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Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s a list of our most frequently asked questions! Have a question that's not listed below? Email us at Sustainability@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.
Check out the City’s 2019 Sustainability Progress Report! It provides an inventory of key sustainability indicators and goals for the City’s water, energy, waste, habitat restoration, and transportation sectors. It also highlights examples of actions taken and progress made since 2015.
City Council’s Sustainability Committee provides guidance on many of the City’s sustainability and resilience efforts. These decisions often build upon existing policies, including the General Plan, the Climate Action Plan, and the Strategic Energy Plan.
Help make our communities healthier and more livable while also conserving resources and saving money! The Green Business certification is a great way to show your community that you share their environmental values. Learn more here:
With about 285 days of sunshine each year in Santa Barbara, solar energy power is a great resource to take advantage of! There are lots of resources to help you get solar–check out Go Solar California, Energy Upgrade California, and our solar resources page. The Community Environmental Council’s (CEC) Solarize program provides guidance, resources, and potential financial incentives too! Also, the City of Santa Barbara’s Building and Safety has expedited the solar permitting process for systems 10kW or less.
Visit our Go Solar page for more information.
Our local utility companies have programs to help you measure your energy use. Southern California Edison’s Energy Advisor Program for residents and businesses can help you monitor electricity use and identify ways to improve efficiency in your buildings. Southern California Gas Company’s Ways to Save program for residents and on-site energy assessment for businesses can help you do the same for natural gas use. Also, you can get a virtual energy audit through TriCountyREN!
Improving energy efficiency in your home or business will save you money and reduce your carbon footprint — it’s a win-win! There are a ton of resources, programs, and incentives available to help you weatherize your home, choose efficient appliances, and incorporate energy efficiency into your daily life.
Check out Energy Upgrade California, Energy Star, and Southern California Regional Energy Network for steps you can take right now to save money and reduce energy use! Plus, they have lots of information on financing, rebates, and other incentives. Also, utility providers Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas Company have useful information and rebates for residents and business owners looking to improve energy efficiency.
Review electric cars, charging options, and incentives through SCE, Drive Clean CA, and Electric Drive 805. There is a strong charging network in Santa Barbara to support going electric! The City has several public stations around town– here’s how to use them and where they are located. Another great way to find public chargers in the area is through Chargehub. SB Clean Energy offers a rebate on the purchase or lease of new or used electric vehicles. Visit SB Clean Energy for details!
Battery energy storage is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and save utility cost. When tied to solar, it can keep your building running during power shut offs and other emergency events. There are a variety of batteries on the market to choose from and many reputable installers in the Santa Barbara area to help you pick the best system for your building. For more information and resources, check out SCE’s Battery Energy Storage System website and CEC’s Energy Storage Workshops. The Solarize program from the CEC also offers vetted special pricing on batteries.
Measuring your building’s energy and water performance is a great way to manage and improve efficiency. Check out the Energy Star Portfolio Manager, it’s a free tool to help you with your benchmarking goals! The City’s new WaterSmart system can help you monitor your water usage and even detect leaks.
Report streetlight outages via the City’s SBConnect app
We are so excited you asked! There are lots of ways to reduce your carbon footprint, but here are a few important changes you can make:
Drive less. Try public transit or other modes of alternative transportation, like biking or walking!
Eat local. Support local farmers and buy groceries at the farmers markets or sign up for a CSA!
Adopt renewable energy. Opt in to SB Clean Energy.
Go solar! Get solar and back it up with battery storage.
Improve your home’s energy efficiency. Weatherize your home by replacing windows and doors, and adding insulation. Replace your old appliances with Energy Star ones and invest in a solar heat pump!
Reduce your waste. Consuming (purchasing) less to begin with is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Also, divert food scraps to compost and reuse, repurpose, and recycle when you can!
To measure your carbon footprint and find more ways to reduce your impact check out Cool California!
The City of Santa Barbara reached its carbon target of 7% below 1990 levels by 2020 set in the 2012 Climate Action Plan. City Council has adopted a goal of being carbon neutral by 2035. Check out the update Climate Action Plan for the City’s roadmap to bring us Together to Zero.
The City of Santa Barbara’s Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan is underway and will address the effects of sea level rise over time. The first phase of the Adaptation Plan is the Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment, which identified areas in the City that are at risk from sea level rise and related hazards through 2100. It will inform potential strategies to address coastal hazards in the future Adaptation Plan.
The Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) identifies high fire hazard areas in the city, presents policies and management actions to reduce wildland fire hazards and impacts, and provides a framework for coordinating community-wide protection efforts. This plan is an important step in resilience as climate-driven drought conditions exacerbates wildfire danger.
Walk, bike, ride the bus, or hop on the train! There are lots of sustainable ways to get around town. See what the City is doing to promote alternative transportation here!
Visit our Trash, Recycling, and Yard Waste page to learn about the City’s waste collection contract with MarBorg Industries.
Call MarBorg directly at (805) 963-1852.
Businesses and apartment owners can visit our Trash Rates page to estimate your service rates.
Not sure how to get rid of something? Find answers at How to (Properly) Dispose of Everything.
We are so glad you asked because it’s really important to know what can and can’t go in the blue bin. Unfortunately, we cannot recycle everything, and when trash items end up at our recycling facilities it takes extra resources to get them to the landfill. Here’s a handy brochure (in English and Spanish) covering what’s recyclable. You might even want to print it out and put it near where you collect recycling as a reminder!
The CRV program is run by the state, you can learn more about it here. In Santa Barbara, there are two official CRV redemption centers: Downtown Recycling “ABOP” Center (132 Nopalitos Way) and Santa Barbara Iron and Metal Recyclers (709 East Gutierrez Street).
Thanks for helping us keep our City clean! Report graffiti via the City’s SBConnect app and the Streets Division’s graffiti team will respond as soon as possible.
Illegal dumping is the placement of unwanted items in locations other than the owner’s trash or recycling containers. This includes items like couches, mattresses, bags of trash, and other items being left on the sidewalk or dumped in our creeks.
Report illegal dumping via the City’s SBConnect app. Please include any details including a description of the person, the address they came from or returned to, make/model/color of vehicle if applicable, and the dumping location. Photos can also be uploaded to the app to help us identify the dumped item and location.
If you see litter or pollution in our streets, gutters, on the sidewalk, or in a creek, please let us know! Reports can be submitted via the SBConnect app. For pollutants in the storm drain or creek, you can also call our hotline at (805) 448-0117.
It’s easy to help protect our creeks and ocean! Here are some simple tips:
Sweep driveways and sidewalks rather than hosing or blowing debris into the street.
Keep pollution out of our streets, gutters, storm drains, and creeks!
Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly and always read directions. Visit OurWaterOurWorld.org for tips!
Always pick up after your pet!
Carefully store and dispose of household chemicals properly. Visit LessIsMore.org to learn more!
Practice good car care, and fix leaks right away.
Keep storm water (rain) on your property using rain barrels, directing downspouts toward landscaping, or by creating a rain garden.
Report pollution by calling our Enforcement Hotline at (805) 897-2688.
Creek side property owners can participate in our Creek Tree Program and help improve native riparian canopy along our creeks. Even if you don’t live next to a creek, you can install native plants and trees, create a rain garden, or look at ways to remove impermeable (hard) surfaces and let rain infiltrate into the ground.
Visit our SWMP FAQ page!
Report a creek concern, litter, or pollution via the City’s app SBConnect. You can also call or email the Creeks Division at (805) 448-0117 or Creeks@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.
Visit our Creeks and Watersheds map! No matter where you are in the City of Santa Barbara, you’re never more than about a mile from a local creek.
A watershed is an area of land that drains to a body of water. When it rains in Santa Barbara, water flows into our local creeks and then into the ocean.