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A tree standing on a pile of paper with paper scattered across the surrounding lawn
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Celebrate Earth Day by Going Paperless!

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The Santa Barbara community gathers each year at Alameda Park for the Earth Day festival to honor its clean-air, clean‑water heritage—and to take actions that protect it. What is one simple yet powerful step you can take? Switch to paperless utility billing.

Why it Matters

Real Carbon Savings, Real Action

  • Each household going paperless prevents about 171 pounds of greenhouse gases annually. That’s like taking a car off the road for a month.
  • Every 1 million electronic bills avoid an estimated 18.9 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent, compared to traditional paper billing.
  • A shift of just 20% of U.S. households to virtual payments could prevent approximately 689 million pounds of GHG emissions annually—and conserve 247 million lbs. of paper and 543 million lbs. of wood.

Protect Our Local Ecosystems

  • Santa Barbara’s environmental roots run deep. In the aftermath of the 1969 oil spill in the Santa Barbara Channel, a national Earth Day was established leading to legislation and the formation of a number of environmental organizations that have been nurtured by generations of local stewards. This Earth Day, let’s continue that tradition through modern strides like paperless billing.

Benefits for You & Your Community

  • Instant Delivery, Less Stress: Say goodbye to envelope hunting and mail delays. Digital bills arrive in real time—keeping you on top of your schedule and free from confusion or late fees.
  • Convenient and Secure: With 58% of Americans using phones or smartwatches for everyday purchases and 68% paying bills via mobile devices in the past year, electronic payments are now mainstream—and environmentally friendly.
  • Save Resources, Support Local Goals: Digital delivery cuts down on paper, ink, and postal emissions—resources we cherish in Santa Barbara’s eco-conscious community.

How to Get Started

  1. Enroll at or login to WaterSmart to go paperless and sign up for autopay at SantaBarbaraCA.gov/WaterSmart.
  2. Learn how the City is addressing environmental issues at Sustainability.SantaBarbaraCA.gov.
  3. Scoop up some inspiration at this year’s Earth Day Festival (April 25–26, 2026), connect with local green-energy organizations, and share this eco-friendly decision with friends and neighbors.

Joining the paperless movement is a small but impactful way to celebrate Earth Day—and it keeps the care for our community and our planet going year-round.

Make the switch today!

Good for the planet, good for Santa Barbara, good for you.