We are proud to report 35,894 people attended Santa Barbara Earth Day this year! (And thanks to our stellar volunteers, who tracked entries from 6 locations). It's a beautiful thing when so many people can gather to share information, celebrate, and empower one another. Check out our "Live" site to re-live the magic: live.sbearthday.org

2013 Earth Day Festival stats:

• Approximately 1,026 bikes were valet parked; an estimate 1,000 more were self-parked.

• 628 people took a ride in alternative-fueled vehicles, like the 2013 Toyota RAV4 EV, the first all-electric SUV on the market, the 2013 Chevrolet Volt, the top selling electric vehicle of 2012, and other electric and hybrid cars at the “Ride & Drive” at the 14th Annual Santa Barbara Green Car Show, the longest-running public focused Green Car Show in the U.S. 

• 35,894 people attended this year’s Earth Day Festival!

• Green Project Consultants, which handled all of the event waste by hand sorting each piece, estimates it will divert over 90% of the waste generated from the festival.

• 92 pairs of gently used sneakers were collected by GreenSneakers.org, which partnered with CEC to collect retired tennis shoes at the Green Sneakers booth. The donated sneakers will be reused and provided to people in need around the world.

• This year’s festival had about 250 Volunteers!

Environmental Heroes

We are grateful to have had two Environmental Hero award recipients this year, Van Jones and Bill Nye, who accepted their awards in person and inspired the crowds with their words. 

“I’m really glad to be here,” said Van Jones, attorney, bestselling author and pioneer in the environmental movement during the acceptance of his award from the CEC. “There’s a breakdown happening in the nation’s capital, while there’s a breakthrough happening out here among the people. We’ve got to be clear about the peril that this breakdown represents, but we also have to be clear about the promise of the breakthrough.”

“It is fabulous to see so many people out here for Earth Day, because this is the future,” said Bill Nye, scientist and award winning actor and TV host. “The key to the future is to not just do less, the key is to do more with less: to go further on a gallon or a
liter of gas, to get trains to run on time with less electricity, to make aircrafts more efficient, to make farming more efficient and to have less run-off run into our rivers and streams.”

Thanks so much to these environmental champions!

Special thanks

A huge thank you to our core production and marketing partners: +One Events, LoaTree, New Noise, and Oniracom, as well as dozens of other partners and hundreds of volunteers. We invite you to applaud their incredible energy and commitment by posting your thanks on our Facebook page.

Tell us what you think

We want to hear from you! What were the highlights? Suggestions for next year?

• Festival attendee? Take this survey.

• Sponsor or exhibitor? Take this survey.

• Volunteer? Take this survey.

Share your photos

We know you took some great shots -- please share them!

You can post your photos and videos to one of our sites (including Facebook, Instagram #sbearthday, or Flickr) or mail a disc to CEC (26 W. Anapamu St. 2nd floor) for a chance to be used in festival promotional materials for 2014.

Five years after launching the Green Shorts Film Festival, CEC and Traffic Solutions are coordinating a final commemorative of the festival’s top films, which will be featured at this week’s Earth Day Opening Night Party Wednesday, April 17 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Oreana Winery.

“There are so many great movies that a lot of people haven’t been able to see, and we wanted to show the best before bringing the film festival to a close,” explained Kent Epperson, Traffic Solutions Director and lead coordinator of Green Shorts.

The film festival and video contest were created to encourage local amateur filmmakers to focus on the environment, each year centering on a theme that related to CEC’s Earth Day Festival, such as “Bringing it Home,” “Powered by the People,” and “Mobilize for the Earth.” 

With such a relatively small community, it was difficult to find strong content to continue developing new movies each year, and Traffic Solutions was forced to allocate their resources to other projects.   That said, the 25 to 30 films that will be showcased this week reflect how influential art and storytelling can be. “Little actions go a long way, and individuals can make daily decisions that change the world,” says Kent.

“The filmmakers and production teams are influenced by the movies they create,” he said, “and the audience is often touched by the films and motivated to change their behavior as a result.” In addition to the screening events that took place over the last four years, several of the short films found a broader audience, being promoted online via websites, additional events, and public access television.  For example, CEC commissioned Erin Feinblatt’s Pointless Plastic for its Rethink the Drink campaign, and Seinn Schlidt’s short film Ride was accepted into the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.  

Kent also credits the project with helping to create a sense of community.  “It wouldn’t have happened without individuals passionate about a particular topic and the numerous hours it takes to create a 2-minute piece,” he said. He fondly remembers looking into the audience and seeing new faces that wouldn’t otherwise have established a relationship and connection with Traffic Solutions, but were able to “meet through the minds of creativity.”

For the second consecutive year, CEC has helped dozens of local families gain the benefits of clean energy through the Solarize group purchasing program. In the final months of 2012, CEC conducted Solarize programs in both the Ojai and Santa Barbara regions, helping 42 families gain the financial and environmental benefits of solar power. 

A Solarize program works much like a “Groupon” for going solar; by using the power of collective purchasing, homeowners get a discounted price for solar electric systems. Additionally, homeowners in the program worked with trusted solar installers that CEC carefully vetted and selected based on quality, reliability and customer service.

Joan A. and Ellen B, two of this year’s Solarize Santa Barbara participants, describe the benefits of CEC’s rigorous installer selection process. “CEC’s expert vetting of solar companies and their selection of two high-quality choices made it extremely easy to proceed with clarity and confidence.” Joan and Ellen ultimately opted for 2.76 kilowatt system that will save them $132 a month in electricity bills.

The Solarize Santa Barbara and Solarize Ojai programs ran for three months and two months, respectively. In that time over 200 kW of new solar power was contracted for the region – translating to 300,000 kWh of clean, emission-free electricity each year. This new solar power means that the equivalent emissions from 500 barrels of oil will not be released into the atmosphere¹.   It is also equivalent to planting 173 acres of pine forest².    These environmental benefits were important to Joan and Ellen when they decided to switch to solar.  Joan states, “While we ultimately will save a lot of money by going solar, reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to the health of our endangered planet is even more meaningful to us.”

CEC plans to roll out more Solarize programs in 2013. For more information about solar electricity or Solarize programs call (805) 963-0583 x 105 or visit www.solarizesb.org or www.solarizeojai.org.

^{1, 2} Equivalent emissions figures are calculated from US EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html#results

Refrigerators and freezers consume about one-sixth of all electricity in a typical American home¹, making them the most energy-consuming household appliance. If you are looking to cut down on your energy costs this year you may want to consider discarding your spare, working refrigerator or upgrading your existing one to a more energy-efficient model. 

On Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27 the South County Energy Efficiency Partnership (SCEEP) is hosting a free refrigerator pick-up day. Sponsored by SCEEP, Southern California Edison's (SCE) Refrigerator & Freezer Recycling Program provides South County residents in SCE's service area with an easy way to make a difference in their carbon footprint and their pocketbooks.

Disposing of an old fridge or freezer yourself can be costly and time-consuming. Not only is the pickup free but you can rest assured that old appliances are dismantled at a recycling center, where the metals and refrigerants are removed in an environmentally-safe manner. 

In addition to picking up old, working units and recycling them, SCE will also pay $35 for a refrigerator and $35 for a freezer (limit two units per qualifying customer). That’s a great bonus on top of the $180 per year you’ll save by disposing of your spare unit, or $105 you’ll save from replacing it with an energy-efficient model². 

To participate in the pick-up, residents and businesses simply schedule an appointment and SCE will visit the qualifying location to haul away the old refrigerator or freezer. Participants will then receive a $35 check in the mail. To qualify, refrigerators or freezers must be in working (e.g. cooling) order and between 10 and 32 cubic feet, located at a valid SCE billing address within the SCE territory. Pickup is limited to two refrigerators or freezers per location per year. 

SCEEP is a partnership of Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Company, the cities of Carpinteria, Goleta, Santa Barbara, and the County of Santa Barbara.The pick-up day is one of many SCE programs hosted by the South County Energy Efficiency Partnership to help the region shift toward more energy-efficient technologies.

Customers who cannot participate on that day can arrange a pickup and receive their incentive by calling 800-234-9722 or by visiting the Southern California Edison website.

For more information on the program, visit SCEEP.org or call 800-234-9722.

^1.California Energy Commission http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/appliances/refrigerators.html
^2. Estimated electricity cost savings are based on average consumer usage and are not a guarantee of actual savings. Southern California Edison http://www.pickupmyfridge.com/interview/SCECustomer.asp

The old saying goes that knowledge is power. For those who – like me – are interested in knowing more about their energy use, Southern California Edison (SCE) is now providing online electronic energy data that allows you to monitor your household's energy use, track monthly energy costs, and sign up for incentive programs to reduce energy use.

All of these programs are made possible by the SmartConnect digital meter that gives 24/7 access to your home's electricity information by the hour, day or month. I recently received notification in the mail of this new program and immediately went online to check it out. Here is what I found, and why I'm excited about having real-time data to help my household manage its energy use.

The first step is to either access your existing online account, or create one. To do this, you will need your 10 digit SCE account code (found in the upper right corner of your bill, above your address) and your zip code to get started at www.sce.com.

When I logged into my online account, what impressed me most was the depth of information available. For example, the picture below is a screen shot of my account for Sunday, November 11. This picture tells exactly when my family has been using energy, though it's up to us to figure out what the highest offenders are. I know that I started a load of laundry and used my hair dryer between 8 and 9 a.m., and here we see a corresponding spike. With that knowledge, I can start to investigate ways to lower electricity use, and the corresponding bill.

Importantly, I can manage my energy use for environmental and economic gain. Electricity is at its most expensive and most polluting on hot summer days when the electric utilities must rely on "peaker power plants" that are only turned on when electricity use "peaks" or hits very high levels. Using the Savings Tips tab, I can sign up for incentives, notifications, and discount plans that let me know when we need to reduce electricity use to avoid starting up these plants.

Through the voluntary Save Power Day Incentives, if I am able to reduce electricity use, I can get bill credits. It is important to note that if my electricity use increases during these periods I will be charged more. This program may not work for everyone, like those who work from home, but most of us should be able to reduce energy use a few days a year by simply putting off laundry, turning down the air conditioner, or turning off electronic appliances. Again, reducing energy use just a bit can have a big impact on cost of electricity and pollution levels because the utilities won't have to start up those expensive, polluting peaker plants.

Another tool under the My Account tab is called "Understanding My Bill." Most residents pay for electricity based on the amount we use. The more we use, the more we pay. This is called a tiered system. The first tier guarantees low rates for basic necessities like lighting, cooking, heating and refrigeration. Subsequent tiers (there are five total) have incremental rate increases. The goal is to incentivize us to use less. This is a screen shot of where my electricity use fell in the tier structure for last month. My house is around 1,000 square feet and is very energy efficient, so even with three people, all of the electricity use falls within the first tier -- meaning I pay only $0.13 per kilowatt hour (kWh). But as you can see, if I were to use more energy, I could be paying upwards of $0.32/kWh, almost three times the amount for the same unit of energy! Next year this amount will be even higher as SCE was just approved for a rate increase.

By setting a notification for when electricity costs start creeping into the top tiers, I can take an active role in reducing my electricity bill. (Note, that as homeowners reach Tier 3 and higher, solar electricity becomes cost effective immediately – but that's for another blog post.)

SCE has finally equipped its customers with the information and options that we need to better manage our electricity use. Smart Meters may not appeal to everyone, but as for me, I'm happy to have a tool that helps both my pocketbook and the environment.

More information from SCE can be found at www.SCESmartConnect.com or 1-877-287-2140.

With funding from local foundations, CEC's Rethink the Drink program has installed 16 refill stations on local elementary, junior high, high school and college campuses since the beginning of 2010. As of this month, schools have used the stations a total of 230,239 times and have dramatically reduced their use of disposable plastic water bottles.

The refill stations dispense cold, filtered water with both a quick-fill mechanism and a regular water fountain spout. An electronic 'counter' displays the number of uses.

Six stations were installed in the initial year of the program, 10 more during the 2011-2012 school year, and 12 will be added in this school year -- including nine schools and three afterschool locations. The schools include McKinley and Washington Elementary Schools in Santa Barbara; Brandon, Kellogg and Foothill in Goleta; and Hapgood, Miguelito and Ruth Clarence in Lompoc. The afterschool locations include Girls Inc. facilities in Carpinteria and Santa Barbara and the Page Youth Center.

CEC staff has appeared at several all-school assemblies, visited more than 15 classrooms and spoken at Back to School Nights to educate students, staff and parents about the negative impacts of bottled water. These impacts include:

• More than 17 million barrels of oil each year are used to produce bottled water -- enough to fuel one million vehicles for a year.
• Bottled water is not safety-tested as often as tap water, and can cost up to 10,000 times the price of Santa Barbara tap water.
• Americans throw away more than 2.5 million plastic bottles per HOUR.
• Fewer than 3 in 10 bottles are recycled.

School communities have responded with enthusiasm to the Rethink the Drink program. Students, staff and teachers are filling up water bottles, coffee pots and athletic drink dispensers at the refill stations. CEC conducted a survey in March 2012 and found that an overwhelming number of students are aware of the machines and are using them instead of purchasing single use bottles.

As Franklin School Principal Casie Kilgore says, "It's exciting that we are changing the daily lives and routines of over 600 school stakeholders on a daily basis. Watching students walk around with canteens and enjoying water is priceless."

Rethink the Drink funding partners include the Orfalea Fund and the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation.

CEC staff, October 2012

See who invested in CEC this year – our local heroes. (The list below is also in the current edition of the Santa Barbara Independent.) Thanks to the support and environmental leadership of our investors, we've been able to make some big strides in the clean energy movement on the Central Coast.

• CEC's Solarize Santa Barbara program has helped 72 homeowners install solar panels on their roofs.
• Our Plug in Central Coast campaign has helped build 118 public charging stations for electric vehicles in the Tri Counties.
• Students have used our water refill stations 230,239 times through Rethink the Drink.
• CEC's weekend-long Earth Day Festival drew 35,765 people in 2012.

All of these successes help create a clean, green, economy for a healthier community. We would not have been able to do this without you. Thank you for your support.

To make a year-end donation to CEC, visit: www.cecsb.org/donate

(Click the image to download the full-size version.)

When we choose gifts that are produced eco-conciously (limited plastic packaging, sustainable materials, etc.), we not only reduce our carbon footprint, we often support environmentally conscious businesses and our own local economy.

To help you shop mindfully this season, CEC is opening a marketplace. Drop by CEC's office (26 W. Anapamu, 2nd floor) and shop for the planet! Whether it's a stainless steel canteen, solar reading light, canvas bag or mini flashlight, CEC has your eco-friendly stocking stuffers covered. Open until Friday, December 14.

As part of Eat Local Month in Santa Barbara, CEC talked with local experts about local food systems. This is the second of two blog posts that explore the Santa Barbara food system, the system's biggest energy impacts, and simple steps you can take to reduce your food footprint.

Read Part 1 →

(Click image for full size version.)

Our local food system can be simplified into six components seen in the graphic above.¹ The food system in the U.S. accounts for around 15% of national energy consumption, so this system must be addressed as a part of our long-term energy strategy.² Each part of the system has significant energy impacts -- from fertilizing the soil to growing crops, from refrigerating and cooking food to disposing of food scraps. Some of these impacts can be reduced with simple lifestyle choices, and some require larger scale systemic and regulatory changes. In this post, we look at what happens after the food has been grown, processed, packed up and shipped to your community.

Retail and Restaurants

11% of energy used in the food system

Much of our food is grown by farmers and then sold to grocery stores, wholesale clubs, and convenient markets for retailing to the public. A big portion ends up with restaurants, caterers, and institutional cafeterias (e.g. schools, prisons, hospitals, and universities). Most of the energy used by retailers is in refrigeration and lighting, and the restaurants use quite a bit in cooking. Both are energy-intensive users of commercial real estate.

Make an impact: Encourage retailers to prioritize energy efficiency.

Restaurants and grocery stores can reduce their impact by using energy efficient lighting and appliances in their retail spaces. They can also work to eliminate landfill waste generated by their operations. There are several utility and government programs designed to help this sector; a good starting point for resources is the voluntary Green Business Program.

Home Consumption

31% of energy used in the food system

The consumption of food at home is the largest component of energy use in the food system. From old, sparsely-filled second refrigerators in the garage, to ovens that are fired up to toast a piece of garlic bread, most of the energy consumption in the kitchen is used for refrigeration (40%), cooking (20%), and water heating for dishes (20%).

Make an impact: Recycle your extra refrigerator.

In 2005, 22% of households in the U.S. owned two or more refrigerators. Most households only need one to keep perishable food cold. Watch CEC's e-news for free refrigerator recycling programs. Information on refrigerator recycling →

Make an impact: Buy energy efficient appliances.

Old toasters, microwaves, and other kitchen appliances are much less energy efficient than the newer Energy Star appliances. If you're not sure how your appliances are performing, you can buy a Kill-A-Watt device for $25 to measure how much energy your appliances use. Compare your figures with newer appliances and decide if it's time to upgrade. More information →

Make an impact: Stop pre-rinsing your dishes with hot water.

New dishwashers are quite efficient, and it takes a considerable amount of energy to heat water for pre-rinsing.

Disposal: The hidden impact

The majority of our food waste ends up rotting in a landfill and releasing methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 25 times that of carbon dioxide. Only about 60% of the food grown and produced by the food system is actually eaten. The rest of the food is wasted by retailers, restaurants and consumers.³ That's a lot of food energy being wasted.

Make an impact: Compost your food scraps.

Composting food waste causes it to decompose aerobically, turning it into a valuable gardening product instead of a potent greenhouse gas. For tips on composting in your backyard, visit lessismore.org. Also, encourage your local government officials to adopt municipal composting as part of its waste disposal services. Information on business curbside composting →

A checklist

The food system is large, and analyzing energy use within the system presents complex questions. You can make a positive impact with a few lifestyle adjustments:

• Buy organic.
• Buy whole, minimally processed foods.
• Buy local food.
• Encourage retailers to prioritize energy efficiency
• Recycle your extra refrigerator.
• Buy energy efficient appliances.
• Stop pre-rinsing your dishes with hot water.
• Compost your food scraps.

Sharing is powerful too. Tell your friends and neighbors how you're reducing your food footprint.

It's also helpful to encourage your elected officials to make food-energy issues a priority. Subscribe to our Action Alert email list and when it's time to mobilize, we'll let you know.

¹Graphic adapted from the original at: http://www.nourishlife.org/teach/food-system-tools/
²Canning, P., Ainsley C., Sonya H., et. al. (2010). Energy Use in the U.S. Food System, ERR-94, U.S. Dept. of Agri., Econ. Res. Serv.
³Hall, K., Guo, J., Chow, C. (2009). The Progressive Increase of Food Waste in America and Its Environmental Impact. PLoS ONE 4 (11): e7940.

Whether your electricity bill is $50 or $100 per month, now is a good time to consider going solar. Prices have come down dramatically, and CEC's Solarize Santa Barbara program takes the guess work out the process. We've vetted the installers, secured high quality panels, and negotiated below average costs. In fact, Solarize Santa Barbara's price per watt is almost 30% less than the average price in Santa Barbara.

A total of 22 homeowners have already signed a contract to purchase or lease solar panels through this short term program. They are reducing their energy bills and decreasing their dependence on fossil fuels. Join them to hit our goal of 30 solarized homeowners this year.

Solarize Santa Barbara runs for one more week. To take advantage of this group purchasing deal, register online by Friday, November 9. CEC is extending the contract signing deadline to Saturday, November 17.

To qualify, homeowners must:

• Live in Southern Santa Barbara County;
• Own a home that is appropriate for solar;
• Sign up for the program by Friday, November 9 and sign a contract by Saturday, November 17.

Questions? Contact us at (805) 963-0583 x105 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

October is Eat Local Month in Santa Barbara, and as part of this month of increased awareness of our local food system, CEC has been talking with the top local food experts in the area. This is the first of two blog posts that will explore the Santa Barbara food system, the system's biggest energy impacts, and simple steps you can take to reduce your food footprint.

Read Part 2 →

(Click image for full size version.)

Our local food system can be simplified into six components seen in the graphic above.¹ The food system in the U.S. accounts for around 15% of national energy consumption, so this system must be addressed as a part of our long-term energy strategy.² Each part of the system has significant energy impacts -- from fertilizing the soil to growing crops, from refrigerating and cooking food to disposing of food scraps. Some of these impacts can be reduced with simple lifestyle choices, and some require larger scale systemic and regulatory changes.

Growing and Harvesting

20% of energy used in the food system

Growing and harvesting is often perceived as one of the largest energy users in the food system, but in actuality, this stage uses about 20% of the total. The energy used in this area powers farm equipment and facilities, produces synthetic fertilizer and pesticides, irrigates crops and dries grains.

Despite only accounting for only 20% of the energy use,, agriculture and ranching emit 83% of food system greenhouse gases. This is primarily because of the climate-changing power of nitrogen (from those fertilizers) and methane (from cows and other livestock).

Make an impact: Buy organic.

Consumers can have some influence on this section of the food system by buying organic. Organic farming does not use synthetic fertilizers or chemical pesticides, and consumes less energy than conventional farming methods. A study comparing conventionally grown crops with organically grown crops showed that organic corn required 31% less fossil fuel inputs than conventional corn, and organic soybeans used 17% less fossil fuel inputs than conventional soybeans.³

Processing and Packing

23% of energy used in the food system

Much of the food we eat is processed at a factory, and virtually all of it is packaged in some form before it reaches consumers. Anything you can buy in a can, jar, packet, or bottle is processed in one way or another. Americans continue to eat more and more processed food each year: the amount of energy used to process food in the U.S. has been increasing by an average of 8.3% per year since 1997.

Make an impact: Buy whole, minimally processed foods.

Buying whole, minimally processed foods shrinks your food footprint, as pre-consumer food processing requires 16% of the energy in the food system. For example, an apple pulled straight from a tree requires significantly less processing and packaging than pre-sliced apple slices commonly found in grocery store produce departments.

Transporting

15% of energy used in the food system

Transportation of food from the farm, to the factory (in many cases), to the store, to your home consumes 16% of the energy in the food system. Santa Barbara County is in the top 1% of agricultural counties in the US, and yet 95% of the food we eat in Santa Barbara is imported. Local growers produce plenty of food to feed Santa Barbara County residents, yet we still import much of our food, often from thousands of miles away.

Make an impact: Buy local food.

Choosing local food is a good way to maintain a small food footprint. Eating locally reduces "food miles," the distance your food travels to reach your plate, and cuts down on energy use. With so much food available in Santa Barbara, eating a low-impact diet is easy. Join our Eat Local Month Facebook group for tips and tricks on eating locally.

Next time, we'll explore the parts of the food system that occur after you purchase food and take it home to eat a meal. Read Part 2 →

¹Graphic adapted from the original at: http://www.nourishlife.org/teach/food-system-tools/
²Canning, P., Ainsley C., Sonya H., et. al. (2010). Energy Use in the U.S. Food System, ERR-94, U.S. Dept. of Agri., Econ. Res. Serv.
³Pimentel, D., Hepperly, P., Hanson, J. (2005). Environmental, Energetic, and Economic Comparisons of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems. BioScience, 55(7), 573-582.

The Carrot Mob was a success!

A buzz was in the air and the mood was upbeat as people bellied up to the bar at Telegraph Brewing Company on Saturday, October 13. From noon to 6pm, over 300 people participated in a reverse boycott -- or Carrot Mob -- to buy over 500 pints of beer and take growlers to go, all in the name of energy efficiency. And it showed: Telegraph’s sales for the day nearly doubled!

The additional $1,200 in sales from that day will go towards a new energy efficient “cool roof” on Telegraph’s new facility, which they are expecting to move into in the new year (just next door to the current building). This type of roof reflects and emits the sun's heat back to the sky instead of transferring it to the building below. It increases energy efficiency by reducing the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling. The upgrade will significantly reduce the brewery’s carbon footprint.

Check out the photos >

YOU made this happen – thank you! Brian Thompson, owner of Telegraph Brewing Company, is grateful to have the community rally behind his efforts to make the brewery more sustainable.

Stay tuned for updates on Facebook, Twitter, and by email.

Thanks to our Partners:

Edible Santa Barbara, Environmental Education for the Next Generation, LoaTree, New Noise Music Foundation, Plus One Events, Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, Sustainable Socially, The Fund for Santa Barbara, The Sustainability Project and UCSB Environmental Affairs Board

Join us in a Carrot Mob for Telegraph Brewing Company (416 North Salsipuedes St) on Saturday, October 13, from noon until 6:00pm. We're expecting hundreds of local activists (including you!) to pour into Telegraph to reward the business for its commitment to reducing the brewery's carbon footprint and making it more energy efficient.

I've never been to a Carrot Mob. What do I do?

Step 1: Visit Telegraph Brewery on Saturday, October 13

Don't worry about the word "mob;" think of it as a reverse boycott. We'll make you feel right at home. There will be food (for sale by Culture Shock Gourmet Curry Truck), a place to park your bike (courtesy of the SB Bicycle Coalition), and people who love to support local businesses.

Step 2: Buy something. Anything.

Whether it's a pint of beer (or two) to enjoy on-site, growlers and bottles to go, shirts, glassware, or gift certificates, every purchase on October 13 raises money to help Telegraph install an energy efficient "cool roof" on the new building they are moving into (right next door to the current building).

Step 3: Share with your friends.

There's strength in numbers. Check-in to the Carrot Mob on Facebook, upload a photo, post a status update and tweet with #CarrotMobSB to spread the word!

How do I get there?

• By foot from nearby neighborhoods.
• By bike. Bike parking will be provided courtesy of the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition
• By bus (www.sbmtd.gov).
• By carpool (last resort, and be sure to designate a non-drinking driver). Limited parking is available on neighborhood streets.

Why Telegraph Brewing Company?

CEC chooses local companies run by owners and managers who are committed to making their facility more energy efficient. (We've held Carrot Mobs at McConnell's Ice Cream Shop and Coffee Cat, for example). As Telegraph prepares to move to a nearby location, the company's founding owner Brian Thompson and his staff are eager to make energy efficient improvements both to the building and to the beer-making equipment.

CEC also chose Telegraph for their commitment to "using as many locally grown ingredients as we can," says Brian. (And secretly? Telegraph brews amazing beer! They recently won two medals at the 2012 World Beer Cup, and their beers constantly impress the taste buds of judges and average Joes alike.)

What will the money pay for?

With additional sales raised from the Carrot Mob, Telegraph will install on its new building a "cool roof," which reflects and emits the sun's heat back to the sky instead of transferring it to the building below. The roof increases energy efficiency and reduces the urban heat island effect. As the benefits of cool roofs become better known, many businesses are adopting the technology to reduce air conditioning loads and save money.

Partners:

This Carrot Mob is being organized by the Community Environmental Council in partnership with: Edible Santa Barbara, Environmental Education for the Next Generation, LoaTree, New Noise Music Foundation, Plus One Events, Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, Sustainable Socially, The Fund for Santa Barbara, The Sustainability Project and UCSB Environmental Affairs Board

When you browse the produce section of a typical grocery store, you'll find that much of the food we eat is not sourced from local farmers, but typically travels from all corners of the world. It takes a lot of energy to produce fertilizers and pesticides, package and process the food, and then transport and store it.

Eating locally grown food saves energy and is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Eat Local Month (October) -- which is co-sponsored by CEC, Edible SB, and the Farmers' Market -- challenges locals to only consume foods grown or produced within 100 miles of their home.

The easiest way to eat local is to shop at Farmers' Markets, and local grocery stores such as Whole Foods, Lazy Acres, Gelsons, the Isla Vista Food Co-op and others that provide well-marked locally grown items. For some families, eating locally can be supplemented by foods from their backyard garden. Follow the steps below for more information.

Enter our eat local giveaway

We want to make local eating easy, so we're giving away a gift basket with everything you need for a successful Eat Local Month. The basket includes:

• A month of seafood from Community Seafood
• A produce box from Plow to Porch
• Farmers' Market tokens
• Lunch at Goodland Kitchen
• Beer tasting at Telegraph Brewery
• Wine tour at Sustainable Vine Wine Tours
• And an abundance of locally-sourced items

Tell us how you would use this basket to take on Eat Local Month. For example, tell us about your radius, who is participating, and how you're planning to be successful. We'll select the winner on Friday, September 21. Submit your response →

How to participate in 'Eat Local Month'

Step 1: Define your radius.

Each "eat local" challenge is customized to the challenger. An "eat local radius" can be defined as tightly as a 100 mile radius, or the tri-county region, or as broad as the state of California. Decide what radius will work best for you.

Step 2: Define your exceptions.

Participants in the Eat Local Challenge can also make exceptions for certain products like coffee, tea, and spices. These products can be more difficult to find locally. Some participants have made other exceptions like salt, pepper, and olive oil as well. They also have incorporated trading products with other local growers, non-commercial food producers, and other Eat Local participants. Some also make allowances for eating previously harvested food (i.e. frozen, dehydrated, pickled, or fermented).

Step 3: Eat local.

All participants can go about their lives as usual, making this adjustment to their eating habits, and paying attention to what parts of it are easy, and what parts are – well --- a challenge. Some may question the feasibility and practicality, but those who have gone through the challenge before say that doing it in place like Santa Barbara during an abundant time of year makes it easier.

Step 4: Stay connected.

Connect with other Santa Barbara locals on the Eat Local Challenge Facebook page to ask questions, share ideas, and arrange food swaps. Once you get started, share your progress on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (#EatLocalSB, @CECSB, @EdibleSB).

With CEC's help, there are now over 100 Level 2 (240 volt) public or semi-public charging stations available in our region. Most of them have been constructed in just the last few months. Read on for information on charging station locations, what they do, how to use them, and how often they are being used. Also, get the full scoop on local festivities for National Plug In Day on Sunday, September 23.

Where they are:

Electric vehicle owners can now access 38 public charging stations in Ventura County (in Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Ojai, and Simi Valley), 34 in Santa Barbara County (in Carpinteria, Summerland, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc, Solvang, and Santa Maria), and 15 in San Luis Obispo County (San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, and Atascadero), as well as another couple dozen spread throughout our region that are "semi-public" at car dealerships, hotels, and businesses. CEC played a critical role in identifying sites and matching interested hosts with the installation companies.

Most of the charging stations were installed by ChargePoint, Ecotality, or Clipper Creek through Department of Energy and/or California Energy Commission grant programs. The Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District also contributed to some stations.

If your business is interested in offering public charging, contact CEC at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , as incentive funding is still available.

New stations are coming online every week. CEC and others upload all new charging stations to Recargo.com, a crowd sourced website and mobile phone app. Recargo also allows users to upload sites, details, photos, and comments (such as restaurants or attractions nearby).

What they do:

Public charging stations allow pure EV drivers to travel further afield, and plug-in hybrid drivers to visit a place and return solely on electricity, rather than needing the gas assist. While many EV and plug-in hybrid drivers have been easily driving their cars around town during the day and charging at home at night, public charging opens up new territory for them. For example:

• A LEAF driver (70-100 miles range) could commute the 53 miles from Lompoc to Santa Barbara, charge up while at work downtown, and then return home without worrying about running out of charge.
• A Volt driver (35 miles electric, then the gasoline range extender kicks in) could drive 33 miles from Ventura to Santa Barbara, charge up during a meeting or shopping trip, and then return to Ventura without using a drop of gas.

Previously, these trips would have been made on gasoline, so more public charging means more zero emission, low carbon electric miles substituted.

Most vehicles on the market charge at 3.3 kW – meaning that with the Level 2, 240-volt charging stations, they can add 10-15 miles of range for each hour that they charge. The Ford Focus EV, CODA, and many cars expected on the market in the near future charge at 6.6 kW -- adding up to 30 miles of range per hour. As charging is slower than filling up the gas tank, most EV drivers view public charging as a way to top off so they can complete a trip. Most charging is done conveniently at home overnight, often from normal 110 volt outlets, when electricity is least expensive, and the grid has plenty of excess capacity.

DC Fast Charging Stations (DCFC) are also starting to appear, which allow LEAFs and other vehicles with fast charge capability to charge 80% of the battery in 20-30 minutes. While using a DCFC in Los Angeles, it was amazing to see a LEAF go from 45% state of charge to 80% in 10 minutes (pictured above). These fast charging stations will make it much more practical to take trips in the 100-120 mile range, such as to Los Angeles, but it will likely be many years until it is convenient to take an EV on long distance road trips. CEC is working with partners to bring DC Fast Chargers to the Central Coast.

How to use them:

Most of the public stations are located in parking structures and other properties owned by local governments, some of which are free, but most charge between $0.45 and $1.25/hour to use the stations. CEC believes this is a reasonable cost -- sufficient to pay for the electricity, and sometimes the billing fees, management costs, maintenance, etc. EVs are very cheap to operate, for one dollar (using $0.15/kWh, the average residential rate and equivalent to $0.50/hour for public charging), an EV can travel around 20 miles. For one dollar, an average 25 mpg gasoline car can only travel 6 miles.

For an EV driver accustomed to charging exclusively at home, the first encounter with public charging can be a bit confusing, but becomes easy after a few tries. Read on for the details of each type of the most common charging stations:

Clipper Creek stations

These stations are mostly free and are the easiest; just lift the connector off the pedestal, connect to your car, and you're done. The good news is that all electric cars on the market today use the same standardized connector, called J1772.

ChargePoint stations

The ChargePoint stations are "smart," meaning they are networked and accept credit cards or proprietary cards. Since they are networked, drivers can see in real time whether they are in use by going online or checking a mobile phone application. The chargers can also be reserved, and have sophisticated billing and reporting systems.

The ChargePoint stations can be activated with the ChargePoint smartphone application or by a credit card with a "contactless" RFID chip. However, these types of cards are not too common. Regular users should order a ChargePoint card for $4.95 online, though users can also call the toll free number listed on the charging stations, and give the operator a credit card number.

Ecotality stations

The Ecotality "Blink" stations are also "smart," have a smartphone application, and the best way to access them is by ordering a free card through their website. They can also be activated by calling the toll free number on the screen and providing credit card info over the phone, or by going to https://blinkcode.com to enter credit card info online. Using these methods gives the user a code that they can then enter into the Blink Charger for a one-time use.

Are EV drivers using the stations?

Yes, the City of Santa Barbara's six charging stations have been used 345 times since being installed a few months ago, and in the last twelve days were used 66 times. The City notes that usage continues to increase each month, and they've recently brought two more stations online near the harbor. The City of Ventura's stations were used 245 times in the first two months, and usage continues to increase each month.

As of August 3, there are now almost 40,000 highway capable electric vehicles on our roads, with almost a third of those in California (an EV purchase rate three times higher than the nation as a whole). California also has over 1,200 new Level 2 public charging stations. Check out Recargo.com to find out where they are and start using those charging stations!

National Plug In Day: Sunday, Sept. 23

If you have an electric vehicle or want to test drive one and meet some owners, come on down to our National Plug in Day Celebration, on Sunday, September 23. As part of celebrations in over 60 cities, we have some exciting activities planned, so mark it on your calendar and check out www.PlugInDay.org and www.PlugInSB.org for details. If you want to reserve space for the tailgate party or the EV parade, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .