The Impact Hub has been busy, especially with the opening of a second successful location in the Funk Zone. As the coworking spaces expand, they continually work to reduce their environmental footprint and have a newly minted Green Business Certification to prove it. “We strive to provide our members an affordable, clean, collaborative, fun place to work,” says Santa Barbara Hub Co-Founder Dan Ferrick. Fellow co-founder Diana Pereira adds, “environmental sustainability has been baked into the Impact Hub’s DNA from day one.”
In order to receive the recognition, a business must show that steps have been taken to save resources and cut back on waste in its facility and operation. At Impact Hub, that means using biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products; purchasing supplies and materials that are compostable or contain recycled content; and buying in bulk to reduce packaging. It also means placing signage near sinks and light switches to curb the use of water and electricity, and offering the option to use cloth towels instead of paper towels in the bathrooms and kitchens.
Each month, co-working members and the community are invited to a workshop on composting and recycling hosted by the City at Impact Hub. Impact Hub has made attendance part of the member onboarding process, and all Hub and janitorial staff are required to attend. Impact Hub is also a member of the City’s Foodscraps Program, which takes food, soiled paper, and green waste out of the landfill to be turned into rich soil for use in city parks. Together, this all makes for a healthy, comfortable working environment, where folks are inspired to be more mindful and to cut back on waste.
Beyond the Hub walls, the California Green Business Program has prevented the release of 835,334 metric tons of CO2 emissions this year, saving businesses a total of $3,083,277. That’s the equivalent of planting 44,161 acres of urban trees per year for a decade. “We’re working to start a larger conversation around sustainability and the role we play in protecting the environment,” states Impact Hub Environmental Lead Kylie Wagner. “And the certification does just that.”
