FOOD

Bottled Water vs. Tap Water, a taste test

David Phillips, Facilities Management-Utilities

Blind taste test City of Davis tap water, filtered UC Davis tap water, Arrowhead bottled spring water, and UC Davis tap water.

• RESULTS (February 11, 2008; PDF)
• Bottled Water and Energy fact sheet (Pacific Institute)

Sustaining Our Future

University Dining Services

Visit Dining Services’ Sustaining Our Future program. Chefs will be creating a dish from local products for all to taste. Come chat with the chef and farmers and find out how you can help the movement towards a more sustainable food system.

A Taste for Tea

Honest Tea

Taste organic teas that are available at University dining venues.

Responsible Refreshments

Dining Services, Starbuck’s Coffee

A free coffee, tea, and iced water refreshment station provided jointly by University Dining and Starbucks. Free refreshments also provided at the Teach-in.

Next Generation Foods

Founded by Michael Bosworth

Next Generation Foods plans to bridge the gap between growers and consumers for a more transparent relationship between the field and table. Their goal is to allow family farmers to pass their farm and traditions on to the next generation.

Sustainable Food Certification

Food Alliance

We certify farms, ranches and food processors for sustainable practices. Businesses that meet our standards use certification to make credible claims for social and environmental responsibility.

Buy Fresh & Buy Local

Growers’ Collaborative, Community Alliance with Family Farmers

The Growers’ Collaborative in Davis connects kitchens at hospitals, universities, school districts, and corporations with fresh produce from family farms. You can snack on fruit, talk food, and learn about farms near UC Davis.

You are what you eat!

Students for Sustainable Agriculture

We’re here to prove you can help cool the earth by enjoying a really good meal. Come visit Students for Sustainable Agriculture for tasty ideas, and some other surprise treats!

Is Your Food a Road Warrior?

Davis Food Co-op

How far has your food traveled? You may be surprised. The Davis Food Co-op will host an activity that will have you guessing just how many miles lie between the farm and your fork. Prizes available while they last!

TRANSPORTATION

Help Your Bike, Help Your Life

The Bike Church

Bring your bike to our flat tire clinic... Learn to fix your bike, and help teach others! Compete in our flat-fixing tournaments! Listen to the bomping tunes of our Pedal Electric Tricycle! Power a laptop with your sexy legs on the Pedal Desk! Gawk in awe at funky bicycle dancing! Join the Bike Church!

Breezer: Transportation for a Healthy Planet

Breezer Bikes Sausalito, California

Breezer Bikes advocates bicycling for personal, community and global health. Breezer bicycles are high-performance, sustainable vehicles fully equipped for errands or commuting. Riding is a joyful way to reduce your global footprint.

Air Quality Wheel of Fortune

Atmospheric Aerosols & Health Training Grant

Take a spin and test your air quality knowledge for the chance to win cool prizes! Learn ways to improve air quality in the Sacramento Valley. Funded by UC Toxic Substances Research & Teaching Program

Spare-the-Air T-Shirts!

Lynn Larke, UC Davis Medical Center

Get a T-Shirt with the words “Spare the Air Day. I didn’t drive today,” to wear while using public or non-polluting transportation, while they last, and learn about Spare the Air program.

Alt-Trans Trivia

UC Davis TAPS

Play an educational trivia game about bicycle and alternative transportation on campus.

Preventative Bicycle Maintenance

Bike Barn

See bicycle preventive maintenance demonstrations on the hour and half past the hour. Learn how to properly inspect, clean and maintain your bike.

Mowing Down Emissions

Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District

Get information on air quality and the use of environmentally friendly products. Sign up to win a Neuton rechargeable lawn mower!

LIFESTYLE

Sustainable Living in Practice

Tri Co-ops & The Domes

The Tri Co-ops and The Domes have thrived at UC Davis for 30 years to exemplify sustainable living. Meet members of the community and reap practical experience with these energetic students of sustainability.

Climate Change Jeopardy Game

Kearney Foundation of Soil Science, John Muir Institute, & LAWR

Test your eco-knowledge! Play with a team, go it solo, or just relax in the audience. Winners will take home a prize and everyone will learn about the science and solutions of climate change.

Nature’s Theater: Interactive Nature Stories for Kids

Stebbins Cold Canyon: Nature Outings, Natural Reserve System

Children ages 5-10, or child-like adults, can meet Mother Nature and join a theatrical interaction with the natural world. Have fun and learn how to care for this beautiful planet. Sign-ups begin at 9:00 a.m. This one hour activity will be from 11-12 noon, and closes when 20 sign up.

Closing the Clothing Lifecycle

Design Program

What can you do with outdated clothing? Bring clean clothing or pieces of fabric that you never got around to sewing, and Design students will create a sturdy or fashionable reusable shopping bag for you!

Student Housing: Sustainable Practices

Student Housing

We house over 4,800 students. Our facilities use sustainable practices that save money while teaching sustainable living. See what is happening in the residence halls and what future plans are in the works.

Toward Zero Waste with R4 Recycling

R4 Recycling & Zero Waste

R4 Recycling demonstrates Zero Waste. See how R4 diverted 56% of waste last year, saving energy, money, emissions, resources and landfill space.

Student Environmental Resources

Campus Center for the Environment

Visit an organizational hub and resource center for all environmentally-focused clubs and individuals at UC Davis who care about environmental education, awareness, ecological health, and environmental justice.

Valleywise Gardens

UC Davis Arboretum

Gardens create landscapes that support wild things and conserve precious resources, an important part of stewarding our piece of the earth. Our staff has beautiful alternatives you can re-create in your garden.

Sustainable & Fashionable Living

Greenlight Organic: Social Responsibility

Buy sustainable certified organic cotton fashions and lifestyle products. We use sustainably-produced fibers from growers and manufacturers in the developing world, and 10% of the profits go back to those communities.

Sustainability Education

California Students for Sustainability Coalition

We will have a wonderful box full of free goodies, great information, sustainable give-aways, and smiling people. For extra points, bring your own reuseable giveaways to add to our “free” box. Come for a visit!

Project Compost Ends Organic Oppression

Project Compost

Learn to compost and why it is sustainable. Learn to make your own worm bins for home, apartment, or dorm! Get involved with the group that diverts 5,000 lbs. per week from the UC Davis landfill. Steamy goodness!

ENERGY

Light with Savings

Pacific Gas and Electric and Davis Net Impact

Get “ClimateSmart” and meet with “SmartEnergy Analyzer.” Staffed by volunteers from the Graduate School of Management’s green business club who give compact fluorescent bulbs to save you a few bucks.

Living Laboratory for Sustainability

Energy Efficiency Center

The “Living Laboratory for Sustainability” could foster cross-disciplinary collaboration between campus planning, operations, academics, community and industry, and support experiential research and field education.

Eco-friendly Home Improvement

Casa Verde Designs, Davis

Learn the basic principles of green building, and how they affect building and remodeling your home. Discuss green building practices and methods and see materials that contribute to low-impact living.

What Is Your Home’s GPA?

GreenBuilt Construction & Green Sacramento

This General Contractor from Sacramento offers commercial and residential consulting. Green Sacramento is the leading local source for green building materials and interior finishes.

How Now Green Cow?

Western United Dairymen

Learn how “cow power” can generate electricity and natural gas; how cow manure can produce methane and biomethane for vehicle fuels; and how the “green cow initiative” can make dairies sustainable.

Building a Greener Campus

Architects and Engineers and ORMP

Hear the latest in energy efficiency from recent projects and learn the benefits of green building construction and operations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.