UC Davis' push for sustainability is entering its second year, with an advisory committee following through on initial efforts laid out in last year's Blueprint for a Green Future.

Work continues on the campus's new "green map" and a sustainability Web site, a video is in the development stage, and UC Davis Extension is preparing to launch the Green Building and Sustainable Design Certificate Program.

"I am encouraged by the progress the Sustainability Committee has made in promoting campuswide sustainability policies and practices for our long-term planning," said Vice Chancellor Stan Nosek of the Office of Administration.

"I am especially impressed by the committee's development of strong collaborations with faculty and its efforts to encourage increased student participation through grant funding."

Already, the university has much to boast about:

• Designation as an "innovative leader" in commute alternatives, resulting in "valuable environmental benefits to your community," according to Connie Ruth of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Her comments came in conjunction with UC Davis' inclusion on the EPA and Department of Transportation's first list of Best Workplaces for Commuters, in the colleges and universities category. "The emissions avoided by your employees' commuting choices are important contributions to cleaner air and reduced traffic congestion," Ruth said in an e-mail to Cliff Contreras, director of UC Davis Transportation and Parking Services.
• Two Best Practice Awards, one to Student Housing for a lighting retrofit project, the other to R4 Recycling for its innovative waste reduction. The award presentations came during the fifth annual Sustainability Conference put on by UC and the state's other high education systems: California State University and California Community Colleges.
• 33 baseline credits, the most of any campus, with each credit representing a commitment to incorporate a green building measure — energy efficiency, water-use efficiency, nontoxic building materials — into new buildings on campus.

The new UC Davis Extension certificate program is set to start in October with two courses: Sustainability and the Built Environment, and Green Architecture. A free information session is scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at the California Environmental Protection Agency, 1001 I St., Sacramento. CalEPA is in a green building, and a tour will conclude the information session, organizers said.

An extension announcement states that the new program is geared for planners, landscape architects, developers, contractors and other professionals interested in sustainable building strategies.

The university's regular curriculum includes at least three courses dealing with sustainability: Environmental Science and Policy 167 (Energy Policy), Design 191B (Environmental Sustainability) and Design 198 (Directed Group Study in Daylighting).

The university also offers the Education for Sustainable Living Program, a two-unit seminar series described as an "interdisciplinary effort to realize sustainable community throughout the University of California."

In this program, students form action research teams "in partnership with guest lecturers, faculty, administration and community members to implement tangible change," according to the UC Davis general catalog. "Such experiential learning inspires participants to internalize the concept of sustainability, and carry it in practice beyond academia into a greater society."

One of last year's action research teams launched the "green map" project, to "chart the natural and cultural environment of our community." Another team laid the groundwork for a green building campaign in conjunction with the future Student Resource Center, to ensure that it meets the highest sustainability standards.

Other teams focused on greater sustainability in transportation, food systems and energy efficient equipment purchases. Another team planned to build a community education space using natural materials.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Building and Sustainable Design Certificate Program

UC Davis Extension

(530) 757-8777 or (800) 752-0881

http://extension.ucdavis.edu/green_building

Registration for the Sept. 14 information session is encouraged but not required, and can be arranged online.

Education for Sustainable Living Program

Jonathan Woolley, course coordinator

(530) 204-7619 or jmwoolley@ucdavis.edu

http://cce.ucdavis.edu/groups/ESLP