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Santa Barbara County continues to showcase the innovation and commitment of local businesses and nonprofits through the Intuit Green Grant program. Four inspiring projects recently selected for funding highlight how organizations of all types are taking meaningful steps toward sustainability.

About the Green Grant Program

These projects were funded through the Green Grant program, a partnership between the California Green Business Network (CAGBN) and Intuit, which awards small grants to help Certified Green Businesses complete impactful energy-efficiency and electrification upgrades. The program is exclusive to businesses that are up to date on their Tier 2 Green Business certification, and recipients are required to complete their proposed project and submit a short write-up detailing the results and impact. Since the grant is open to Green Businesses across the entire state, competition for one of the limited spots is steep, making it all the more exciting that these four Santa Barbara County businesses and nonprofits were selected.

Isla Vista Food Co-op, Goleta Project: Convert fluorescent lighting to ballast-bypass LED lighting

As a public benefit food co-op owned by individual shareholders, Isla Vista Food Co-op has always prioritized sustainability. Their bulk food section reduces packaging waste, and solar panels power part of their operations. Through this Green Grant, they've upgraded their lighting to LEDs, a project they'd wanted to complete for several years but lacked the funding to move forward on. The co-op expects to see meaningful reductions in power consumption. They also noted how much they valued the hands-on guidance available through the Green Business Program and Intuit grant program in helping bring the project to life.

"Sustainability has been important to the IVFC since its founding. This project allows us to build on existing green practices while inspiring our members and staff to continue reducing environmental impact." — Eric Schug, Treasurer

Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center, Carpinteria Project: Upgrade courtyard and tree lights to LEDs

The Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center serves as a vibrant hub for the local arts community, hosting free cultural events, concerts, and workshops. In 2024, 13,447 visitors attended their programs. The Center recently completed the LED upgrade to their courtyard and tree lighting, which hosts dozens of evening events throughout the year.

"We wanted to lead by example in Carpinteria by implementing sustainable practices in a public space that serves so many residents and visitors." — Kristina Calkins, Director

The Center didn't stop there: they recently hosted the first-ever Carpinteria Earth Day, where they had a table dedicated to showcasing their LED project and encouraging other local businesses to pursue Green Business certification.

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Barbara Project: Upgrade rotating exhibit gallery lighting to modern LED track lighting

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum interprets the rich maritime history of the region while educating over 40,000 visitors annually about ocean conservation and coastal culture. This Green Grant supported a much-needed lighting upgrade in the rotating exhibit gallery, part of a larger capital improvement initiative aimed at expanding and modernizing the space, including future plans to add exhibit space on the museum's second floor. Beyond the visual and energy improvements, the new LED track lighting also produces less heat than the previous fixtures, supporting more stable indoor climate control alongside lower energy use and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

"Thanks to the Intuit grant, we replaced outdated lighting with energy-efficient fixtures that have greatly improved the quality and flexibility of our gallery space. This upgrade has enhanced the visitor experience and is an important step in our broader plan to expand exhibit space on the museum's second floor, while also supporting our commitment to sustainable operations. We're grateful for the support of our local Green Business Program in helping make this possible." — Emily Falke, Curator and Director of Collections

The Good Lion, Santa Barbara Project: Replace an old, broken AC unit with a new heat pump

Unlike a standard air conditioner, a heat pump moves heat rather than generating it, allowing it to both heat and cool a space far more efficiently. The Good Lion replaced a failing AC unit that would regularly short out and struggle to keep up, with a modern heat pump using more efficient coolant. Beyond the efficiency gains, the upgrade has had a direct business impact: keeping the bar comfortable has helped keep guests around longer, translating into a noticeable increase in revenue.

"The process was so streamlined, and helps offset the cost of replacing the unit. Being able to keep the bar at a comfortable temperature has allowed us to keep guests longer and generate more revenue, as the old unit would constantly short out and struggled even when it was on." -Adam Sandroni, Director of Finance

These projects illustrate the diversity of Santa Barbara County businesses and nonprofits embracing sustainable practices, from energy-efficient lighting to smarter climate control systems, while continuing to deliver meaningful services and experiences to the community. Each initiative demonstrates that sustainability is not just a goal but a core operational principle that benefits both the planet and the bottom line. Interested in learning about future Green Grant opportunities? Reach out to your local Green Business Program Coordinator, Kori Nielsen, at knielsen@environmentalin.com.