Category Archives: Air Quality

Press 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.

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Indoor 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”! 

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Turning 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?

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Indoor 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.

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Indoor 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!

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Indoor 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!

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Happy Earth Month from SLCgreen! 🌏

Salt Lake City is committed to protecting the public health and safety of its residents, including ensuring access to clean air, clean water and a livable environment. 🌏 This Earth Month, take some time to learn about how we’re working toward our Climate Positive 2040 Plan and tips you can start with today to make positive change in your life, community, and for a healthier planet.

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Community Electrified Transportation Study ⚡

New Report Out! ⚡🚗 🚚

We are excited to share Salt Lake City’s recently completed Community Electrified Transportation Study. The City initiated the study in 2023 and it was completed in January 2025 as a tool to inform an equitable transition to electrified transportation as part of our larger climate and air quality goals. 

Why electric vehicles?

Salt Lake City faces significant and unique air quality challenges. In the winter, the Wasatch Front’s geography leads to periodic temperature inversions (cold air getting trapped underneath a layer of warm air) which acts like a “lid” on the Salt Lake Valley—causing particulate pollution to increase. In the summer, pollution from cars, industry, and a multitude of chemical products, combined with high temperatures and bright sunshine, lead to harmful ozone levels.

About 39% of pollution along the Wasatch Front comes from internal combustion engine vehicles. Transitioning the transportation sector to clean energy technologies, including electric vehicles (EVs), will provide a range of benefits including improved air quality, reduced carbon emissions, and enhanced public health.

It’s not just about EV’s though.

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Press 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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