SBCC’s Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation recently completed its first project in Carpinteria with the college’s new Students in Free Enterprisechapter.

SIFE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing sustainability to the business world. The SBCC chapter consists of students from various disciplines, including leadership classes. Under the direction of Melissa Moreno, director of the SBCC Scheinfeld Center, the SIFE chapter undertakes various projects each semester.

Using grant funds that were awarded to the SIFE team from the Sam’s Club Environmental Sustainability Challenge, the SIFE students worked with a local small business and implemented a strategy for improved immediate and future energy efficiency and recycling at the office of Seascape Realty in Carpinteria.

Over a two-month period, the SIFE students improved Seascape’s use of energy and implemented an upgraded recycling system.

In April, the SIFE students hosted an event at Seascape Realty commemorating the success of the project to bring awareness to the community on how small steps taken toward energy efficiency and recycling by small businesses can have a big impact.