Sustainability Starts Here
Building Sustainable Communities
Sustainable communities start with the actions of individuals. Together we can minimize waste and environment deterioration. However, living more sustainably goes beyond just natural resource and environmental conservation. Sustainability can also positively impact local economies and offer an opportunity for positive collaboration with your fellow community members. UF/IFAS and its Program for Resource Efficient Communities can help you learn more about the five pillars of sustainability, as well as how you can get more involved in your community's sustainability initiatives.
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Food Systems
UF/IFAS
- UF/IFAS Institute for Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS)
- Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SFYL)
- Tropical Research & Education Center – Current Research Projects (TREC)
- UF Feed the Future Lab for Livestock Innovation
- Food and Resource Economics Department (FRED)
- Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department
- UF/IFAS Plant Science - Sustainable Crop Production
External
- CGIAR Research Program of Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
- CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas
- Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project
- Center for Organic and Sustainable Food Systems
- American Planning Association – Food Systems (APA-FL)
- Sustainable North Florida
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Energy
UF/IFAS
External
- Solar Programs (GRU)
- Department of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (DOE EERE)
- US Department of Energy (DOE)
- US Office of Fossil Energy (DOE)
- Advanced Research Projects Agency (DOE ARPA-E)
- Energy Innovation Portal (DOE EERE)
- Industrial Technologies Program – Save Energy Now (DOE EERE)
- Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy (FARE)
- Enterprise Florida – Clean Energy
- Consumer Energy Alliance
- Energy Information Administration (EIA)
- Smart Electric Power Alliance
- The National Academies: What You Need to Know About Energy
- Energy Saver (DOE)
- Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
- Florida Office of Energy (FDACS)
- The Florida Public Service Commission – Electric and Gas Regulation
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Water
UF/IFAS
External
- H2ouse
- Florida Water Star
- Sustainable Water
- Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable (ACWI SWRR)
- Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA)
- Irrigation Association
- American Water Resources Association
- Water Programs (FDEP)
- Water Resources of Florida (USGS)
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Florida Water Management Districts (FDEP)
- Florida’s Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (FLaWARN)
- Florida Water Topics (FDEP)
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Climate
UF/IFAS
External
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)
- Florida Air Topics (FDEP)
- Clean Air Florida (FDEP)
- Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) in Florida (FDEP)
- First For Sustainability – Air Emissions and Air Quality
- Air, Climate, and Energy Strategic Research Action Plan (EPA PDF)
- Climate Change, Indoor Air Quality, and Health (EPA PDF)
- Transit’s Role in Environmental Sustainability (FTA)
- Air Quality and Emissions (NLC)
- Climate and Sustainability (IIEA)
- Sustainability (NPS)
- Sustainable Development – Climate Action (UN)
- Sea Level Rise: Causes and Consequences
- Florida Planning – Climate Change (APA FL)
- 1000 Friends of Florida – Climate Change and Sea Level Rise
- How Countries, States, and Florida Address Sea Level Rise (PDF)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
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Land
UF/IFAS
External
- Land Use (APA FL)
- Livable Florida: Planning for Sustainable Communities (APA FL)
- Sustainability and Land Use Planning (WM-LAW PDF)
- S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- American Community Gardening Association
- International Society of Arboriculture (FL)
- Sustainable Land Use for the 21st Century (PDF)
- Sustainable Land Use Planning and Planning of Rural Road Networks (PDF)
- Land Use Planning for Sustainable Development (PDF)
- Sustainable Land Management (PDF)
- Land Resource Planning for Sustainable Land Management (GLTN)
- Land Trust Alliance – Why Conserve Land
- Conservation Florida
- Alachua Conservation Trust
- Conservation (USDA)
- Everglades Law – Land Use & Sustainability
Resources
Other UF/IFAS Sites
- Florida-Friendly Partners
- Community Planning & Development
- UF Office of Sustainability
- Family Resources - Sustainable Communities
- Sustainable Living: Families & Consumers
- The Program for Resource Efficient Communities (PREC)
- Florida Master Gardener Program
- Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program
UF/IFAS Publications
- Understanding Sustainability
- Sustainable Community Development
- Sustainable Community Development (SP)
- Options for Clean Energy Financing Programs: Scalable Solutions for Florida's Local Governments
- Energy Efficient Building Construction in Florida: 9th Edition
State & Federal Agencies
Organizations & Associations
- Florida Green Building Coalition
- Audubon International
- Florida Water Star
- Energy Star
- Green Advantage Personnel Certification
- Green Seal
- Earth Craft
- GreenGuard
- Sustainable Floridians