The Oregon Zoo is working to reduce its carbon footprint and in turn, serve as a model for going green.

Zoo officials said the negative impact of global warming on the Arctic was a big part of their decision to make changes.

"Because we care about polar bears, we were even more motivated than usual when the time came to write our annual green resolutions," said Tony Vecchio, zoo director. "We've always tried to be on the cutting edge of green technologies, but this year we were challenged to stretch ourselves a little further in exploring new ideas."

The Zoo's Green Team assembles the resolutions, but staff members in every division come up with suggestions. Of the newest 16 resolutions, 7 came from the zoo's gardeners.

"By publishing our resolutions, we hold our own feet to the fire, but we also use this list to share ideas with other businesses and organizations," Vecchio said.

The zoo's Green Team includes representatives from every zoo division and meets monthly to explore new ways of taking the zoo's green operations to a higher level.

Here are this year's new resolutions:

• Put energy-saving automated controls in at least two additional buildings.

• Complete our conversion of fluorescent light fixtures from T8s to more energy-efficient T12s and from magnetic to electronic ballasts.

• With the help of our new Invasive Plant Removal volunteer group and other community volunteer groups, remove 20 percent of six ecosystem-degrading invasive plants on zoo property, with a goal of 90 percent control within 10 years. (The six invasive plants are butterfly bush, English ivy, Himalayan blackberry, Japanese knotweed, drooping sedge and Traveler's Joy clematis.)

• Build a Backyard Makeover Demonstration Garden to show visitors how an ordinary backyard can be transformed into habitat for native birds and other wildlife.

• Install a Conservation Parking Meter that invites visitors to donate their change to help protect habitats.

• Plant at least 50 trees on zoo grounds to offset our carbon use.

• Design our new veterinary hospital to LEED standards.

• Inspire at least 10 percent of our members to save paper (and trees) by renewing online.

• Complete our online registration system for classes and camps.

• Switch to copy paper with 100 percent recycled content. (The paper we currently use has 40 percent recycled content.)

• Increase the percentage of employees who commute by bicycle through a bike-rider mentor program, installation of a bicycle maintenance rack and a brownbag to encourage ridership.

• Conduct an audit aimed at increasing waste diversion in animal management areas.

• Explore the use of four-stroke vs. two-stroke backpack blowers and grass trimmers.

• Promote the zoo's green gardening practices on our Web site and through other media as a way of educating others about what they can do.

• Research the feasibility of capturing methane gas from our ZooDoo composting bins as a renewable power source.

• Develop plans and timelines for creating more storm-water retention gardens on zoo grounds.

The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Washington pygmy rabbits, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.