The Real Estate Transformation Group unveiled the Alice St. Energy Harvester, a 37-story, 243-unit condominium designed to reduce, create and recycle energy. Building energy systems are upgradable to further reduce CO₂(e) emissions. The project adaptively reuses a historical four-story parking garage located at 1443 Alice St. The transit-oriented development (TOD) is four blocks from BART and three blocks from Lake Merritt.

Project details: www.alicestenergyharvester.com

The Alice St. Energy Harvester combines three interrelated strategies for decreasing grid-supplied energy and CO₂(e) emissions:

• The Alice St. Energy Harvester reduces energy with a high-performance curtain wall, high-efficiency lighting/HVAC systems, Energy Star rated appliances and efficient water fixtures.


• The Alice St. Energy Harvester creates energy using building integrated photovoltaic panels (BIPV) in the curtain wall. The panels are upgradable to higher efficiency units. The proposed 14,000sf solar array will likely be the largest vertical residential array in America.


• The Alice St. Energy Harvester reuses energy with regenerative elevators and a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. Regenerative elevators create electricity when braking. The CHP plant's waste heat provides the building's hot water. The CHP plant can use carbon-neutral fuel.

Built Ecology (WSP Flack + Kurtz), a specialist environmental design consultancy, modeled the energy and water consumption and CO₂(e) emissions.

Based on Built Ecology's modeling, the Alice St. Energy Harvester will:

• Reduce energy consumption (kBtu/ft²/yr) by 65% compared to the new 2011 CALGREEN/Title 24 building standard.


• Reduce energy consumption by 50% compared to the 2009 LEED Platinum (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard.

By using less energy, Built Ecology estimates the Alice St. Energy Harvester will:

• Reduce CO₂(e) emissions by 40% compared to the 2011 CALGREEN/Title 24 standard.


• Reduce CO₂(e) emissions by 23% compared to the 2009 LEED Platinum standard.


• Reduce CO₂(e) emissions by 60% using carbon neutral fuel compared to the 2011 CALGREEN/Title 24 standard.


• Reduce CO₂(e) emissions by 50% using carbon neutral fuel compared to the 2009 LEED Platinum standard.

By using recycled water for toilet flushing, Built Ecology predicts the Alice St. Energy Harvester will:

• Reduce water consumption by 54% compared to the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) water efficiency standard.


• Reduce water consumption by 35% compared to the 2009 LEED Platinum standard.

Promotes Homeowner Value

"The Alice St. Energy Harvester presents a unique homeowner value proposition by using less grid-supplied energy over time to cut CO₂(e) emissions," said Mark Borsuk, Managing Director of The Real Estate Transformation Group. According to Borsuk, "This new valuation metric transforms the home from 'a money pit to a money pot.'" He went on to add, "The Alice St. Energy Harvester will become an Oakland landmark."

About The Real Estate Transformation Group

The Real Estate Transformation Group is a San Francisco based consulting firm established in 1996.

The Real Estate Transformation Group

The Real Estate Transformation Group

The San Francisco based Real Estate Transformation Group was established in 1996.

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