Scented products can pollute your indoor air. Here are some safer alternatives.
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Idle Free Awareness in SLC
by SLCgreen Intern Talea Steele
We all know air quality is a problem for Salt Lake City. We can see our poor air quality in the winter with smoggy inversions, but you may not realize that air quality is just as big of an issue during the warmer months!
Let me introduce you to… OZONE! Ozone is formed by pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds that interact with sunlight and heat. As temperatures rise across the valley, the formation of ground ozone rises as well, making us much more likely to breathe it in. Since ozone is odorless and invisible, we may not realize that breathing it in is damaging our cardiovascular systems and is like getting a sunburn to our lungs… ouch!
So, what can we do about ozone to help keep our air and communities clean? One important and easy thing we can all do is to be idle free!
Continue readingPress Release: Local government steps up: Salt Lake City is responding to changing climate with forward-thinking strategy
Salt Lake City invites residents to help shape its climate action plan, “Climate Forward SLC”
Sept. 15, 2025
While climate change is a global crisis, many impacts are being tackled on local, community levels. Salt Lake City has been a leader in Utah, first committing to climate action in 2002 with the Kyoto Protocol. Since then, the City has achieved a lot, but much has also changed and evolved.
To refresh critical future steps, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and the City’s Sustainability Department recently launched Climate Forward SLC, a process to update the City’s climate strategy.
Continue readingIndoor Air Quality: 🚌 Back-to-School Edition: Go Idle-Free to Breathe Cleaner Air 🚗
September is Idle Free Awareness Month! As the temperatures start to cool, and inversion season approaches, we wanted to share some information about vehicle emissions from idling and its impacts on indoor air quality.
Every morning, cars idle in driveways, streets, and school zones. Exhaust drifts indoors—triggering asthma, worsening allergies, and affecting everyone in your home and community.
Vehicle exhaust makes up about 50% of the air pollution in Utah during a typical winter day, and unnecessary idling of cars and buses contribute a significant amount of emissions released into the air each day. That’s why we encourage drivers to “Turn Your Key, Be Idle Free”!
Continue readingTurning Up the Heat – Adapting to Hotter Temps Across SLC
As the summer heat continues, it’s important to understand how to deal with extreme temperatures and why they are becoming more frequent every year. We have seen Salt Lake County’s average summer temperature increase by 3.9° F since 1985, while the U.S. average has increased by 1.5°F.
What is the Urban Heat Island Effect?
Have you ever noticed how the city feels much hotter than surrounding areas? That feeling is thanks to the urban heat island effect. The heat island effect is a phenomenon that leads to higher temperatures in urban areas compared to rural areas. This temperature difference is due to the greater presence of heat-absorbing surfaces, like large buildings and pavement, and not as much vegetation and green space in a city. The high density of buildings within cities also makes it harder for temperatures to decrease at nighttime.
How is Heat Distributed in SLC?
Continue readingIndoor Air Quality: Protecting Your Indoor Air During Wildfire Season
Wildfire season is here — and even if the flames are far away, the smoke can travel hundreds of miles and leak indoors. Smoke contains fine particles that can harm your lungs, worsen asthma, and make the air inside unhealthy to breathe — even when you can’t see it.
With your portable air purifier and a few simple steps, you can keep your home’s air cleaner and safer all season long.
Continue readingIndoor Air Quality: Cooking and Indoor Air Quality
Cooking brings flavor—but also hidden air pollution. Whether you use gas or electric, how you cook impacts the air your family breathes. Even brief cooking sessions can spread pollutants throughout your home (not just the kitchen). But simple changes can greatly enhance your indoor air quality!
Continue readingIndoor Air Quality: Staying Asthma (and Allergy) Aware
If you’re not affected by asthma, it’s likely that you have a friend or family member who is. While asthma severity and triggers may differ, there are common indoor culprits that can be helpful to identify and address. Read our guide below to learn how to improve your indoor air quality and make smarter choices around asthma (and allergy) triggers!
Continue readingIntroducing our Indoor Air Quality Series
We’re excited to introduce our Indoor Air Quality Program, designed to help you create a healthier home environment. In this blog series, we’ll share tips, resources, and program updates to help you improve the air quality in your home.
Continue readingPress Release: Utah Renewable Communities Program Application Submitted to Public Service Commission
We’re so excited to share the news that on Friday, January 24th, Rocky Mountain Power filed the Program Application with the Public Service Commission on behalf of the 19 local governments participating in Utah Renewable Communities (URC). Following nearly 5 years of negotiation and collaboration, this is our biggest milestone to date!
Over the next few months, the commission will review the application. Once approved, local communities will have the opportunity to adopt local ordinances to move forward.
We’re on our way, and we are thrilled to have 18 other communities along for the ride. Read the press release below and learn more about URC at www.utahrenewablecommunities.org.
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