Intern with SmartTrips SLC!

SmartTrips Intern – Salt Lake City Division of Sustainability

SLCgreen is recruiting a summer intern team for the SmartTrips program!

SmartTrips Salt Lake City is a neighborhood-based program that encourages active and public transportation through collaborative community events, educational newsletters and free kits delivered by bicycle.

SmartTrips is modeled after similar efforts in Portland, Oregon and other communities, which have all successfully reduced vehicle trips and emissions among participants.

This year SmartTrips is visiting Sugar House and the neighborhoods along the recently launched S-Line streetcar. Learn more here: www.smarttripsslc.com.

Intern Learning Opportunities

Enjoy getting to know your neighborhood by bicycle? Want to support and work with local businesses to incentivize their customers to leave their cars at home? Looking for an outlet to write about air quality? Like collaborating with schools, libraries and local organizations on environmental education?

The opportunities for interns to get involved are many! We invite you to bring your own interests, skills and ideas to our team.

Requirements

Ideal candidates are passionate and knowledgeable about alternative transportation, sustainability, community organizing, and/or the Sugar House area.
We ask for a 15-25 hour per week commitment from May to August 2014. Know that there is opportunity to start as early as April or extend through September.
Be flexible to attend some SmartTrips events and bicycle deliveries that may occur in the evening and on weekends.

To apply:

Visit www.slcgov.com/jobs and “click here” for Current City Job Openings.
Follow the directions to apply for the Mayor’s Office “Voluntary Intern” listing (Bid #12002).
In your application, please be sure to specify your interest in interning with SLCgreen’s SmartTrips program.

** Please note that this is a volunteer, unpaid internship.

Questions? Please contact SmartTrips Coordinator, Sara Rose, at: sararose.tannenbaum@slcgov.com.

SLC Embraces Earth Hour

Photo credit: Michael Cote via Flickr

This year, Salt Lake City will participate in Earth Hour, turning off the lights of the Salt Lake City & County Building at 8:30 p.m. next Saturday, March 29th.

Check out the FAQs below to learn more about this effort, and find out how you can get involved!

What is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour is a worldwide grassroots movement uniting people to protect the planet, and is organised by WWF. Engaging a massive mainstream community on a broad range of environmental issues, Earth Hour was famously started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then it has grown to engage more than 7000 cities and towns worldwide, and the one-hour event continues to remain the key driver of the now larger movement.

When does Earth Hour take place?

Earth Hour 2014 will be held on Saturday, March 29th between 8.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. in your local time zone. The event is held worldwide towards the end of March annually, encouraging individuals, communities households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour as a symbol for their commitment to the planet. Earth Hour 2015 will take place on Saturday, March 28th at 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in your local timezone.

What does Earth Hour aim to achieve?

Earth Hour aims to encourage an interconnected global community to share the opportunities and challenges of creating a sustainable world.

How can I get involved?

The first thing anyone can do to get involved is to turn off their lights on Saturday. But there’s much, much more. Our full ambition is for people to take action beyond the hour. Whether it’s supporting a crowd-funding or crowd-sourcing campaign on www.earthhour.org or starting the movement in their own community. The vision is always to do more, so make the light switch the beginning of your journey.

Get inspired to take action at SLCgreen.com.

Air Quality Bills: 2014 Legislature Wrap Up

The community had high hopes for meaningful action during the 2014 Utah Legislative Session on air quality. With the session now at an end, our friends at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality posted a nice summary of the bills that passed.

Here’s a quick overview, head over to their newsletter for the full story.

State Fleet

Legislators directed the Division of Fleet Operations to ensure that 50 percent or more of the state vehicles used to transport passengers will be alternative fuel or high-efficiency by August 30, 2018. View the bill.

Electric Vehicles

A House bill amended the current definition of public utilities to encourage businesses to provide charging stations for electric cars. Another bill provides a state income tax credit of $1500 for the purchase or lease of a new electric vehicle and a tax credit allowance for a plug-in electric hybrid. View the bill. Legislation modified The Clean Fuels and Vehicle Technology Act to allow electric-hybrid vehicles to qualify for funding for alternative refueling infrastructure. View the bill.

Wood Burn Program

The Division of Air Quality received funding to educate the public about the dangers of wood smoke and help convert homes whose sole source of heat is wood to natural gas or other clean fuels. View the bill.

Medical Waste Incinerators

A Senate bill banned the incineration of medical waste within close proximity of a school or residential subdivision. View the bill.

Retrofit and Replacement Program

This program will help small businesses and individuals by providing grant and loan funds for emission-reducing technologies, including retrofits, repowers, and replacements. The program will also encourage replacement of snow removal, landscaping, and other yard equipment with cleaner alternatives. View the bill.

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Funding

The Department of Air Quality (DAQ) received a one-time, $1.4 million grant that allocated $1 million for Utah-specific air quality research, $300,000 for an inventory and photochemical modeling study in the Uinta Basin, and $100,000 for volatile organic compound (VOC) infrared testing equipment. DAQ also received $400,000 in ongoing funding for four full-time employees to work on Uinta Basin oil and gas permitting and compliance.

The legislature appropriated $500,000 to DEQ for an air quality public awareness campaign in partnership with existing clean air programs such as UCAIR and TravelWise. DAQ received a one-time, $500,000 appropriation to help convert homes that burn wood as their sole source of heat and a one-time, $250,000 grant to educate the public on the hazards of wood smoke. The Clean Air Retrofit, Replacement, and Off-road Technology (CARROT) program received a one-time grant of $200,000 for grants and loans to small businesses and individuals seeking to reduce the emissions from their heavy-duty diesel or small-engine equipment.

Get the DEQ Newsletter

Get the full scoop from the DEQ newsletter and join their email list.

City Transit Passes on Sale & On the Road

Salt Lake City’s new resident transit pass, the Hive Pass, is currently available at three permanent sales locations as well as a variety of mobile sales opportunities at locations around the city.

As part of an initial pilot program being offered by Salt Lake City and UTA, Hive Passes are only available to residents of Salt Lake City and can be purchased for the deeply discounted rate of $350 for a year (or $360, payable in 12 easy, monthly installments of $30.)

The pass is good on almost all UTA modes including TRAX, buses, Frontrunner and S-Line Streetcar (exceptions are UTA’s special fare services like Paratransit, ski buses and Park City Connect.)

Passes can only be purchased in-person and a few documents are necessary just to establish Salt Lake City residency. Visit Ridewithhive.com for details.

Also, residents who may not be sure if their address is in City limits will find a handy tool on the website to confirm they qualify for the Hive Pass.

Mobile sales events are happening this week at the following locations:

Wednesday, March 19 – Salt Lake City Chapman Library Branch
577 S. 900 West
5:30-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 22- Winter Market
Rio Grande Depot
300 S. Rio Grande Street
10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Permanent Sales Locations/Hours:

Salt Lake City & County Building
451 South State Street
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Public Utilities Office
1530 SW Temple Street
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sorenson Unity Center
1383 S 900 West
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Rotary Glen Restoration is Underway

Photo Credit: Derek DeVries on Flickr

Watershed restoration at Rotary Glen Park is underway!

Emigration Creek is one of the many tributaries of the Jordan River and the home to the Bonneville cutthroat trout (which is on Utah’s sensitive species list). The quality of its water is critical to help maintain a healthy watershed for people, fish and other wildlife.

In 2002, Emigration Creek was declared an impaired waterway due to high levels of the bacteria E. coli. Bacteria levels are highest in the summer months due to waste from park visitors’ canine companions and warmer temperatures.

The restoration plan is to:

Improve water quality by installing a fence along the southeast edge of the pond to keep dogs and people out of the creek.
Enhance habitat—which is critical for migratory and native bird species—by replacing Siberian elms with native foliage like cottonwood trees.
Address public safety and stabilize the hill with slope grading and new vegetation planting.

Fun Restoration Fact: What is the benefit of planting vegetation along the water’s edge? Vegetation creates a buffer for people and dogs, keeps the water in the creek cool by shading, and filters bacteria from runoff.

Come springtime Rotary Glen Park will once again be a safe urban sanctuary for you to picnic, bring your dogs (their poop bags, too), and enjoy nature.

Here’s a recent photo of the work that is underway.

If you are like us, you might be wondering why the workers are filling the pond behind the dam with dirt.

We asked a County employee, who explained that in order for the heavy equipment to access the other side of the creek, workers have to first move the dirt to create a platform for the backhoe and then grade the slope.

Can’t wait to see the project when it’s done!

The Future of the Downtown Streetcar

Planning is underway to bring the streetcar back to downtown Salt Lake City, and you can help decide where it should go!

Join Salt Lake City for a public open house at Harmon’s City Creek on March 13th from 5-7 p.m. Take a peek at the map below to view the proposed streetcar routes.

This is a great opportunity to weigh in on the future of the streetcar in SLC. Don’t miss it!

SLCgreen is Hiring!

The SLCgreen crew is looking for a self-motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our 2014 intern staff!

Please note that is a seasonal PAID position for 20-25 hours a week.

Review the job description below and email your resume to kate.lohnes@slcgov.com by Friday, March 14th for consideration.

Job Title: SUSTAINABILITY INTERN

Job Code Number: 330066

FLSA: Non-Exempt

EEO CODE: 6

Pay Level: SEAX

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assists with SLC Green internship program, including development of intern orientation and serving as a resource for intern projects. Ensures advancement of intern projects through collaboration with interns and full-time office staff.
Coordinates public outreach at community events to promote sustainability initiatives. This includes applying for booth space and scheduling interns to staff these events.
Organizes and keeps up to date log of outreach and education materials. Requests print bids for projects and submits print orders. Contacts government agencies to obtain outreach materials.
Updates sustainability information and events on the city’s website; responds to resident and business inquiries to sustainability programs; administers sustainability email list serves.
Develops and coordinates the SmartTrips program.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Hive Pass Arrives March 1st

Salt Lake City’s shiny new Hive Pass is landing on Saturday, March 1st!

The pass will be available this Saturday at a special event in the atrium of the downtown Main Library from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

We’d love to see you there!

Starting in March, you will be able to purchase the Hive Pass at three permanent locations, or through a series of mobile events.

City & County Building (451 South State Street) – open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Public Utilities (1530 SW Temple Street) – open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sorenson Unity Center (1383 S 900 West) – open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mobile sales locations will include all Salt Lake City public libraries and the downtown Winter Market. These events generally occur during the evening or on weekends. View the full calendar of mobile events.

The Hive Pass is an annual UTA pass exclusively for Salt Lake City residents good on regular bus service, TRAX, FrontRunner and the Sugar House S-Line Streetcar. The pass costs $360 a year, and can be paid in monthly installments of just $30!

Proof of residency is required to obtain your pass, and it is important to carefully review the items you will need to bring with you for purchase. Only residents who reside within Salt Lake City boundaries are eligible. Find out if you qualify.

We are very excited to offer this one-of-a-kind pass to our wonderful residents! Visit the new RidewithHive.com for details, and join the conversation with the #RidewithHive hashtag.

Courtesy of RidewithHive on Instagram

Sustainability Position at Hogle Zoo!

Utah’s Hogle Zoo is hiring a environmental coordinator — a brand new position that will be focused on facilitating the Zoo’s move towards sustainability.

Here is the official job posting —

Posted: February 20, 2014
Position: Environmental Coordinator
Department: Conservation

Utah’s Hogle Zoo’s Conservation Department is announcing the opening of a full-time position as the Zoo’s Environmental Coordinator.

The Zoo is seeking an enterprising and energetic individual for a newly created Environmental Coordinator position. The Coordinator will assist in facilitating the Zoo’s move towards sustainability. This position reports to the Zoo’s Conservation Coordinator. The Environmental Coordinator will be responsible for developing and tracking the organization’s carbon footprint, tracking environmental compliance, expanding staff and guest awareness programs and assist with the development of the Zoo’s Sustainability Plan.

This is a full time position compensated at an hourly rate with excellent rewards program including a comprehensive benefits package, work-life balance programs and opportunities for professional development.
Candidates with a bachelor’s degree in environment and sustainability studies or related field are preferred. Candidates with previous experience in an environmental related position are also preferred. Candidates must demonstrate strong organizational, communication (both written and oral) and interpersonal skills. Individuals with a strong working knowledge and dedicated interest for the concept of sustainability, awareness of the central issues and controversies should consider applying.

Additionally, applicants must be able to:

Work positively in a team environment,
Represent the Zoo’s mission in public forums,
Be self-motivated, organized and reliable
Be flexible and adapt to complex situations,
Demonstrate strong computer skills in data management word processing and presentation software
Work occasional evenings and weekends as needed
Stand or walk for long periods of time, bending, stooping, and lifting of heavy objects (up to 40 pounds)

Anyone interested in this position should email a cover letter and resume to Liz Larsen, llarsen@hoglezoo.org, Conservation Coordinator at Utah’s Hogle Zoo, by March 15, 2014.

Students Who Care About the Air Contest

Calling all Utah students who care about the air!

Share your ideas for ways to educate your friends and family about being idle free and be eligible for cash prizes. Students are encouraged to submit their essays, photos, videos or artwork.

Entries are due on or before March 5, 2014. More details and entry submissions are available at StudentsWhoCareAbouttheAir.com.

We love it! Get creative, kids…

slcGreen Blog

Updates and musings from the Salt Lake City Sustainability Department