Blog
A space for learning.
A Lunch Service for the Planet
For several years, the online learning company lynda.com has provided free daily lunch for employees. Now the Carpinteria-based company is helping employees Ditch Plastic by piloting a reusable container system for those who want to take their lunch to-go.
CEC's 2015 Environmental Hero: Bill McKibben
CEC proudly announces environmental activist and author Bill McKibben as our 2015 Environmental Hero Award recipient.
From Play to Power
A soccer ball that lights up a lamp. A jump rope that charges a phone. Just two ways that Uncharted Play is tapping the boundless energy of kids.
What To Expect at the 2015 Santa Barbara Green Car Show
Now in its 14th year, CEC’s Green Car Show is the largest showcase of efficient, alternative-fueled vehicles between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
My First Tesla Model S
In November 2012, I put my name on the list for a Tesla Model S and started waiting the 8 to 10 months that the company estimated it would take to build my electric car.
Solar Fuels a Retirement Plan
When retirement knocked on the door of Arroyo Grande residents Angela and Mark Goble, solar answered.
Tour de Farms
As a clinical nutritionist, registered dietician and cooking instructor, Gerri French knows a few things about food. And as host of the Santa Barbara Food and Farm Adventures Meetup Group, which meets every two weeks at various locations throughout the county, she also knows something about farms.
A Solar Dream Come True
When a Solarponics representative flipped on the solar array at Ed and Irene Rush’s Atascadero home, it fulfilled a dream 35 years in the making.
Meet Your Farmer: Alex Frecker
Local farmer Alex Frecker hopes to build relationships with customers that can lead to a total overhaul on the current state of the food consumption in Santa Barbara county.
Local Politician Supports the Green Economy - In the State Assembly and at Home
In 2011, assemblyman Das Williams purchased his Chevy Volt and became one of the first locals to start driving electric. A politician with a strong environmental ethic, he was driven by a desire to live by those values in his daily life, starting first by minimizing his use of gasoline.
The Underwater Hunter
A weight belt. A pair of long fins. A snorkeling mask. A wetsuit. A spear gun that looks like an underwater crossbow. A strong set of lungs. A clear, calm day. A high tide. A steady arm. A day off from work. A little luck.
That, says Eric Lohela, is his recipe for a good day of free-dive spearfishing.
Pushing The Boundaries Of Green Living With Local Plant-Based Proteins
Like most conscientious consumers, I realize that eating locally is one of the best ways to reduce my waste, cut my carbon footprint, and support a truly sustainable food system. And living in Santa Barbara like the lucky ducks that we are—well that means that eating locally can really become our reality.
The Creative Commuter
Last March, Kent Epperson bought a house in Ojai after months of fruitlessly searching for an affordable place in Santa Barbara. With that move, his short bike commute to his office near the intersection of Calle Real and North San Antonio Road in Santa Barbara abruptly changed to an hour and a half drive every day between the two cities.
The Baby Boomer Bikers
Recently, Eva Inbar and her husband, Michael, purchased a set of road bikes. Avid cyclists, the two have been biking for decades, and they don’t have plans to quit anytime soon. No matter that they are in their late 60s.
The Naked Truth: About Measure P by One of Its Drafters
Measure P – the Healthy Air and Water Initiative – would protect our air, water, and public health by banning new risky, polluting oil extraction techniques in Santa Barbara County. Unfortunately, the oil industry that is funding the opposition is spreading misinformation regarding the true impact of this measure. As an attorney who assisted in the drafting of Measure P, I am compelled to set the record straight so the voters can base their opinions on the true facts.
How Daniel C. was saved by a blueberry
Just a few years ago, Daniel Corry would have been lost at the farmers market. He never went, he wouldn’t have known where to start, and he would have been astounded that someone would pay that much for a box of blueberries. He was happy with Trader Joe’s. Now, Daniel is a farmers market regular; he goes at least once a week, he has his favorite stands, and he happily pays that much for a box of locally-grown blueberries. He wouldn’t dream of buying produce at Trader Joe’s anymore. “It has no taste!” he says.
Take the 6th Annual Eat Local Challenge
October 1, 2014 marks the beginning of the sixth annual Eat Local Challenge, sponsored by the Community Environmental Council, Edible Santa Barbara, and the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association.