Archive for August 2009
The Community Environmental Council has been around since 1970, and has led the Santa Barbara region - and at times California and the nation - in creative solutions to some of the toughest environmental problems. We are often referred to as a “think-and-do tank” - deeply analyzing a problem and then applying creative, real-world solutions to it. About five years ago, CEC launched a bold new mission - eliminating the use of fossil fuels in our region in one generation. Today we are singularly focused on this one mission, and are applying to it all that we have learned over the last four decades. Become a member. Make a positive difference.
How CEC is creating a “fossil free” community
Changing public policies
* A CEC-led coalition of architects, builders, and others worked closely with the City of Santa Barbara to draft an ordinance that requires all new and renovated buildings to be more energy efficient, with the goal of being carbon-neutral by 2030. In 2008, the Santa Barbara City Council unanimously passed the ordinance - making Santa Barbara’s building energy code one of the most progressive in the nation. We are now working to take similar ordinances to Goleta, Carpinteria and Ventura. Learn more about Architecture 2030.
* We played an integral role in the California Public Utilities Commission’s decision last fall to set a goal for all new homes in the state to be “zero net energy” by 2020 and commercial buildings by 2030.
Promoting solar and wind energy
* We helped streamline permittingprocesses with the City and County for solar projects, so that installers can now obtain over-the-counter permits in most situations. Learn more.
* We helped catalyze community support for the first wind farm in Santa Barbara County — a 100-megawatt project near Lompoc, which was approved by the County Board of Supervisors in February 2009. When finished, this project will generate about 10 percent of the entire electricity needed in our region. Learn more.
* We contracted a study by UC Berkeley, which found that about 290,000 gigawatt hours of electricity could be generated from on-shore and off-shore wind - more than 100 times our current electricity needs. We are now developing processes and tools that will lead to environmentally, economically, and socially sound on-shore wind projects, in collaboration with the Environmental Defense Center and more than a dozen environmental groups and government agencies. Learn more.
Getting the word out
* We host, organize and sponsor more than a dozen events each year. Our largest and most successful - CEC’s Earth Day Festival - began in 1970, has been consistently running since 1990, and attracts over 10,000 people and 250 exhibitors. Learn more.
* Our personal-action campaign, Get Energized, helps individuals and businesses make lifestyle changes using local resources. To date, more than 1,700 people have taken the Get Energized pledge. If all the pledges are fulfilled, our region would save over $2.1 million and about 10 million kWh - enough to power just over 1,680 homes a year.
Become a member and learn more. www.CECsb.org *Full disclosure, Elizabeth is a board member.
In Historic Move, California Building Standards Commission Green Visionaries Approve New Graywater Standard –
July 31st, 2009
A collision of world views was in full evidence at the California Building Standards Commission hearing yesterday on HCDs proposed new graywater standards.
Highly qualified stakeholders spoke passionately for and against the adoption of the new standards as the hearing roller-coastered dramatically to it’s conclusion.
The commissioners are to be congratulated for their leadership. It is always more work to set up a new system than to fit into an existing one.
It would be a lot easier to stand aside as legal buildings continue waste resources and pollute the environment. However, in the face of deeply entrenched, powerful opposition, the commission is rising to the challenge of revising all of California’s building codes to allow/ require better building systems…besides its emergency approval of the new graywater standards yesterday, the BSC is also revising California’s Green Building Standards to include many new mandatory and voluntary measures to reduce negative impacts and increase positive impacts of California buildings.
Dawn of a new era: “On August 4th, 2009, California can legally install simple laundry and single fixture systems without a permit. For the first time, licensed professionals can legally help with the 1.7 million existing graywater systems in the state. ” –Art Ludwig, graywater researcher and educator.
For more information visit: www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/press
New Farmers Market at Harding Elementary School, Westside!
8 markets, 6 days a week Open year-round, rain or shine
Sat: 8:30am-12:30pm DT: Santa Barbara and Cota Streets
Sun: 10am-2:00pm Goleta: Storke and Hollister
Tues: 4:00-7:30pm summer 500 & 600 blocks State Street
Wed: 2:30-6:30pm Harding Elementary School 1625 Robbins
Thurs: 3:00-6:00pm Goleta - 5700 Block of Calle Real
Thurs: 3:00-6:30pm Carpinteria - 800 block of Linden Ave.
Fri: 8:00-11:15am Montecito - 1100 block of Coast Village Road
We are pleased to announce the launch of our newest local farmers market, which will be located every Wednesday from 3:00pm-dusk at Harding Elementary School. An exceptional array of fresh local produce, flowers, plants, nuts, sprouts, eggs, whole chickens, pies, breads, and much more! The seasons very best peaches, berries, citrus, tomatoes, green beans, corn, apples, peppers and melons will all be available!
July 6-Aug 3, 2009
New listings: 212
Price Improvements: 276 Pending: 124 (break down: under $1million = 96, $1-2M = 22, $2-4M = 6, $4-8M = 3, $8M+ = 4)
Closed: 132 (breaks down to 4 per day in the month of July)
Off Market: 154
Back On market: 62
Months of Inventory as of end of July, 2009
Under $1million: 3.6 months $1-2million: 9.4 months $2-4million: 14 months
$4-8million: 13.6 months
$8million + : 75 active listings, 2 are currently pending
*These numbers are for single family houses only & do not include condos.
Standard Definitions:
0-3 months of inventory = seller’s market 3-6 months of inventory = balanced market
6-9 months of inventory = buyer’s market
9+ months of inventory = soft market
Let Home Food Forest™ start an organic edible garden right outside your door! Better Food Grown At Home.
A Home Food Forest is more than just a vegetable garden–it is a complete, organic ecosystem. Wilson Environmental Landscape Design can help you build this ecosystem with their full understanding of the components which will make your new venture a success. They give you a jump start on gardening. You get the fruits of the labor.
