Tag Archives: green

Green your 2014

NewYearsResolutionLogo

Update: Catch the feature on KUTV 2News! Our very own Tyler Poulson shares a few tips to save $$ and reduce your impact at home.

Step into a leaner, greener YOU in 2014 by committing to a SLCgreen New Year’s Resolution. Challenge yourself to lose 3,000 pounds of CO2 (or more!) by completing household action items that help the environment and save you money.

Make your green New Year’s Resolution for 2014
(Like most things, our form is best viewed in browsers other than Internet Explorer)

Don’t overlook the impact a single family can have on our environment. The average Utah household emits over 80,000 pounds of CO2 annually through its home energy, transportation, and dietary choices. This is equivalent to driving one-way from SLC to New York City 94 times in a Prius. (Do we have your attention now?)

Increase your impact by directing friends, relatives, co-workers and strangers to make their resolution. It is, after all, the sum of all our individual actions that create the future we leave for the next generation.

Just remember: every pound of CO2 counts!

Check back for our New Year’s Resolution “Carbon Counter.” We’ll be posting how much CO2 we’ve collectively resolved to reduce in 2014!

Tips to Green Your Thanksgiving

Photo Credits:

Photo Credits: misterjt, The Vault DFW, oogoom, trpnblies7 via Flickr.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! And we have some tips to help you “green” the holiday that is synonymous with giving thanks (and over indulgence).

Buy local.

  • Stop by the SLC Winter Market this Saturday (November 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) to pick up essentials like root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams), hearty greens like kale, and specialty items like honey.
  • Also check out Cali’s Natural Foods, a Salt Lake City e2 business, for tasty local produce (open on Fridays and Saturdays). If you need some inspiration, Buzzfeed has delicious vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes!
  • What about the turkey? If you cannot imagine Thanksgiving without one, there are some great local resources for free range, hormone-free (dare we say happy?) turkey. Liberty Heights Fresh, a another e2 business, offers two choices, in addition to lots of other local veggies and specialty foods. Continue reading →

Have a Green Halloween!

NonTraditionalHalloweenCollage

Photo Credits via Flickr: Paul Stein, Nick Thompson, Steven Depolo & Pamela Link.

Happy Halloween, Salt Lake City!

Tonight, think outside the candy bag with some creative ideas from Green Halloween.

A few of our favorites:

  • Crayons
  • Acorns
  • Honey sticks
  • Fruit snacks or fruit leather
  • Feathers
  • Mini granola bars

Check out the full list at GreenHalloween.org.

Community Gardens are Sprouting!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHysILCIYX0&w=640&h=480]

Do you dream of growing your own vegetables? Salt Lake City has some exciting news for you!

Eight City-owned or managed parcels of land have been identified for the development of community gardens.

Interested? Then head over to SLCgreen.com to review the eight available parcels, located in key areas throughout Salt Lake City. There you will also find the Green City Growers Application Packet, with information on the six step application process.

Applications are due by December 15, 2013. So get moving!

[10-18-2013] A special thank you to the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News for covering our October 17 event at Cannon Greens Community Garden!

Net Zero Cities Conference

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As the world tackles the challenges of climate change, energy supply and water security, communities are taking the lead in finding solutions.

The Net Zero Cities Conference (October 23-24, 2013) will bring together thought leaders from around the globe to share their systems-based approaches, processes and examples of success in working towards net zero at the community scale.

Salt Lake City’s own Vicki Bennett, director of Salt Lake City Green, will speak on the plenary panel on the second day of the conference. She plans to discuss Salt Lake City’s new net zero Public Safety Building and policies surrounding net zero energy.

You can learn more about the Net Zero Cities Conference on their website, Facebook and Twitter accounts. Look for the #NetZeroCities hashtag to join the conversation!

Fairpark Takes a Promenade

This is a guest blog written by Sara Rose Tannenbaum of Salt Lake City’s SmartTrips Program.

On Saturday September 21st, over 40 neighbors gathered on the corner of 300 North and 900 West. While adults mingled under the shade of the giant Coca-Cola billboard, kids chased chickens and discovered eggs in the maze of sunflowers.

The reason for their gathering was the Fairpark Promenade, a collaborative “Community Walk around the Block” hosted by the Fairpark Community Council, the Urban Growth Garden and SmartTrips Fairpark.

Continue reading →

Pesticides & Produce: The Dirty Dozen

peaches

Fact: Eating healthy begins with fresh fruits and vegetables. 

But it is also important to understand how the use of pesticides in industrial farming impacts the very same produce you buy at your local grocery store.

Even though the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) restricts the use of the most toxic pesticides, they can still be detected on some of your favorite foods.

[VIDEO] Watch our segment on KUTV 2News!

Continue reading →

Wasatch Watershed: Snowflakes to Your Tap

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60% of the water used by residents of Salt Lake City and the Valley’s east bench comes from canyons in the Wasatch Mountains. The Utah Chapter of the Green Building Council is hosting what promises to be a fascinating exploration into the successes and challenges of protecting Salt Lake City’s water.

The Wasatch Front Watershed: Snowflakes to Your Tap
Thursday, September 26 from 4-6 p.m.
Salt Lake City Public Library
Register online or pay at the door.
Questions: programs@usgbcutah.org

In the 1950’s, access to City Creek Canyon, a source of Salt Lake City’s drinking water, was closed to public use for over 10 years due to bacterial contamination, public health concerns and damage to the City Creek Watershed. Lessons learned from this event and the ensuing restoration of City Creek Canyon, as well as other water sources across the nation have informed Salt Lake City’s watershed protection policies for the last several decades.

Join Laura Briefer, Water Resources Manager, for the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities to learn about Salt Lake City’s role, perspectives, successes, and challenges in protecting the main sources of Salt Lake City’s water supplies in the Central Wasatch Mountains – including recent scientific research and other work regarding climate change impacts on Salt Lake City’s water supply.

The Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (SLCDPU) is a municipal water supplier responsible for the provision of drinking water to over 300,000 people in the Salt Lake Valley. Laura manages SLCDPU’s Water Resources Division, which includes watershed management, water conservation, hydrology, water rights, and land preservation functions.

Tips to Green Your Lunchbox

Fall is in the air!

With kids heading back to school, Salt Lake City parents will once again be packing lunches for them. Which makes it the perfect time for SLCgreen to share our tips for a healthy and waste-free packed lunched!

[VIDEO: Check out our segment with KUTV 2News This Morning]

1. Food First

ChooseMyPlate.gov has a lot of helpful advice on food groups, including suggestions on variety and tips to help you (and your kids) eat more fruits and vegetables. Check out the fantastic 2013 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge Cookbook containing 54 winning recipes from America’s junior chefs (PDF).

Did you know that the average meal travels 1500 miles to reach your plate? Local food travels shorter distances and therefore has a lower environmental impact. Consider sourcing your ingredients from local producers – Farmers Markets are a great place to start.

2. Ditch the Disposables & Save Money

Let’s compare the cost of a reusable lunch versus one that uses disposable goods. Learn more from WasteFreeLunches.org.

A Disposable Lunch

1 egg salad sandwich $1.25
1 yogurt .85
1 granola bar .45
1 apple .30
1 package of carrots and dip .65
3 plastic bags .12
1 juice pouch .35
1 plastic spoon .04
1 paper napkin .01
TOTAL $4.02
A Waste-free Lunch

1 egg salad sandwich $1.25
1 serving of yogurt .50
1 serving of granola .35
1 apple .30
1 serving of carrots and dip .25
water 0
cloth napkin 0
stainless steel spoon 0
packaging 0
TOTAL $2.65

With a waste free lunch, you can save $246.60 per person per year!

3. Get the Gear

Our friends at Earth Goods General Store have all the supplies you need to gear up for your reusable lunch. Their store has moved to a new location on 327 E 300 South in downtown Salt Lake City. You can also find them on Facebook. 

Here’s our suggested shopping list:

  • Lunch tote
  • Cloth napkins
  • Water bottle (we prefer stainless steel)
  • Glass, plastic or metal bento box-type containers in a variety of sizes for veggies, dips, etc.
  • Reusable sandwich bags
  • You can even pick up a book or two full of healthy lunch ideas!

Bike Commuting: The Basics

Blue-Bike

[Watch our bike commuting feature on KUTV 2News This Morning!]

Commuting by two wheels can transform the dullest part of your day (your commute) into the best part of your day (your “me” time).

The SLCgreen crew loves their bikes, so we, with the help of the Bicycle Transit Center and BikeSLC.com, put together some tips to get you rolling.

Safety First. Make sure your bike is road-worthy! We recommend that you:

  1. Take your bike it into the shop for a quick tune up. 
  2. Make sure you have the proper bike lights and reflectors.
  3. Find the right helmet with a proper fit.
  4. Pull out your brightest yellow shirt or vest for enhanced visibility.
  5. Read up on the rules of the road at BikeSLC.com.

Gear Up! There are a few things that will make your commute run smoothly:

  1. Secure a bike rack and panniers on your bike.
  2. Pack a repair a kit with the basics. You can buy one or assemble it yourself.
  3. Consider fenders, which will protect you from tire splatter on a drizzly day.
  4. Lock it up! U-locks are more secure than cable locks. Get the scoop from BIkeSLC.com.
  5. License your bike with the city. This simple step can help you recover your bike in the event of theft, and it is required by law.

What to wear. In addition to your bright shirt or vest, a few things to consider:

  • Mellow Commute: You may be able to wear your work clothes.
  • Not-So-Mellow Commute: Pack your work clothes in your panniers. We recommend rolling your clothes to prevent creasing.

Plan your attack. Choose the right route for your commute. Check out the BikeSLC Map or try the bike feature on Google Maps.

More Resources

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