HomeMy WebLinkAboutBlocPower_Proposal_for_City_of_San_Luis_Obispo_2104-001May 12, 2021
City of San Luis Obispo
City Hall
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
To Whom It May Concern:
BlocPower is pleased to present this submission to Solicitation 2104-001: Proposals for Consultant
Services for BETTER BUILDINGS SLO - Needs Assessment.BlocPower develops web-based
applications to support customer acquisition and project development in clean energy and building energy
efficiency projects, in addition to demonstrating its data sharing and analytics, connectivity “middleware”,
and application development platform for clean energy markets.
BlocPower is a Brooklyn-based climate technology startup that is making American cities greener,
smarter, and healthier. Since its founding in 2014,the company has retrofitted more than 1100 buildings
in New York City, Oakland, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, with projects underway in 24 cities.
BlocPower uses proprietary software for analysis,leasing, project management, and monitoring of clean
energy projects that save customers between 20-70 percent on annual energy costs. The company is
backed by some of the world’s top investors including The Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group,
Kapor Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social
Impact, AccelR8, Salesforce Ventures, and New York Ventures of the Empires State Development
Corporation.
The company focuses on (1) leveraging publicly available data, utility data, and real-time building
performance data to efficiently identify and engineer retrofits, (2) structuring innovative financing via On
Bill Recovery, impact investments, and institutional project finance to solve the upfront access to capital
challenges that traditionally prevent low and moderate income (LMI) single family, multifamily and small
commercial building owners from accessing clean energy retrofits. (3) BlocPower works with proven
local contractors, and government and utility programs to deliver concrete solutions to tough installation
problems faced by building owners, and (4) develops and performs feasibility analyses for Distributed
Energy Resources (DER) in utility grid targeted areas,particularly in LMI neighborhoods.
To achieve this, BlocPower developed a portfolio of vertically integrated technology products in a
seamless web-based software platform that serves as an intelligence layer to help building owners,
governments, utility companies, lenders, contractors,equipment manufacturers, and policy makers
navigate the complexity of developing energy efficiency,clean energy, and DER projects. BlocPower’s
technology platform was developed under a U.S. Department of Energy contract, and has been
successfully deployed to deliver energy efficiency,clean energy, and DER services as part of the
Community Retrofit NYC program from the Mayor ’s Office of Sustainability of New York City, and
NYSERDA’s NY Prize, Small Commercial Energy Efficiency,and Solarize programs.
Thank you for taking the time to review this submission.If you have any questions regarding our
submissions, please contact me at donnel@blocpower.io or 347-221-6852.
Sincerely,
Donnel Baird, BlocPower CEO & Founder
The Problem
San Luis Obispo, like that of forward-thinking cities across the U.S., is forging it’s own way in addressing
climate change issues. The complexity of climate change and emissions reductions requires multi-pronged
approaches. One of the most essential tools is
customized data and analysis to efficiently, effectively
and decisively deploy limited resources for maximum
impact in any community. Prioritizing decarbonization
of buildings is one of the most important steps
municipalities can take in impacting greenhouse gas
emissions (GHG). However, it is complicated for cities,
utilities and other stakeholders to know which buildings
to pick, prioritize or target for the
more-complex-than-appears process of removing oil
and gas appliances to replace with all electric
equipment. How can the city know which buildings are
the biggest emitters of GHGs? What about the owners’
readiness to complete a retrofit based on the age of their
heating and cooling equipment or other appliances?Which buildings are most ready for electrification
without additional retrofit work and which will require additional weatherization and pre-electrification
rehabilitation and the subsequent additional funding?What communities are most often overlooked and
therefore most vulnerable to be left behind once again in this latest effort? All these questions and more
are essential to crafting a comprehensive building retrofit program for deep emissions reductions.
Proposed approach
San Luis Obispo’s thoughtful approach to climate change mitigation requires SLO to assess residential,
commercial, municipal and industrial buildings in a diverse landscape and community of mixed economic
development and differing needs. The goal of achieving 50% reduction in existing building emissions by
2030 will require decisive action and strategic deployment of resources. BlocPower can enable the city
government and local stakeholders in their ambitious yet utterly essential goals to build an effective and
efficient retrofit program by building a custom instance of our BlocMaps with BP Target software tools,
the foundation of the BlocPower program model which we use to deliver electrified buildings.
BlocPower Software: BlocMaps and BP Target
BlocMaps, a 3D building visualization tool for an entire
community of buildings, allows cities, utilities,and
private building owners to view each building's energy
efficiency score within a community. BlocPower uses a
building data collection and analysis protocol to predict
a) energy conservation measures, b) greenhouse gas
reduction potential and c) expected implementation cost
and complexity by building archetype. BlocMaps
utilizes statistical and thermodynamic modeling of
energy consumption and layers on machine learning.
Our team of building engineers, data science engineers,and full stack software developers have built a
machine learning algorithm that analyzes small training sets of real building energy data collected through
engineering audits. Our machine learning model is then able to generate Energy Use Intensity (EUI)
predictions for all similar buildings within a municipality.We have completed this analysis for 30,000
buildings in New York City and have expanded this to Philadelphia, PA and Buffalo, NY with several
other cities soon to follow.
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The BlocMaps scoring system can be used to demonstrate baseline energy efficiency potential for
thousands of buildings, and EUI scores recommend appropriate retrofit measures on an individual
building level to building owners, portfolio managers,equipment providers, installers, and investors.
BlocPower ’s machine learning statistical model predicts the EUI score for each building by evaluating a
data set of characteristics defined by a machine learning optimized training data set of real world,
investment grade energy efficiency projects. Potential customers can submit individual or collective
utility data through BlocMaps web platform to improve the precision of building EUI scores.
On the front-end, BlocMaps is a React project that is bootstrapped using Create React App running on
node v10.15.3 and using npm v6.9.0 and the map visualization is powered by MapBox. React is a
javascript library for building user interfaces. All scores (BP Target, Heat Pump Target, and EUI) are in
the MapBox layers and the colors of the buildings change based on those values. On the back-end,
BlocMaps uses a Django application as its API layer to make requests related to recommendations for
buildings. The front-end queries the backend when a building is selected to surface the recommendations
for said building. Django is a Python web framework for rapid application development. The persistence
layer for the Django application is a Postgres database.
BP Target,a program and policy planning tool, allows users to pinpoint geographic areas, building types,
or other custom groupings for energy efficiency or clean energy adoption at scale. BlocPower ’s
software-based project identification tool, utilizes public and private data, policy and budget information,
proprietary building energy efficiency scoring, and statistical and thermodynamic modeling of energy
consumption, to identify buildings within a designated geographic area that are best suited for retrofit.
BlocPower customizes the BP Target algorithm to identify buildings which would benefit from retrofit
installations and create green jobs. The algorithm can also be optimized to filter for projects that include
certain types of retrofits, e.g. air-source heat pump installations, which correlate with fast-growing
segments of the green economy. The output from the BP Target algorithm can be sorted and/or filtered by
neighborhood or other criteria important to San Luis Obispo’s decision making and the results can be
exported to Excel, giving a ranked list of projects to invest program time, money and other resources into
to achieve SLO’s building emission reduction goals.
The newest addition to BP Target is the BlocPower
Environmental Justice Score (EJS) based on data from the
US Environmental Protection Agency. It is a score at
building level to reflect the degree of EJ need. EJS is a
combination of environmental, demographic indicators,and
BP Target attributes. It is designed to educate, inform and
translate the environment justice movement for various
stakeholders.BP Target score for a building is generated
using a weighted score for calculating the potential need of
an energy retrofit for a building based on properties of the building, open data about the building, and data
about related entities such as owners. The score is generated using an algorithm developed in Python.
Scores are calculated and then stored in a database to surface in BlocMaps or can be exported.
These tools, taken together, will allow SLO to strategically develop a program to reach building owners
and deploy funds in service of decarbonizing existing building stock, regardless of sector, throughout the
community.
Data required
The types of data that BlocPower uses to create these tools include a combination of the following:
MUNICIPAL:
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Building footprint/shapefile blueprints; lot size & # of buildings on lot; building age; building
square footage; year(s) of remodel (if applicable);building heights and # of floors; building
class/type/use (eg multifamily residential, commercial mixed use, etc); # of residential units and
breakdown of units by # of bedrooms; # of elevators;building
violations or citations; tenant complaints (too hot/cold,leaks,
mold, etc); HVAC upgrade permit records including year of install
and upgrades completed;
UTILITY / CCAs / DATA ANALYTICS FIRMS:
Utility consumption data, including interval data where possible
for Electric and Natural Gas.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS or BUILDING OWNERS:
Plug loads; lighting fixtures/equipment type and install date; boiler
brand/nameplate, model #, size, input, fuel source,age/date of
installation; HVAC equipment inventory, including size, age/date
of installation; space heating system inventory; lighting and
HVAC system control inventory; domestic hot water system
inventory.
If not all data is available, some accommodations can be made using substitute data sets and other
information.
Security measures
All data, including any personal identifiable information,is stored securely in encrypted postgres
databases. Internal users use Oauth to authenticate and get authorized to view any private data and
2-factor auth is enabled to sign in to internal applications.No private information is surfaced in externally
facing applications. All of our web applications use HTTPS to send and receive information over the
network.
How this serves SLO’s needs
SLO is seeking a tool that provides actionable insight and ultimately leads to completed projects
throughout the city. BlocPower’s software is not meant to sit on a shelf or grow stale. Considering San
Luis Obispo’s three phase plan for building electrification,we do not develop software in a vacuum.
BlocPower provides full service programs that are enabled by the software we build and ultimately lead to
electrified buildings, including in LMI communities that are traditionally excluded from these upgrade
opportunities. By leveraging technology and data,Blocpower identifies, analyzes, finances and delivers
electrified buildings at lower cost than other providers.We target multifamily and small commercial
buildings, focused in underserved communities.
As mentioned above, our approach starts by using machine learning to identify and prioritize inefficient
buildings, most in need, with our unique BP Target score. After building a secondary software tool called
a Preliminary Needs Assessment (PNA) Engine for a region, BlocPower then produces an automated list
of recommended energy conservation measures, or PNA to provide guidance and direction for the
necessary scope of the retrofit project. These tools,overlaid with BlocPower ’s strong community
relations, efficient processes, and technological innovations enable drastically reduced customer
acquisition and project implementation costs.
Beyond customer education and acquisition, BlocPower also acts as an engineering, design, and
construction project manager to implement retrofit projects to completion. Part of that enablement
involves project financing, drawing on sources such as local/state/federal incentives, institutional
investors, as well as more innovative sources of capital.We bring in low-cost capital, as well as
crowdfunding, Opportunity Zone credits, air-quality health credits and other creative financing
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instruments to lower and spread out project costs. This “heating and cooling as a service'' removes up
front cost barriers and helps building owners save energy and utility costs, which supports a scalable
program that transfers value to building owners while enabling the city and its stakeholders to reduce
emissions and improve community health.
Additionally, SLO wants the benefits of this effort they are leading to extend beyond its borders and to
ultimately take flight by enabling market-based solutions.BlocPower ’s model is scalable and extensible
to communities in the surrounding region. Every piece of data BlocPower analyzes, every project we
complete, improves our ability to serve the needs of SLO and nearby communities and building owners
within. The BlocPower process focuses on the ability to serve small and medium-sized building owners
who are least able to complete these projects themsleves,while providing program analysis for buildings
of all types and sizes. Smaller buildings have smaller scopes of work and budgets, which cannot handle
time-consuming energy audits or extensive engineering review like larger buildings can. BlocPower ’s
ability to pre-screen with our customer-facing Building Intake Survey tool, then provide a Preliminary
Needs Assessment and engineering scope allows upfront costs to drop by 75-90%. This makes projects
feasible to the majority of buildings in existence,particularly those under 50,000 square feet. The
community-driven business development aspect of BlocPower’s program approach built off of the
software platform drives engagement with customers.Forming relationships with building owners leads
to referrals, thus more completed projects.
BlocPower Impact and Team Experience
Since its inception in 2014, BlocPower has helped thousands of LMI building owners, tenants, and
building managers across NYC, New York State, California,Washington, DC, and 24 other cities to
understand the unique possibilities of energy efficiency and renewable energy retrofits of their buildings.
Specifically:
●BlocPower won a competitive bid from the NYC Mayor ’s Office of Sustainability and Economic
Development Corporation contract to analyze and retrofit 500 multifamily buildings in Brooklyn,
which BlocPower used to complete over 800 retrofits on time and under budget.
●BlocPower partnered with NYSERDA to generate one of the largest solarize programs in New York
State, persuading over 200 low income households in New York City’s poorest neighborhood to
finance and install solar PV on their homes. BlocPower utilized NYSERDA’s Small Commercial
Energy Efficiency program to perform audits of 300+small commercial buildings in underserved
communities in 17 NY State municipalities.
●BlocPower successfully completed a feasibility analysis of a community owned solar microgrid in
NYC’s poorest community under NYSERDA’s NY Prize.
●To date, BlocPower has performed preliminary analyses of 30,000 buildings, completed deep
engineering and financial analysis of over 20,000 of buildings and completed over 1100 retrofit
projects in Low Income Communities.
●BlocPower has a contract with the Philadelphia Energy Authority to implement software to enable the
creation of a strategic city-wide building electrification program
●BlocPower has a contract with utility conglomerate Exelon to create regional building intake survey
software for users in Washington, DC; Baltimore, MD;Philadelphia, PA; and Chicago, IL.
Donnel Baird,CEO (Brooklyn, NY), spent 4 years as a political and community organizer and two years
managing a national initiative to leverage the American Reinvestment and Recovery act in energy
efficiency investments in underserved communities.Recognizing the need for the private sector to create
and expand market-based-solutions to climate change,he founded BlocPower, a clean tech startup, to
develop clean energy retrofit projects in underserved communities and connect them to investors seeking
social, environmental and financial returns.
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Grace Parker-Bradbury,General Manager - West (Oakland, CA), has worked in climate tech for the
past 15 years, starting in demand response with Enernoc,utility data analytics, and more recently in
residential Solar with Sunrun and Solar Mosaic.
Yuchen Doris Han,VP of Engineering Products (Brooklyn,NY) is a LEED AP O+M certified
mechanical engineer, software developer and data scientist who leads the design and development of
engineering software that serve clean energy projects at BlocPower.
Maria Carrillo, Project Operations (Los Angeles, CA),is a LEED Green Associate with 5 years of
experience in clean energy technology, green building,and electrification. She has expertise in project
management and customer success in the residential and commercial real estate sectors.
Jose Contreras, Aizizi Yigaimu, Fullstack Software Developers (Brooklyn, NY)implement customization
of BlocPower platform features for building-level data analysis, ECM recommendations, reporting,
technical and financial assistance, and M&V.
Proposed Budget
Investment
BlocMaps - research, acquisition, ingestion, configuration of data sources $25,000
Energy efficiency audit data In-kind
BP Target score - research, acquisition, ingestion, configuration of data sources
(ie. open data, Census data, air quality data)
$40,000
Utility & Municipal data (raw or meta data)In-kind
Total $65,000
Unit price extension - Annual $40,000 subscription cost inclusive of one dataset update / year, starting
from the launch date.
Proposed Schedule
Start Date Activity Duration
7/1/2021 Acquire data from SLO, 3C-Ren, local EE program providers,
etc.
1 month
8/1/2021 Clean data 1 month
9/1/2021 Configure BlocMaps 1 month
10/1/2021 Configure BP Target 1 month
11/1/2021 Testing, validating, reconfiguration 2 weeks
11/15/2021 Launch
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Consultants
The undersigned declares that she or he has carefully examined this RFP, is thoroughly familiar with its
contents; is authorized to represent the proposing firm; and agrees to perform the specified work for the
following cost quoted in full:
Description Cost
Task 1: BlocMaps $25,000
Task 2: BP Target, incorporating Environmental
Justice scoring
$40,000
Total $65,000
Contact: Ariel Kalishman Walsh - Signature of Authorized Representative:
Date: May 12, 2021
BlocPower
1623 Flatbush Avenue
Box #222
Brooklyn NY 11210
ariel@blocpower.io
917-400-7531
References:
Number of years engaged in providing the services included within the scope of the specifications under
the present business name: 8 .
Reference 1
Agency Name NYSERDA
Contact Name Emily Dean
Telephone & Email Emily.Dean@nyserda.ny.gov
Street Address New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority
17 Columbia Circle
City, State, Zip Code Albany, NY, 12203-6399
Description of services provided including
contract amount, when provided and project
outcome
Various contracts, including several ongoing.
Specific example - PON 3932
Purpose - Utilizing BlocPower software to
generate and complete electrification and energy
efficiency projects in key target areas throughout
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the state
May 1, 2020 - November 30, 2021
$500,000
Successful delivery of the software and ongoing
use by the client.
Previous and ongoing contracts with NYSERDA
include energy efficiency project completion
contracts, energy efficiency auditing contracts,
program management work and software
development efforts.
Reference 2
Agency Name Philadelphia Energy Agency
Contact Name Alon Abramson
Telephone & Email aabramson@philaenergy.org
Street Address Philadelphia Energy Authority
City Hall
1400 JFK Blvd. Room 566
City, State, Zip Code Philadelphia, PA, 19107
Description of services provided including
contract amount, when provided and project
outcome
Development and deployment of BlocMaps for
Philadelphia (without BP Target). ‘BlocMaps
Philadelphia,’ white-labeled by PEA, will provide
building-level information, such as proposed
energy conservation measures (ECMs) based on
building typology, and associated cost, savings,
installation difficulty levels; $50,000 (separate
from ongoing annual license.)
In-progress work, estimated to be deployed by end
of Q2 2021 (delayed due to pandemic)
Reference 3
Agency Name Exelon
Contact Name Cena Smith
Telephone & Email Cena.Smith@exeloncorp.com
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Street Address Exelon Corporation, 10 S. Dearborn St., 48th
Floor
City, State, Zip Code Chicago, IL, 60680-5398
Description of services provided including
contract amount, when provided and project
outcome
Climate Change Investment Initiative
Feb 2020 - May 2021 (delayed due to pandemic)
$:100,000
Scope of Work:
Building Intake Survey (BIS) Software for users
in four Exelon markets - Washington, DC;
Philadelphia, PA; Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL
Status: to be delivered June 2021
Current Contracts:
BlocPower has current contracts with the following entities:
1. NYSERDA Clean Heating & Cooling, NYSERDA Novel Business Model, NYSERDA Building Intake
Survey
2. Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA)
3. Exelon (Parent entity for PECO (Philadelphia),BGE (Baltimore) ComEd (Chicago))
4. Elemental Excelerator (Oakland-based cleantech incubator)
Statement of Past Contract Disqualifications
The proposer shall state whether it or any of its officers or employees who have a proprietary interest in
it, has ever been disqualified, removed, or otherwise prevented from bidding on, or completing a
federal, state, or local government project because of the violation of law, a safety regulation, or for any
other reason, including but not limited to financial difficulties, project delays, or disputes regarding work
or product quality, and if so to explain the circumstances.
◼Do you have any disqualification as described in the above paragraph to declare?Yes❑NoX
Executed on 05/12/2021 at 07:00 AM PT under penalty of perjury of the laws of the State of California,
that the foregoing is true and correct.Signature of Authorized Proposer Representative:
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