115 million 30 feet long. This lighter duty construction Hitachi America, Ltd. round in May 2008. The company was also means that the system’s trackways are also recently hailed by the World Economic Fo- lighter and cheaper to build, and allows the rum as one of only 34 Technology Pioneers system to be powered by solar electric panels of 2009 on the globe. installed over the guideway. A recent analy- In a recent interview with the San Francis- sis by the company suggests that photovoltaic co Business Times, CEO John Woolard said, cells installed along the available right-of-way “BrightSource Energy’s goal is to transform can provide “a megawatt a mile”, which is ten solar thermal from an ‘alternative source’ of times the power actually required to operate energy to a mainstream source. Over time the system on an annual basis. we expect to replace fossil fuels as the major Green energy pioneer and visionary Amory generation source of peak electrical power in Lovins’ prestigious Rocky Mountain Institute the U.S.” Clearly the company is on its way was so impressed by CTI’s technology and to this exciting goal, and is a clean tech suc- approach that it nominated CyberTran for cess story for Oakland. the 2007 World Clean Energy Awards, further testimony that the company is part of a CyberTran International greener future for Oakland and beyond. Another green tech innovator in Oakland is

Grubb & Ellis and TA Associates Realty are pleased to announce that Hitachi America, Ltd. For more information, has signed a lease for please contact: approximately 35,000 sq.ft. for Simon CLArk, mriCS 415.477.9214 its US west coast headquarters. [email protected]

y DAviD kuCHinSky g We would like to thank Carl r

e 415.477.9279 n Florant of Cornish & Carey for [email protected] ce e

r his assistance in completing u o

s this transition. ht g Bri

BrightSource is about to begin construction of a utility-scale solar T RAn SACTion M A n AGEMEn T CoR poRATE invESTMEn T ConSULTinG energy generating station in the Mojave desert. www.grubb-eLLi S . Com 10 Oakland: Building green business advertising supplement SF BUSINESS TIMES | February 27 – March 5, 2009

Resource Razed right: center offers practical Demolitions information

matt s Nestled into the Mezzanine of the Dalziel Building next to include reuse, o

u thworth the Permit Center, the City of Oakland’s Green Building Resource Center (GBRC) pro- recycling vides information and education Reclaiming lumber from demolition is lucrative, in a variety of formats to drop- in visitors interested in minimiz- By Becky Dowdakin environmentally sound, and provides jobs. ing the environmental impacts of their building projects. hether hurtling by on I-880 or taking in the north- Nearly all of the wood in Building 802 was old-growth Douglas fir, The GBRC offers product erly view from BART before it dips into the Trans- which is virtually unobtainable as a virgin forest product, especially samples and catalogues, local bay Tube, it’s hard to fully grasp the immensity of the in the dimensions used in the OAB warehouses. Building 802, and the case studies, guides and guide- World War II-era warehouses quietly awaiting rede- other six OAB warehouses slated for deconstruction, featured 10”x22”x lines, and on-line resources ployment on the former Oakland Army Base (OAB), 32’wood beams on 10”x12”x25’ wood columns supporting the roof, and regarding green building prac- Designed for the transfer of supplies by rail and truck to and from ships 4”x12”x22’ roof purlins. The beams, columns, and purlins were des- tices and products. Whether you dockedW at the Army Base, each of these warehouses is over 250 thousand ignated as “Select Structural” grade, suitable for structural reuse. The are looking for physical exam- square feet. That’s a footprint equal to three container ship decks, or over smaller dimension lumber that comprised the roof and wall sheathing, ples of building materials to use 750 shipping containers, or more conventionally, three football fields. and wall studs, was marked as #1 grade, suitable for reuse as flooring. in your project, or evaluation of After decades of military service, these buildings will not just fade These recovered materials were sold to lumber companies in California new green building techniques away. The City of Oakland and the Port of Oakland, who share owner- and elsewhere; specializing in reclaimed wood. and systems, the GBRC has ship of the OAB property, plan to deconstruct seven historic warehouses, In the case of Building 802, 98 percent of the large dimensional wood, something to offer you. constructed primarily of old-growth Douglas fir for reuse. almost 1,200 tons, was recovered and sold for reuse. More than 300 tons Everyone interested in Green Recognizing the emerging economic and job development opportunities of small dimension lumber was delivered to a commercial landscape sup- Building and Sustainability is presented by deconstruction in preparing the site for development, the Port plier where it was shredded in production of mulch. In addition, Zac- encouraged to visit. and City enlisted StopWaste.Org to study the efficacy of OAB building cor diverted metals, concrete, and other materials to recycling markets, Architects, Designers, deconstruction, starting with Building 802. The Port hired Zaccor Com- achieving an overall recovery rate of 73 percent for the project. Engineers, General and Sub- panies, Inc. to deconstruct the building and provide a workforce training Zaccor was able to deconstruct Building 802 in less than 75 days, ex- program. The project salvaged an estimated one-half million dollars of ceeding the expectations of the Port, and demonstrating that deconstruc- contractors, students, home building materials and local residents were provided job training. tion and workforce development can be effectively included in a schedule owners will all find something of In contrast to the conventional smash-and-trash demolition that produc- for pre-construction site preparation. value while visiting the GBRC. es a heap of debris for landfill disposal, deconstruction involves disman- “We were surprised at how fast it went,” said Celia McCarthy, an envi- The GBRC is located in 250 tling of building components for reuse of old materials in new construc- ronmental planner at the Port. “I think there was some doubt about the Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd tion. In addition, deconstruction emphasizes recycling of materials where viability of deconstruction to begin with, but we did, through this project, floor - open 8:00 am to 4:00 reuse is not feasible, especially for metals, concrete, and wood products find out that we could do it in a reasonable amount of time and that it was pm, Monday through Friday, not suitable for salvage. Reuse and recycling of building components financially feasible.” and closed holidays and week- reduces the demand for materials made from virgin resources, thus re- ends. ducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions related to the extraction, Becky Dowdakin is the Recycling & Solid Waste Supervisor for the processing, manufacture, and transportation of new goods. City of Oakland. Becky’s carbon footprint is the same as her shoe size. Shop green, shop local, shop Oakland!

By Steve Lautze Neel. “If we all shop at malls, we’ll only have malls left — we’ll become another Generica, indistinguishable from any s locals know and many visitors discover, other place.” Oakland’s diverse neighborhoods offer great Critical support for Oakland Unwrapped arrived at just the options for shopping. While the City’s Eco- right time in the form of OneCalifornia Foundation and its par- nomic Development staff is actively seeking ent, OneCalifornia Bank. A relatively new player in Oakland, to attract major retailers back into the Upper OneCalifornia threw its support behind Oakland Unwrapped Broadway area, there are several feisty and flourishing ef- when the bank set up shop here in late 2007. It was yet another fortsA underway to promote the many independent, green, and match made in heaven for Kilmer-Neel. local merchants who are already here in Oakland. “When OneCalifornia offered to bring me and Oakland Un- Among these initiatives is the Shop Oakland campaign. Shop wrapped on board, it was a perfect marriage. My focus on so- Oakland has evolved from being a push for local holiday pur- cially responsible shopping fit perfectly with OneCal’s vision chasing to a broader effort to encourage Oaklanders to “shop lo- of socially responsible banking,” she said. “OneCal is leading cal” all year round. Stalwart supporters of Shop Oakland include a movement to restore banking to its purpose of actually serv- the City of Oakland, Oakland Merchant Leadership Forum, the ing the community where it sits, rather than serving itself. In citywide association of neighborhood merchant groups, and this way, Oakland may be the birthplace of a new model for Oakland Unwrapped, the six-year-old brainchild of web savvy banking in a new era of financial responsibility.” “shop local” activist and organizer Erin Kilmer-Neel. Oakland Unwrapped, with support from the OneCalifornia M i c Kilmer-Neel formulated the idea for Oakland Unwrapped Foundation, also spearheads the lively Indie Awards celebra- h e

ll “on the beach in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, on a double hon- tion. Launched in 2007, and now headed into its third year,

e W eymoon in 2003,” she said. “My best friend and I decided that the Indies recognize excellence among Oakland’s businesses.

alk instead of everyone buying their friends and family “big box” The awards program spotlights companies in hip but serious e

r Photo gifts from the typical wedding registries, there should be an categories such as Pillar, Greenie, Soul of the City, Ripple easy way to buy unique gifts from local artists and neighbor- Effect, Newbie, and Innovator. The awards ceremony, typi- hood businesses, and support the local economy. Thus sprang cally held in May, is a festive celebration of Oakland’s strong g

p ra Oakland Unwrapped.” and diverse business community.

hy Launched in 2007, this web-based catalog combines the If you haven’t checked them out already, visit Oakland Un- convenience of online shopping with the grassroots message wrapped.com and Shop Oakland.com, and let your dollars The Community Alliance with Family Farmers of patronizing local merchants and artisans. This past holiday do the talking in one of Oakland’s many interesting shopping season, Oakland Unwrapped achieved a milestone of hosting districts. works to create and strengthen farmers mar- over 100 independent Oakland businesses on its website. “Supporting these businesses is also better for the environ- Steve Lautze works on green business projects in the City kets and other connections between farmers ment, less driving, less paving over green to create new malls, of Oakland’s Economic Development Division. He can be and consumers. and it also keeps our community interesting,” said Kilmer- reached at [email protected] or 510-238-4973 SF BUSINESS TIMES | February 27 – March 5, 2009 advertising supplement oakland: building green business 11 Business, city team up for greener economy

By Garrett Fitzgerald ronmental engineering, geotechnical, design, and consulting firms. “The Partnership enabled us to coalesce a large stakeholder group of ‘Green business akland ranks among the ten greenest cities in the country, thought leaders to chart the most strategic path forward for the region according to surveys by Sustainlane, National Geograph- to more competitively attract green businesses and jobs in this industry ic’s The Green Guide, and Popular Science magazine. But that is a lone bright spot on the economic horizon,” said Donald Simon, recruitment local business and government leaders aren’t content to partner and founder of Wendel Rosen Black & Dean’s Green Business rest on the City’s green laurels. They’ve created two new Practice Group, which hosted early meetings of the Green Tech Cluster. and retention is public-private partnerships to help grow the local green economy: the Members of the Green Tech Cluster are working on a number of strate- OaklandO Partnership Green Tech Cluster and the East Bay Green Cor- gic initiatives, including the Oakland Green Finance Network (see page ridor Initiative. 4), Green Jobs Corps (page 8), Green Academy workforce training ini- at the heart of “Green business recruitment and retention is at the heart of our eco- tiative, support for solar energy technology installations, and an effort to nomic development strategy,” said Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums. “We establish “green blocks” in Oakland (page 6). Each of these initiatives our economic want the best talent and creative energy to be based here in Oakland and is working to expand opportunities for green business, green jobs, and working here in Oakland. Meaningful partnerships with the business green community improvements in Oakland. development community are key to accomplishing those goals.” East Bay Green Corridor Partnership Oakland Partnership Green Tech Cluster The East Bay Green Corridor Partnership is a cooperative regional strategy. We Through the Oakland Partnership, led jointly by the Oakland Met- effort to make the East Bay a center of environmental innovation, emerg- ropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the City of Oakland, businesses ing green businesses, green jobs, and renewable energy. The Partnership want the best and government are working together to launch economic development focuses on enhancing services to green entrepreneurs as well as market- initiatives to grow key sectors such as Green Tech. The Oakland Part- ing the region to attract green businesses and create green jobs. nership’s business-led Green Tech Cluster, is working to bring green and The Partnership is led by a steering committee including the Mayors talent and clean tech industries to Oakland and the region. of Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, and Emeryville, as well as the Chan- “By working closely with the City, we are helping to ensure that Oak- cellor of the University of California, Berkeley, and the Director of the creative energy land’s efforts to improve environmental performance are also good for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. local business,” said Karen Engel, Director of Economic Development Early activities included taking a formal inventory of the strengths for the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. of the six core partners and beginning the dialogue around collabora- to be based here “We are focused on the unique opportunities in the East Bay to pro- tion opportunities. Year two of the partnership will see a shift in focus mote the region as a center of green tech innovation and business devel- toward collaboration with private sector players, including brokers, de- in Oakland.’ opment.” velopers, venture capitalists and a new wave of green entrepreneurs. Launched in May 2007, the Green Tech Cluster is comprised of lead- “This collaboration will help Oakland and the East Bay to continue to ing companies and institutions, including the University of California, strengthen our leadership in the emerging green industry,” said Mayor Ron Dellums Berkeley; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; PG&E; Blue Sky Dellums. “We want to make the East Bay the Silicon Valley of green and Bio-fuels; EarthSource Forest Products; Sun, Light & Power; Bright clean tech innovation.” Oakland Mayor Source Energy; Natural Logic; Mikiten Architecture; MMA Renew- able Ventures; the East Bay Economic Development Alliance; KEMA Garrett Fitzgerald is the City of Oakland’s Sustainability Coordinator, Green; VBN Architects; Wendel Rosen Black and Dean; and other envi- and a supporter of the local green economy.

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It’s your house. Who’s going to build it and how? (green) For over 22 years Matarozzi / Pelsinger Builders, Inc. has been a leader in the Bay Area building industry. Since the inception of our company we have worked hard to introduce green building techniques into our construction process. From pre-construction planning through completion, we are dedicated to providing the finest craftsmanship supported by unrivaled customer service.

Matarozzi ■ Pelsinger Builders, Inc. Bay Area’s best for custom large and small projects.

Visit our website at www.matpelbuilders.com or call us at (415) 814-8904 RESIDEntIAL . CoMMERCIAL . SuStAInABLE . SPECIAL PRojECtS & MAIntEnAnCE License #747611