Blog
A space for learning.
The Biggest Climate Wins of 2023
While it was difficult to surpass 2022’s unprecedented climate wins, the successes we saw this year in California are keeping the winds at our backs, maintaining our momentum toward rapid and equitable climate solutions.
How my family is getting fossil fuels out of our life — and how you can too
There are now many fantastic solutions that make it possible for individuals and households to ditch fossil fuels. My family was fortunate enough to purchase a small house in 2010, and over the past decade we have reduced our daily fossil fuel use by about 95%. Below you’ll find 10 powerful actions so that you can too!
Breaking Up With Fossil Fuels: Electrifying Multifamily Buildings
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) has played a key role in connecting building owners to programs like 3C-REN and SOMAH that provide monetary incentives and technical assistance to make electrification a smooth and rewarding experience.
National Climate Progress Takes Local Climate Action
The two of us have joined forces with many others in our community on a clear mission. We are running a race to protect a fundamental aspect of life on earth: a safe livable climate.
2022 All-Electric REACH Code FAQ
The following FAQ on all-electric REACH Codes is an updated version (as of September 2022) of a post published in February of 2020.
Local Governments Say Yes to Electric Vehicles
CEC has long been on the front lines of advocating and developing infrastructure for a transition to electric vehicles in our region. This year has seen big strides with local governments adopting strategies to move their fleets to electric vehicles and to provide more charging access to employees and the public.
Modern Day Money Trees
Ten years ago, Stephen had realized that he could either continue to pay his power company for increasingly expensive electricity, or he could invest in solar. Once he recouped his initial outlay on the investment, he reasoned, he could bask in free electricity for the duration of the panels’ life — between 30 and 40 years.
The Last Piece of the Renewable Energy Puzzle for One Arroyo Grande Family
Kevin could never get solar panels to pencil out economically...until CEC's Solarize San Luis Obispo program came along.
A Conservative Embraces Driving on Sunshine
Aaron is not your typical “go green” kind of guy. He thinks that the country’s solar industry has been too heavily subsidized. And don’t get him started on climate change. None of that, however, stopped Aaron from installing solar panels on his home or purchasing a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Come again?
A Clean Energy Future
Cameron Clark is a local freelance website designer interested in clean energy issues and environmental sustainability. He is also a member of the Santa Barbara County Water Guardians.
America is a country that rises to a challenge, albeit sometimes reluctantly. Winston Churchill observed: “You can always count on Americans to do the right thing—after they've tried everything else.” Nowhere is that more true than energy.
Jordan Finds Pride (and Savings) in Driving on Sunshine
Jordan had not been thinking about buying a new car, electric or otherwise. Then a Facebook post piqued her interest.
The Electric Vehicle Ripple Effect
Nearly everyone who works at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital knows that if you’ve got questions about solar panels or electric vehicles, Dr. Timothy Rodgers probably has the answers. During the lunch hour, you can sometimes spot Timothy, a specialist in Internal Medicine, in the hospital’s cafeteria — and a couple times a week, he’s chatting with someone curious about green technologies.