What UC Davis is doing to be sustainable -- as a campus and as a research institution -- is the topic of a new website launched today called the "Sustainable 2nd Century," at http://sustainability.ucdavis.edu.

Striving for a sustainable second century is the broadly defined goal for UC Davis, which recently celebrated its first 100 years. The initiative takes into account the campus’s long-term commitment to sustainability, in relation to the environment, economics and society.

The website describes UC Davis’ examination of current campus operations -- from landscape irrigation to laboratory work to heating and cooling -- and its challenge to envision a more sustainable environment. Some highlights include:

* UC Davis has pledged to become a "zero waste" campus by 2020. The campus currently diverts 76 percent of its waste into recycling, composting or other means of avoiding a landfill. The goal is to make that 100 percent, with the exception of hazardous and medical waste.

* More than 21 percent of food purchases for campus dining halls are from local, certified organic or other sustainable sources.

* More than 75 percent of all commutes to UC Davis in 2008-09 were made by walking, biking, carpooling, riding a bus or taking a train.

* Campus energy improvements now in progress include more than 160 retrofits to cooling, heating and lighting systems, which are paid for in part by energy savings.

* UC Davis has set a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to just under 1999 levels by the year 2014. UC Davis’ new Climate Action Plan is also housed on this site.

Sections of the site explain the campus’s progress toward sustainability goals, research in critical fields, how students can get involved and how community members can take action to support campus goals.