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Green Business Case Study: The Towbes Group

Sustainability Makes Good Business Sense

The Towbes Group has a motto – “do the right thing, even when no one is looking.” The company’s commitment to integrity, quality, and sustainability has made it a leader in real estate investment, development, and property management for over 50 years.

After achieving certification from the Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County in July of 2010, Towbes Development Project Manager Craig Minus hoped the Santa Barbara community would be paying attention. He is especially proud of the internal changes that significantly reduced energy costs and minimized the company’s environmental footprint.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Water baseline (per month): 20,800 gallons

  • Water saved (per month): 8,500 gallons

  • Water cost savings: 41%

  • Electricity baseline (per month): 19,300 kWh

  • Electricity saved (per month): 4,900 kWh

  • Electricity cost savings: 25%

  • Waste diversion rate (prior to certification): 33%

  • Waste diversion rate (after certification): 71%

  • Waste efficiency improvement: 38%

Like many other businesses, the Towbes Group wanted to make a difference, but lacked the resources to do so. The Green Business Program facilitated a step-by-step approach to reducing the company’s environmental impact and utility bills. Prior to certification, the corporate office consumed over 19,000 kWh of electricity per month. The company was able to take advantage of Southern California Edison’s Energy Management Assistance Program, which replaced the lighting for free. “Changing the light bulbs was a no brainer,” Craig said. “You can do a lot in your daily actions.”

The Towbes Group installed new LED overhead lights in their conference room and continues to explore new technology to increase efficiency. They also upgraded thermostats, replaced an old air conditioning unit with an evaporative cooler and economizer, and encouraged staff to turn off lights and electronics when not in use—resulting in a 25% reduction in electricity costs.

The company also addressed waste and water use. With a strategic shift to more recycling bins and fewer trash bins, they not only improved waste diversion by 38% but also saved $192 per month in waste hauling fees. Older toilets were replaced with high-efficiency 1.28-gallon models, cutting water use by 8,500 gallons per month and saving 41% on water bills.

Employees further embraced sustainability by switching to recycled-content paper and replacing disposable kitchenware with reusable items. “We hope to pass the newfound culture onto other businesses and clients,” Craig shared.

You may even spot Towbes employees around town in their electric car, affectionately known as “Towbie.”

Property Spotlight: Patterson Place Apartments

Towbes Group took their sustainability goals further at Patterson Place, a multifamily residential property that recently underwent a transformative energy retrofit. With the help of major clean energy incentive programs—including CCCE, TECH, and 3C-REN—Towbes installed CO?-based heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) across 8 buildings, replacing outdated natural gas boilers.

  • Total Project Cost: $616,400

  • Incentive Contributions:

    • CCCE: $200,000

    • TECH: $68,400

    • 3C-REN: $348,000

  • Net Cost to Owner: $0

Each building now operates with three SanCO? HPWHs, 200-gallon primary storage tanks, and swing tanks to ensure hot water availability and high efficiency. The result: full electrification of domestic hot water systems, substantial GHG emissions reduction, and long-term savings—without passing on costs to residents or property owners.

“This project shows that doing right by the planet and our residents can go hand in hand. With the right partners and programs, we were able to make a major upgrade with zero out-of-pocket cost.”
– Craig Minus, Towbes Group

The Patterson Place project exemplifies the company’s values and showcases how sustainability can be scaled across residential and commercial properties for community-wide impact.