In the last month, we have seen social media help change the course of the Keystone XL pipeline and SOPA/PIPA legislation in Congress.

No matter how you feel about these issues, the power of social media influence is undeniable. Together, we’re capable making a significant difference by leveraging our networks. Imagine what could happen if we applied that energy to local environment issues.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see a huge out-pouring of support at CEC’s Earth Day Festival in Santa Barbara? Nearly 40,000 people came to the festival last year. If only half of those people made a resolution to do something for the Earth - like bike to work once a week, shop locally for produce, or carry a reusable water bottle – that’s 20,000 people collectively powering the clean energy movement. That’s the type of action we need to move our region off fossil fuels.

We know that CEC’s Earth Day Festival can change the course of our energy future, especially with the help of social media. YOU can be a part of that.

In preparation for Earth Day, CEC wants to help give you the tools to magnify your impact on social media. Attend our Social Media Bootcamp to learn all the ins and outs of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more. Bring your questions and learn from our coaches. 

Social Media Bootcamp

Friday, February 24, 2012
Drop in between 10am – 4pm

Community Environmental Council
26 W. Anapamu, 2nd floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Your social media coaches

• Michelle Kitson (CEC’s Online Marketing Coordinator)
• Jordan benShea (Owner of Skyview Projects and CEC Boardmember)

While this is a drop-in event, we’d appreciate hearing if you plan to attend. RSVP to Michelle Kitson: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Feel free to forward preliminary questions before the event.

The buzz has been building and we've been leaking hints. We heard a lot of cat-related guesses on Facebook – Hungry Cat, Wildcat Lounge, Lemos Pet Store, and more. Finally the day is here to let the "cat" out of the bag!

We hope you'll join us in a Carrot Mob for Coffee Cat (1201 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara) on Saturday, January 21 from 10am to 3 pm. We're expecting hundreds of local activists (including you!) to pour into Coffee Cat to reward the business for its commitment to reducing the shop's carbon footprint and making it more energy efficient.

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

Step 1: Visit Coffee Cat on Saturday, January 21.
We'll make you feel right at home. There will be a band to groove to (Holdfast Rifle Co.), 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 coffee, tea, a snack, a bag of coffee beans, or a tumbler, every purchase on Jan. 21 helps raise money to help Coffee Cat install new energy efficient lighting.

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 it (@CECSB #SBcarrotmob) to spread the word!

How do I get there?

• By foot from nearby neighborhoods.
• By bike. Free bike valet will be available at Bikestation, courtesy of the SB Bicycle Coalition and the City of Santa Barbara, and a bike mass will be heading down from Isla Vista (details coming soon).
• By bus (www.sbmtd.gov).
• By car (last resort). Parking available on neighborhood streets.

What will the money pay for?

As a result of the Carrot Mob, Coffee Cat plans on implementing major improvements to the lighting in the shop, including upgrading all of the existing overhead lighting from outdated T12 lamps to much more efficient and cost-effective T8 fluorescent lamps. The replacement of approximately 44 lamps will reduce energy use by about 352 watts per hour, which is a savings of 30%!

Why Coffee Cat?

CEC chose Coffee Cat because the owner and staff are eager to make these changes and have already started putting some work into make the business run more sustainably.

The owner of Coffee Cat, Krista Fritzen, is excited for the upcoming event. She explains, “When I first came to Coffee Cat one of my first goals was to reduce waste and move the store towards more efficiency. The Green Business Program provided a structured way to achieve these goals. Many of the targets were easily achievable, but one of the most heavy-hitting changes ended being the cost associated the lighting upgrades. As a small business owner, it just wasn’t possible for me to make these changes on my own, so I had to put the whole program on the back burner until CEC approached me about holding a Carrot Mob.”

“It is so fulfilling to see them moving forward on the path towards becoming more sustainable” said Frances Gilliland, Program Director of the Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County.

With help from the Carrot Mob, she'll be one step closer to completing the program.

Partners:
The Santa Barbara Carrot Mob on Saturday, January 21 is being organized by the Community Environmental Council, in partnership with Bikestation, CALPIRG, City of Santa Barbara, Edible Santa Barbara, LoaTree, Plus One Marketing, Santa Barbara Bike Coalition, Santa Barbara High School Dons Net Cafe, The Sustainability Project, Sustanability Socially, and UCSB Environmental Affairs Board.

Do you recall the story of the young boy trying to get a stubborn donkey to pull his cart? Rather than making the donkey move by hitting him with a stick, the boy dangled a tasty carrot in front of the donkey to entice him to move forward. In a Carrot Mob, YOU are the carrot that helps a business go green!

Think of a Carrot Mob kind of like a reverse boycott. We use social networks to pack a local business with customers and boost its sales for the day. In return, the business promises to dedicate 100% of the additional sales from that day to making sustainable improvements to its operations. Learn more...

Our next carrot mob is just around the corner

WHO:	You, and other Santa Barbara carrot mobbers
WHEN:	Saturday, January 21 from 10 am - 3 pm
WHERE:	Shhh it’s a secret – Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for hints. We'll announce the secret location by email one week before the event.
WHY:	To reward the business for doing the right thing and help it upgrade to more energy efficient lighting

 

Want the inside scoop? Stay updated on the upcoming Carrot Mob by following CEC on Facebook, and signing up for email action alerts. We’ll be playing trivia games and dropping hints about the secret location in early January. Can you can guess which lucky business will be target of our next Carrot Mob?

Animated explanation of a Carrot Mob

We all agree that rooftop solar is important. But what about utility scale solar? At CEC, we think that both have a place in our energy future, but only if they are completed in a responsible, environmentally beneficial manner.

Right now we have the chance to shape solar in our community through two opportunities. First, the County of Santa Barbara has begun a scoping process for the environmental impact report (EIR) for a solar project in Cuyama Valley. Second, the County is considering an amendment to the Land Use and Development Code that would allow solar on agricultural land. If you have concerns or comments on either of these topics, it is crucial that you get involved now so that those issues can be examined and addressed. This is the time during the planning process to have your voice heard.

CEC does not take a position on any project until we have examined the final environmental impact report. However, we do participate throughout the process, increase transparency, and encourage public participation.

To get involved, examine the project proposal. Then email or mail comments, suggestions, or concerns to:

Kathy McNeal Pfeifer ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Planning & Development, Energy Division
123 E. Anapamu St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Send your feedback by Friday, January 20.

Are you in?

Fossil fuels have carried us a long way. But after 100 years, it's time to call it. The age of fossil fuels is over.

If we do it right, we can shift into a new economy fueled by clean, renewable energy. One that results in a net gain of $1.5 billion to our county’s economy by 2030. This is CEC’s mission, and we need your help.

Step 1: Watch

Check out this fast-paced 2-minute video about a movement in Santa Barbara to get off fossil fuels in one generation:

The City of Santa Barbara's General Plan Update is coming back to the City Council, Tuesday, July 26.  Key decisions relating to energy, climate change and the environment will occur tomorrow, and the impacts will be felt for decades.  Please help us encourage the Council to empower future generations with appropriate tools and resources. We believe this means embracing new technologies and allowing people to choose from a range of options in transportation, housing, and business. Read more about the specific goals, policies, and implementation steps...

Please join us tomorrow (Tuesday, July 26) at 2pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall to voice your support for a cleaner, healthier built environment with options for all residents.

Send the letter below to the City Council and the City Clerk to show your support:

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Dear Santa Barbara City Council:

I support new technologies that allow people to choose from a range of options in transportation, housing, and business. I support the PlanSB Subcommittee recommendations but would like to see several of the implementation actions strengthened or clarified.  Specifically:

• ER6.5 Facilitate Renewable Energy Technologies.
  The City has an exemplary over-the-counter permit process for rooftop solar.  Unfortunately this process does not apply to historic structures or structures in historic areas.  ER6.5 should specifically highlight the intent to facilitate use of renewable energy on historic structures and in historic areas.  It should also lay out a plan for how such a plan might be implemented.
  
  
• ER6.6 Solar Energy
  I support all new construction and significant remodel projects installing solar energy and ask that any residential projects of three units or greater be required to install a minimum of 2kW of solar photovoltaic per unit.  If 2kW per unit will not fit onto the property then the maximum physically feasible should be required. While it is often easiest to install solar on the residential roof, solar may also be installed over a parking structure or on the ground.  All types of installation should be encouraged through this implementation element.
  
  
• ER9.1 Electric Vehicles
  Southern California Edison has identified the City of Santa Barbara as the fourth largest electric vehicle market out of 183 cities in their service territory.  This means that they expect Santa Barbara residents to adopt this new technology faster than almost every other city in Southern California.  Specifically they expect to see 450,000 to 1,000,000 electric vehicles in their territory by 2020, with Santa Barbara making up a substantial chunk.  ER9.1 is vital if Santa Barbara residents are going to embrace options that move them away from the gasoline pump.  Please leave it in the PlanSB update.

Thank you for your consideration.

 

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UPDATE:

We are happy to report that the City Council made no changes to the Sustainability Principles or Environmental Resource Element Goals in the Santa Barbara General Plan. There was even an increase in the solar requirements for 3 or more units!  Many thanks to those of you who attended the meeting, and thank you for sending emails in response to our action alert. We appreciate your support, Santa Barbara!