Blog
A space for learning.
Electric Vehicle 101 - All Your Questions Answered
Join CEC’s Energy and Climate Programs Director Michael Chiacos to learn whether an electric vehicle (EV) is right for you. We provided information and resources to get you started on your electric vehicle journey and cover the benefits of switching to electric, which include:
Transportation is responsible for more than half of California carbon emissions, so moving to a clean fuel vehicle is one of the most impactful climate actions you can take.
There are options for all lifestyles – more than 60 models of cars as well as bicycles, scooters, skateboards, and onewheels.
Charging is getting easier all the time – the number of charging stations on the Central Coast rose to 1,800 last year – nearly double the previous year!
WIN: All-electric new building construction is the future of Santa Barbara
On Tuesday, July 20, 2021, Santa Barbara City Council and Mayor Cathy Murillo voted unanimously to enact a new building ordinance prohibiting natural gas infrastructure in newly constructed buildings, with the exception of restaurants and applications where there isn't yet a viable electric alternative to gas. With this vote, the City takes an important step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting our 2035 carbon neutrality goal.
Taller de Vehículos Eléctricos Asequibles: Cómo calificar para un VE gratuito o de bajo costo
Únase al Director de Programas de Energía y Clima de CEC, Michael Chiacos, y a la Asociada de Energía y Clima de CEC, Jen Hernández -ambos propietarios de vehículos eléctricos y expertos del sector- para saber qué vehículo eléctrico o híbrido enchufable de más de 100 mpge puede ser el mejor para usted. Michael compartió su experiencia conduciendo sobre el sol desde 2012. Jen, que recientemente alquiló un VE por 20 dólares al mes, compartió por qué la decisión de conducir un eléctrico fue una elección fácil para su familia.
Affordable Electric Vehicle Clinic: How to Qualify for a Free or Low-Cost EV
Join CEC’s Energy and Climate Programs Director Michael Chiacos and CEC’s Energy and Climate Associate Jen Hernández – both EV owners and industry experts – to learn which 100+ mpge electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid might be best for you. Michael shared his experience driving on sunshine since 2012. Jen, who leased a 2020 EV for $20/month, shared why the decision to drive electric was an easy choice for her family.
Revertir, Reparar, Proteger: Plan de acción climática audaz del CEC
La Casa Blanca ha declarado oficialmente que estamos en una emergencia climática. Es hora de apoyarse en soluciones locales como nunca lo hemos hecho, y eso significa una acción climática implacable, enfocada, inclusiva y valiente en la Costa Central.
CEC (Consejo Comunitario del Medio Ambiente por sus siglas en inglés) delineado un plan ambicioso sobre cómo nuestra comunidad puede enfrentar este momento urgente y trabajar juntos para detener la crisis climática, de manera rápida y equitativa, a través de tres esfuerzos principales:
Cero carbono: Trabajando para que no haya nuevas emisiones
Carbono negativo: Aprovechar el poder de la naturaleza para eliminar el exceso de carbono de la atmósfera
Protección del clima: Abordar los impactos del cambio climático que ya están en marcha
Reverse. Repair. Protect. CEC’s Bold Climate Action Plan
The White House has officially declared we are in a climate emergency. It’s time to lean into local solutions like never before – and that means unrelenting, focused, inclusive, and courageous climate action on the Central Coast.
CEC has outlined an ambitious plan for how our community can meet this urgent moment and go all in together on halting the climate crisis – rapidly and equitably – through three major efforts:
Reverse: Push for ambitious, equitable zero emissions and zero waste goals for the energy, transportation, food, and agriculture sectors
Repair: Tap into the power of nature to draw down excess carbon from the atmosphere and repair the disrupted carbon cycle
Protect: Safeguard the health of our general public and vulnerable populations from the impacts of climate change already underway
Eating, Drinking, and Breathing Plastic
Explore how CEC and partner Santa Barbara Channelkeeper have been working for over a decade to reduce the Central Coast’s dependence on single-use plastic. This event focused on the connection between our health and plastic at a time when the industry is using the pandemic crisis to roll back regulations on plastic bags and other packaging.
Circular Economy 101: Closing the Life Cycle Loop
Join us for an introduction to a new model – the circular economy – that requires producers to take responsibility, save energy, design waste out of the system, and create a market for re-use.
Solarize Ventura County - Home Solar, Electric Vehicles, and Battery Systems
If you’ve considered switching to an electric vehicle (EV) – and would like to charge at home with solar energy – now may be the perfect time to take the leap and learn how to Drive on Sunshine! Please join us to learn how driving electric pairs perfectly with going solar. We’ll cover EV options, help you consider the vehicles that will work for your lifestyle, and share how incentive programs make EVs more affordable than ever. We’ll also discuss the basics of solar, and how CEC’s Solarize Ventura County makes it easier and more affordable to go solar, add home battery systems, or both.
Ask Me Anything with Sharyn Main
The Ask Me Anything series is a freeform Q & A with local leaders, hosted by Casey Caldwell of the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative. This episode features CEC’s Climate Resilience Director Sharyn Main.
Solarize Santa Barbara - Home Solar, Electric Vehicles, and Battery Systems
If you’ve considered switching to an electric vehicle (EV) – and would like to add a solar system to charge at home with solar energy – now may be the perfect time to take the leap and learn how to Drive on Sunshine!
Learn how driving electric pairs perfectly with going solar. We cover EV options, help you consider the vehicles that will work for your lifestyle, and share how incentive programs make EVs more affordable than ever. We also discuss the basics of solar, and how CEC’s Solarize Santa Barbara makes it easier and more affordable to go solar, add home energy storage, or both.
Getting Real About Plastic and Recycling
Learn about updates to the Ablitt’s film plastic program and review the dos and don’ts for Santa Barbara’s blue recycling bins with waste management experts from the City of Santa Barbara and MarBorg.
Creating a Shock-Proof Local Food System
Over the last few months, we’ve witnessed in real time how shocks to the globalized food system impact one of the most basic human rights: the right to healthy, accessible food. Entangled in the global COVID-19 pandemic and climate-related disasters are layers of wealth, race, privilege and language that affect the ability of Central Coast communities to survive and thrive.
In this webinar, we explored how CEC’s Food Rescue program and other local efforts are working to support those most vulnerable to hunger – particularly students, unsheltered populations, farm workers and seniors. We also discussed the work of the Santa Barbara County Food Action Network to equitably stitch together the torn fabrics of our food system – from local farmers and fishermen, to local restaurants and distributors.
TEDxSantaBarbara: The Pandemic Did Not Solve the Climate Crisis
CEC’s CEO Sigrid Wright recently joined TEDxSantaBarbara‘s Mark Sylvester to discuss the Five Important Trends for the Climate as part of TEDxSantaBarbara’s Making Waves: Conversations with Influencers and Disrupters.
Inside Julia’s Kitchen: Meet Julia Blanton, SBC Food Rescue Program Coordinator
Recently on Inside Julia’s Kitchen, a podcast of The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, host Todd Schulkin talked with CEC’s SBC Food Rescue Coordinator Julia Blanton about food rescue and how it has been used to address food insecurity and put restaurants back to work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Plus, Julia shares her “Julia Moment”.
Our Climate Emergency During the Pandemic: A Virtual Community Forum
A community forum focused on climate change advocacy during the pandemic and the inter-generational activism that continues to build local momentum.
Adaptive Leadership Practices: Panel of Regional CEOs
A panel discussion including CEC CEO Sigrid Wright on how the nonprofit sector has been on the front lines supporting our communities through the COVID-19 crisis.
CEC Holds Timely Home Energy Storage Workshops
In the Fall and Winter of 2019, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) partnered with city and county energy staff, local solar and energy companies, and community leaders to host three energy storage workshops in Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Ventura in response to a growing interest in solar-paired battery systems.
Bold, Timely Solutions That Can Inform COVID-19 Community Needs
The pandemic exposes our region's social, economic and environmental strengths and vulnerabilities – the exact type of community resilience CEC's Climate Resilience Roundtables are designed to help us work toward together. See community-driven solutions we've developed that could support us in this time.
Battling Climate Change with Healthy Soils
CEC is excited to announce that, in partnership with the Ventura County Resource Conservation District, the Limoneira Company, Agromin, and the UC Cooperative Extension, we have been awarded a grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture to study and demonstrate the benefits of soil health and “carbon farming” practices in Ventura County.
