Resources
Sustainability on Campus
Planning and executing sustainable events require thoughtful preparation, collaboration, and a commitment to reducing environmental impact. Explore our Sustainable Event Guidelines to find actionable steps to create eco-friendly, low-waste events.
1. Plan Ahead - Plan your event well in advance to allow for vendor and venue research, collaboration with relevant organizations and office, and publicity of the event's sustainability goals.
2. Catering - Select food vendors with organic, locally-sourced ingredients, offer plant-based meal options, and avoid single-use plastic and individually packaged food items.
3. Reduce Waste - Plan for attendance drop-off by ordering less food than registered guests, donate uneaten food, and make sure you have Zero Waste Stations for proper sorting after the event.
4. Decor and Giveaways - For annual events, avoid dates on printed materials so it can be reused in the future. Include digital and eco-friendly swag for giveaways, and use local vendors.
5. Communicate - Use digital marketing techniques to advertise the event, provide agendas and event materials by email, and remind attendees to dispose of waste in the correct bins.
Sustainability In The Community
On this site you will find resources to programs dedicated to, or having an important role in promoting sustainability within Alachua County. Every resource on this site might not meet the three-way sustainability test of having long term social, economic and environmental benefits. However, they are still included for the community's consideration and discussion. It is hoped that these ideas may be modified over time to better meet the three-way test and as part of an Alachua County government's direction towards sustainability. We encourage you to read Alachua County's Declaration for a resource-efficient and resilient community. It represents a summation message of sustainability that is being shared and discussed at an international level based on this community's collective work.
The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office is a partnership between the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, University of Florida/IFAs, and the United States Department of Agriculture. Find out about classes, gardening advice, and more.
Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. supports and promotes sustainable organic agriculture and provides solutions to the issues facing farmers, families, and everyone in between. Become a member today to stay current on the latest news and best practices from Florida Organic Growers.
Cinema Verde's mission is to provide environmental education to the public through film, arts, workshops, events, tours and any other forum or media; to increase public awareness of environmental practices that enhance public health and improve quality of life in urban, suburban and rural settings. We bring community organizations, businesses and citizens together to help forge sustainable solutions for our future.
Information on rebates and how to save energy (and money) at home.
What is Hogtown HomeGrown? Well, obviously it is a newsletter and website full of local and seasonal recipes, but it is more than that - I want you to get away from the processed fast food mentality. I want you to get together with friends and family to enjoy local fresh food, lovingly cooked and eaten with laughter. Gather around the table every day – get to know each other – become a family!
As an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Keep Alachua County Beautiful believes that each of us holds an obligation to preserve and protect our environment. Through our everyday choices and actions, we collectively have a huge impact on our world. It's really a simple concept, but one with far reaching effects. As a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization, Keep America Beautiful follows a practical approach that unites citizens, businesses and the government to find solutions that advance our core issues of preventing litter, reducing waste, and beautifying communities. Our mission is to beautify, conserve resources, recycle, educate and preserve our community's environmental legacy.
The Gainesville Regional Transit System website provides information on bus maps and schedules, fares and passes, bus finder, rider information, other services and connections.
Swallowtail Farm is committed to creating and fostering a Biodynamic farm that reconciles economic viability and ecologic sustainability; that nurtures its soil, plants, animals, and workers; that facilitates the reconnection of people and the sources of their food; that provides the freshest, most vibrant food possible to our community; and that cultivates a cooperative network of local farms. Our farm endeavors to accomplish all of this with the principles of sustainability and locality at its heart.
Orange and Blue Goes Green community sustainability newsletter, and lots of other resources.
We Are Neutral is an environmental nonprofit that helps businesses and individuals understand, reduce, and offset their carbon footprints. We accomplish this through environmental education and hands-on carbon reduction/offset initiatives. Establishing businesses and individuals as carbon neutral leaders allows us to weave sustainability into existing frameworks while directly improving the communities around us.
The Community Weatherization Coalition (CWC) is a local, grassroots nonprofit that trains volunteer Energy Coaches to keep more money in the wallets of low-income residents throughout Alachua County while conserving water and energy.
Sustainability At Home
What people do in their own yards and neighborhoods affect local and nearby wildlife populations. Take steps to create and save wildlife habitat in urban areas, minimizing our adverse impact on local wildlife.
This site contains various links to ways to save and go green at home, including financial tools, reducing water usage, sustainable landscaping and gardening, tips for kids and teens, and more.
Sustainability In Higher Education
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
Santa Fe is a member of this organization of colleges and universities working to
advance sustainability in higher education. We work in partnership with businesses,
nonprofit organizations and government agencies that support our mission.
Sustainability Tools
Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
Santa Fe is a member of this organization of colleges and universities working to
advance sustainability in higher education. We work in partnership with businesses,
nonprofit organizations and government agencies that support our mission.
Fostering Sustainable Behavior
This site consists of five resources for those working to foster sustainable behaviors,
such as those involved in conservation, energy efficiency, transportation, waste reduction,
and water efficiency. The site includes the complete contents of the book, Fostering
Sustainable Behavior, as well as searchable databases of articles, case studies, and
turnkey strategies.
Grist
Environmental news and commentary.
Meatless Mondays
A non-profit initiative of The Monday Campaigns, in association with the Johns Hopkins'
Bloomberg School of Public Health. Their goal is to help reduce meat consumption 15%
in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.
Seafood Watch
Monterey Bay Aquarium's searchable database on making sustainable seafood choices.
What to buy (or NOT and why). Choose a fish and get recommendations ranging from Avoid
to Best Choice.
National Resources Defense Council
One of the nation's most effective environmental action groups.
Sierra Club
America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.