Category Archives: General Sustainability

Announcing New Community Solar Programs

Utah Clean Energy is thrilled to announce the launch of not one, but two more Community Solar programs; Mountain Town Community Solar and U Community Solar.

Community Solar makes putting solar on your roof simple and streamlined by helping neighbors team up and take advantage of a community network and volume pricing. See below for details of the two distinct Community Solar programs and find out which one will work for you.

Mountain Town Community Solar Launch Event, March 28

Summit and Wasatch Counties are giving new meaning to the phrase power in numbers. Community volunteers have come together with non-profit organizations Summit Community Power Works and Utah Clean Energy to launch Mountain Town Community Solar – a program to help residents tackle the solar process as a team, realize cost savings through bulk purchasing power, and energize their communities with clean energy.

Mountain Town Community Solar will host its launch event on Monday, March 28th at 6:00 pm at the Jim Santy Auditorium (1255 Park Ave., Park City, UT, 84060). RSVP here.

Workshop for U Community Solar, March 30

Back by popular demand, the University of Utah is once again partnering with Utah Clean Energy to bring members of the campus community in Salt Lake, Summit, and Davis Counties the opportunity to go solar.

Members of the University of Utah campus community (including alumni, faculty, staff, students, and campus guests) are eligible for a substantial discount on the cost of rooftop solar and a streamlined, simplified solar installation process.

The first workshop for U Community Solar will be held on Wednesday, March 30th at the A. Ray Olpin University of Utah Union, Union Theater, Salt Lake City, UT 83112. RSVP here.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby Brings the Wild West Together for Regional Conference

Citizens’ Climate Lobby hosted it’s 2016 Wild West Regional Conference in Salt Lake City this past weekend. The event was rich with information about legislation, advanced communication, climate science and more.

Highlights included a panel discussion on exerting political influence with panelists Mayor Jackie Biskupski, Patrice Arent, Member of the Utah State House of Representatives, and Robert Axson, Central State Director for Senator Mike Lee. Panelists emphasized the importance of building relationships across the political spectrum.

Mark Reynolds, Executive Director of Citizens’ Climate Lobby lead several informative and inspirational sessions focused around CCL’s mission to create the political will for climate solutions by enabling individual breakthroughs in the exercise of personal and political power.

Another panel discussion titled Broadening our Reach to Under Represented Groups consisted of presentations by Piper Christian, high school student and COP21 attendee, on engaging young people on climate change, Nate Salazar on speaking to the Hispanic population, Dave Christian, Psychologist, on communicating with other political views, and Susan Soleil on Faith Communities and the Moral Imperative for Climate Justice. These panelists encouraged increasing diversity in political involvement by including young people, minorities, and people of faith.

The keynote presentation featured Dr. Rob Davies, physicist, Utah Climate Center, Utah State University speaking on ways to communicate about climate change that resonate with people’s emotions so that they feel motivated to take action. The conference also included an evening performance by The Crossroads Project. This multi-media presentation combined video, classical music by the Fry Street Quartet, and monologue by Rob Davies about climate change science.

To learn more about Citizens’ Climate Lobby, visit their webpage.

Climate Variability & Health Symposium and Open House – April 6-7, 2016

Salt Lake County Health Department is hosting a free Climate Variability and Health Symposium on April 6&7. The event is brings together a diverse audience of health professionals, climate experts, and the general public to study and discuss the local impacts of climate variability. The symposium will focus on the threat climate variability poses to human health, and the disproportionate impact those changes could have on vulnerable populations.

Presenters will cover a broad range of topics relevant to climate variability and public health, including the impact of changing temperatures on our food supplies, water availability (and quality), insect populations, air quality, and how best to protect our most vulnerable constituents. The symposium’s goal is to increase understanding of the public health issues climate variability presents, and encourage discussion on how to build a healthier, more resilient community.

For more information and to register, visit the Symposium event page.

In addition to the academic portion, the symposium will also include a public open house on Thursday evening, April 7, that includes family-friendly activities for all ages. Salt Lake County Health Department’s Climate Adaptation and Health Open House brings together members from many different parts of the community—scientists, skiers, students, families, and public health professionals—to learn and share knowledge about the local impact of climate variability.

With fun activities, educational booths, games, and engaging speakers, this event will have something for everyone. The goal is to educate and inspire the public to leave thinking how they can participate in climate adaptation and mitigation.

Presentations and activities:
-Utah Climate Action Network presentation
-Presentation on Salt Lake County’s Climate Adaptation Plan for Health
-CNG Batmobile
-Panel discussion with local business, scientific, and faith leaders
-Climate change displays by high school students
-Tracy Aviary
-Clark Planetarium
-Education stations for kids

For more information, visit the Open House event page.

Become a FruitShare Neighborhood Hub Leader!

Salt Lake City is proud to partner with Green Urban Lunch Box (GULB) to provide the SLC FruitShare program, which aims to feed the community while reducing food waste and utilizing neglected resources.

Each season, as fruit is ready to be harvested at the homes of registered fruit tree owners, groups of volunteers are organized to go out and harvest. The harvested yield is distributed between the homeowners, volunteers, and local food banks and other community agencies.

GULB is currently seeking Neighborhood Hub Leaders for the FruitShare Program, to help maintain efficiency and effectiveness as the organization continues to incorporate more trees and more volunteers.

The Neighborhood Hub Leaders will fulfill the vital role of recruiting, training and supporting volunteers in their neighborhood. Each leader will be primarily responsible for organizing and overseeing fruit tree thinning and harvesting events within their specified hub, ensuring that all of the registered fruit trees in that region are harvested in a timely manner. While this position requires independent initiative, the leaders will receive supervision and support from Green Urban Lunch Box.

For a position description and application, visit the GULB website at or email pickfruit@gulb.org.

Sustainable Living Solutions and Inspiration, Winter Market at Rio Grande

March is Sustainable Living Solutions and Inspiration month at the Winter Market. Meet with Utah business owners and organizations who inspire environmentally friendly living solutions. A handful of local agencies, including SLCgreen, will be in attendance at the Winter Market on March 12 and March 26 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm to discuss what services are available to you and how you can reduce your ecological footprint.

Did you know that electronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest growing waste stream in the United States? Valuable precious metals can be salvaged from recycling e-waste and toxic chemicals are prevented from entering the landfill and ground water. Good news — Recycle Solutions will be onsite at the March Winter Markets collecting electronic waste from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm! Below is a list of acceptable goods.

Please note CTR TVs (tube TVs) or refrigerators will NOT be accepted at this collection event.

Accepted Items:
Batteries
Cameras
Cell Phones
Communications Equipment
Computers Fax/Copy Machines Ink/Toner Cartridges
Keyboards & Accessories
Laptops
Office Machines Monitors
Network Devices
Hand Held Devices
Printers & Scanners
Returned or Unwanted Products
Servers Stereos and Audio Equipment
Telephones
Televisions (No CRT TVs)
VCR’s & DVD Players
Washers & Dryers
Paper
Plastic

For more information visit the SLC Downtown Farmers Market website or Facebook page.

Work for Salt Lake City Green: We’re Hiring a New Communications Manager

Salt Lake City’s Sustainability Department (otherwise known as Salt Lake City Green) is looking for a talented, motivated individual to fill a vacancy in the Sustainability Communications Manager position.

The Communications Manager works to:

Showcase Salt Lake City’s leadership on climate action, renewable energy, energy efficiency, recycling and waste diversion, alternative transportation, air quality emissions reduction, creating a strong local food system and supporting businesses in sustainable upgrades.
Educate and empower residents on the small changes they can make in their daily lives to reduce their impact on the environment and have a positive impact on their community.
Collaborate with other governments, non-profits and businesses to provide education to residents on sustainability issues.

The Communications Manager oversees all aspects of SLCgreen outreach including:

Strategic communications
SLCgreen electronic communications, including website, social media, blog and weekly e-newsletter
Media relations, in close coordination with the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office, including press releases and media events
Community and stakeholder engagement, including community event schedule
Intern program management
Outreach material management & design (Adobe Design Suite)
Event management and promotion
Representing SLCgreen at various speaking engagements

Tip: Take a look at the 2015 State of Sustainability Report’s Communications section (page nine) to better understand the scope of SLCgreen outreach and communications efforts to date.

Please note: The position is posted on the Salt Lake City Human Resources website as Sustainability Program Manager.

Position:	SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM MANAGER
Job Code:	001744
Job Bid:	160119
Department:	Public Services
Salary:	(028) $25.07 – $34.24
Close Date:	3/27/2016

A ten year personal, criminal and employment background check is required by the Salt Lake City Public Services Department.

Description: Plans, develops and implements sustainability policies and programs. Administers sustainability programs such as e2 Business Program, e2 Citizen, Smart Trips, Clear the Air, and Idle Free. Responsible for gathering data from city departments and partner organizations to track and report city and community accomplishments related to carbon reduction, energy conservation, waste diversion and recycling and increased participation in sustainable programs and behaviors. Supervises, makes work assignments and provides specific direction to assigned staff, including Sustainability Coordinators and designated interns.

Develops and implements sustainability outreach strategies and marketing campaigns to educate residents, businesses and employees about the City’s sustainability programs and policies. Provides written and oral presentations to local, national and governmental groups. Addresses community councils, city council, local groups, schools and other interested parties. Seeks opportunities to promote City’s sustainability programs in the community. Promotes SLCgreen via social media including Facebook, Twitter, SLCgreen blog, and the SLCgreen website. Collaborates on scheduling of division’s participation at community events.

Responds to media requests, citizen concerns and questions. Manages contracts and provides direction for consultants. Approves payment for services. Represents City on community steering committees, and in meetings with private, non-profit and governmental agencies. Works in partnership with state agencies, Salt Lake County, non-profit and business groups to advance Salt Lake City’s sustainability agenda. Recommends annual budget for professional services and outreach materials. Monitors expenditures with regard to adopted budget. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, public administration, communications or related field and four years experience serving in a full-time, paid position in sustainability, environmental compliance, policy or program implementation. A Master’s degree may be substituted for up to two years of related experience required.
Knowledge of current trends in sustainability issues related to climate change, air quality, energy, transportation, food security, waste and recycling.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with individuals of varied backgrounds. Ability to organize work and gain support of employees, external customers and other stakeholders.

Interested? Apply at SLCgov.com.

2016 Utah Bike Summit: Shifting Into High Gear

The 2016 Utah Bike Summit: Shifting Into High Gear will take place April 5th at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. The Utah Bike Summit is the statewide bicycle conference. The summit brings together everyday riders, bicycle and trail advocates, representatives from Utah’s bicycle industry, planners, engineers, representatives from Utah’s tourism industry and health fields, and local and state government officials in order to make Utah more bicycle friendly. Regardless of your interest in bicycling (transportation, recreation, road, mountain, commuter), the Utah Bike Summit is for you and all are encouraged to attend.

This year’s keynote speaker is Danish bicycle transportation expert Mikael Colville-Andersen. Here is a link to one of Mikael’s TED Talks. There will also be a closing address from Andy Clarke who served as the president of the League of American Bicyclists for 12 years before stepping down last year. In addition, there will be an update from UDOT Deputy Director Shane Marshall. The remainder of the day will be filled with breakout sessions that cover a wide variety of subjects related to increasing and improving bicycling across Utah.

Registration includes:

All educational/breakout sessions and keynote address
Networking opportunities
Catered lunch

Regular registration rates are available through March 18th.

For more information and to register, visit : http://bikeutah.org/utah-bike-summit/utah-bike-summit-2/

Climate, Food and Conflict

Climate, Food & Conflict: How is Climate Change Creating Disruptions Across the Globe?

Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium – 210 East 400 South
Free, Public Event!

Join us on Thursday, March 3 for an exciting film screening and panel discussion with Dr. Tariq Banuri and Dr. Christine Clay to hear their insights on agriculture, climate change and disruption in the Middle East.

We’ll start the evening with a 60-minute screening of Episode 7 of the Emmy-award winning series Years of Living Dangerously. Episode 7, titled Revolt, Rebuild, Renew, features Jessica Alba, Thomas Friedman, and Chris Hayes and focuses on three stories that provide insight into the economic costs and opportunities of global warming.

The film screening will be followed by a 30-minute panel with our local experts.

Speaker Bios
Professor Tariq Banuri, Department of Economics, University of Utah, is an expert on sustainable development policy and institutional design. Before joining the University of Utah, he had served as the Director, UN Division for Sustainable Development, and earlier as the Director of Future Studies, Stockholm Environment Institute, and Executive Director, Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad. He has been instrumental in the design of a number of institutions and networks on sustainable development, and has provided policy advice to the Government of Pakistan as well as several international institutions.

He has served on national as well as international forums for policy and research, including as Coordinating Lead Author on the Nobel Prize winning Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), member of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change (AGECC), member of the United Nations’ Committee on Development Policy (CDP), member of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Council, member of the board of governors of Pakistan’s central bank, member/secretary of the Presidential Committee on Higher Education, and Chair of IUCN’s Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy (CEESP).

Christy Clay has been a member of the faculty at Westminster College since 2007. She teaches a variety of courses in the Environmental Studies and Biology departments, and serves as chair of the Environmental Studies Program. She also has an active undergraduate research program investigating the environmental and ecological constraints of urban agriculture and food production. In her free time, Christy can be found working in her own garden, trail running or mountain biking, and obsessing about the current state of our food and agriculture system. Christy has a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from Colorado College and a PhD in Biology from University of Utah.

Wild West Citizens’ Climate Lobby Regional Conference March 18-20

By SLCgreen Intern Alicia Chen

On March 18th through the 20th, Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) will be putting on their Wild West regional conference in downtown Salt Lake City. This annual event brings together members and welcomes newcomers from the Wild West region (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) to meet and to participate in various in-depth workshops. These sessions will feature panel discussions and training on topics ranging from climate science to advanced communications training that will increase understanding, develop skills, and promote collaborations around common concerns we face in this area. The keynote speaker will be Physicist, Dr. Rob Davies from Utah Climate Center who will discuss how to communicate about climate change in a way that resonates and motivates people to take action. For those new to CCL and interested in getting involved, the conference starts off with a Climate Advocate Training and Group Start Workshop on Saturday to learn about the group’s efforts, goals, and methods.

Panels and events include:
• CCL leaders from each state addressing area-specific issues and strategies used to influence Members of Congress.
• Breakout Sessions on climate and health, a writers workshop, exerting political influence, broadening reach to include under-represented groups, how to use social media effectively.
• A social gathering to meet other members on Friday with live music, drink, and appetizers and a performance on Saturday by The Crossroads Project.

CCL is an advocacy organization dedicated to addressing climate change through national policies. They train and support volunteers to engage elected officials, the media, and the public. Interested in learning how to influence policies or getting involved? Visit the event page for additional details and to register.

Early registration is $65 and is now open until February 19th, registration after the 19th is $75. Registration fee covers all sessions, the Crossroads Project performance, as well as lunch and dinner on Saturday. There is no charge for the newcomer Advocate Training and Group Start Workshop on Saturday. The conference will take place at The Chase Mill at Tracy Aviary (589 E. 1300 S. SLC, UT 84105) and at the Wasatch Retreat and Conference Center at the Episcopal Church.

Intermountain Sustainability Summit March 24 &25

The Intermountain Sustainability Summit returns to Weber State University March 24th and 25th, 2016. The summit offers over a dozen sessions and in depth workshops addressing climate, water, recycling, clean energy and more. Join sustainability professionals, civic leaders, businesses, nonprofits, educators, students and community members to learn, network, and develop strategies for implementing sustainability across Utah and the Intermountain West.

The summit kicks off with a conference day, Thursday, March 24th. The keynote speaker will be Joel Makower, Chairman and Executive Editor of GreenBiz Group Inc. Makower has been a leading voice on business, the environment and the bottom line for the past 25 years. In 2014 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Institute of Sustainability Professionals. He will be joined by over 40 speakers throughout the conference to inspire, inform, and show how businesses, policy makers, nonprofits, and community members are making a difference. SLCgreen’s Tyler Poulson will be presenting on strategies for engaging employees on climate change to encourage grassroots, participatory leadership within an organization. For additional speaker information, visit the webpage.

Workshops will be held on Friday, March 25th. Workshops include:

Community Zero Waste Road Map
LEED Green Associate Workshop
Smart Cycling

Looking to be involved and grow your business, nonprofit or idea? See the Sponsor, Exhibitor, or Poster page to be a part of the Summit. Register by March 15th for early bird pricing. Visit the Intermountain Sustainability Summit webpage for more information! We hope to see you there!

slcGreen Blog

Updates and musings from the Salt Lake City Sustainability Department