Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County Announces First Innovator Green Businesses
PRESS RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County
Frances Gilliland, Coordinator@GreenBizSBC.org
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History & Sea Center
Briana Sapp Tivey, bsapptivey@sbnature2.org
Community Environmental Council
April Price, aprice@cecmail.org
Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County Announces First Innovator Green Businesses
Santa Barbara, CA (November, 25, 2019)—The Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County is proud to announce the first Innovator Green Businesses in Santa Barbara County. Certified Green Business Innovators have met the highest verifiable standards of sustainability set by the California Green Business Network by going above and beyond the basic requirements of Green Business certification. “These businesses represent the true spirit of the Green Business Program’s work” says Frances Gilliland, Program Director of the Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County. “They are leading the movement of businesses in California making a positive impact on local communities and the planet.”
The first Innovator in Santa Barbara County is the Community Environmental Council (CEC). For nearly 50 years, the CEC has incubated and innovated real life solutions that directly impact climate change. Their programs lead to clean vehicles, solar energy, resilient food systems and reduction of single-use plastic. They also educate and activate the community by producing events like the annual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival.
CEC is not only proud to be officially certified, since they have worked hard to keep their offices as sustainable as possible, but to be one of the founders of the Green Business Program. They offer indoor bike parking, keep the heat/AC to a minimum, and have been part of the City of Santa Barbara’s food scraps program for several years. Although their office set-up is a rather traditional business model, they do cutting-edge work on local climate change solutions from this space.” It’s an honor to be recognized as an Innovator. We work to help the community adopt sustainable solutions, which is exactly in line with the goals of the Green Business Program.” said April Price, Renewable Energy Program Manager.
A celebration for Girls Inc. in Carpinteria for adding solar to their building.
The second certified Innovator is the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center located on historic Stearns Wharf. The Sea Center is a highly interactive regional aquarium and marine education facility that offers close encounters with marine animals from the Santa Barbara Channel. In addition to permanent exhibits, the Sea Center hosts unique events and special educational programming, including World Oceans Day, Underwater Parks Day, and their Live Dive series.
Sea Center Director Richard Smalldon shares, “The Sea Center is all about sharing our connection to the natural world, so becoming a green business was an important step in fulfilling our mission.” Switching to more energy efficient pumps, adding solar through the Community Environmental Council’s Solarize Nonprofit program, and continuing to refine their practices is an exciting evolution they are looking forward to sharing with their visitors.
Sea Center interpreter teaches the public about the sea life in the touch pools.
Following suit with the Sea Center’s sister campus, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is the third green business in Santa Barbara County to achieve Innovator status. The Museum and Sea Center’s vision is to connect people with nature for the betterment of both, so becoming certified as a green business was a natural step for the entire organization. In going through the certification process, they were delighted to learn they had been following many green processes for years, and that they just needed to make some adjustments to make it official.
Sustainable practices the museum incorporates into its operations include the re-gifting of research and scientific equipment to nonprofits, the programming of AC units to operate less during low peak times, staff conservation training, and a ridesharing incentive program. The museum and Sea Center also have a section in their stores completely dedicated to sustainable products.
Museum Director of Facilities Kevin Genovese shared, “We enjoyed taking the opportunity to better educate staff and volunteers on how they can reduce their impact on the environment and were encouraged to see that everyone seemed very open to making changes for the better.”
Senior Manager of Guest Services & Retail Kim Zsembik
with her favorite green items in the Museum Store
The Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County is honored to work with these prominent local organizations. It will be honoring these businesses, and all of its recently Certified Green Businesses, at its Annual Green Business Luncheon on March 5, 2020.
To learn more about the certification program, please visit GreenBizSBC.org or contact coordinator@greenbizsbc.org.
Photography: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and CEC
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About the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History & Sea Center
Powered by Science. Inspired by Nature. Founded in 1916, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History inspires a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world. The Museum seeks to connect people to nature for the betterment of both, and prides itself on being naturally different. Built in 1987 and located on historic Stearns Wharf, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center is a highly interactive regional aquarium and marine education facility that offers visitors close encounters with marine animals, and exploration of the Santa Barbara Channel on the Wet Deck. In addition to permanent exhibits, the Sea Center hosts unique events and special educational programming, including Underwater Parks Day, World Oceans Day, and its Live Dive series. For more information visit sbnature.org.
About Community Environmental Council
Since 1970, CEC has led the Santa Barbara region – and at times California and the nation – in creative solutions to some of the toughest environmental problems. CEC pioneers real life solutions in areas with the most impact on climate change. Our programs – including the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival – provide pathways to clean vehicles, solar energy, resilient food systems, and reduction of single-use plastic. Our commitment to excellence has made CEC one of only three nonprofits in Santa Barbara County to earn the highest possible ratings from both Guidestar and Charity Navigator. Find CEC on the web at www.CECSB.org and on Facebook.com/CECSB, Instagram.com/CEC_SB and Twitter.com/CECSB.
About the Santa Barbara County Green Business Program
The Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County (GBPSBC) is part of the California Green Business Program, a network of local programs operated by partnerships throughout California. The GBPSBC provides resources and assistance to businesses wanting to be green, certifies businesses through workshops and trainings, on-site visits and evaluation, and highlights Certified Businesses so that local consumers can shop green. For more information on becoming a Certified Green Business and to see a list of our local Green Businesses, visit our website at www.greenbizsbc.org . Find the California Green Business Network on the web at www.greenbusinessca.org