Tag Archives: salt lake city

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

Communications-Manager-PositionSalt 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

2016-summit-logo-263x300The 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/

Calling all Master Recyclers! Spring 2016 Now Enrolling

Master Recycler Web

Salt Lake City Green is excited to announce the spring 2016 Salt Lake City Master Recycler program! Register at SLCMasterRecycler.com.

What is Master Recycler?

Salt Lake City Green is working to build out a network of residents who are trained and certified Master Recyclers who understand all aspects of waste reduction, city services and bin downsizing options.

Master Recyclers commit to attending eight weekly workshops running from May-June 2016. Classes are scheduled for Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m. A full class schedule is below.

Workshops will cover a variety of topics and emphasize opportunities for hands-on learning. Every workshop includes a field trip for a behind-the-scenes look at the Salt Lake County Landfill, Salt Lake City Sanitation, Rocky Mountain Recycling, landfill composting operation and Momentum Glass Recycling. You’ll even “tag” along with Salt Lake City’s can inspection team!

What’s in it for you?

  • A tote bag full of Master Recycler swag, including t-shirt and stainless steel water bottle.
  • The knowledge to help your friends, neighbors and kids maximize your recycling & reduce your impact on the environment.

Sign up! Visit SLCMasterRecycler.com.

Program Schedule – Spring 2016

  Date Subject
  Tuesday, May 3rd
3:00-6:00 p.m.
Master Recycler Program Introduction

Tour: Salt Lake Valley Solid Waste Management

 

  Tuesday, May 10th  

3:00-6:00 p.m.

Salt Lake City Sanitation and Waste Reduction

Tour: Salt Lake City Sanitation Department

  Tuesday, May 17th

3:00-6:00 p.m.

Recycling Process

Tour: Rocky Mountain Recycling

  Tuesday, May 24th

3:00-6:00 p.m.

Residential and Municipal Composting

Tour: Salt Lake Valley Solid Waste Management Municipal Compost Facility

 

  Tuesday, June 7th

3:00-6:00 p.m.

Residential Waste Reduction

Activity: Curbside Inspections and Outreach

 

 

  Tuesday, June 14th

3:00-6:00 p.m.

Commercial Waste Reduction

Tour: Momentum Recycling Glass Recycling Facility

 

  Tuesday, June 21st

3:00-6:00 p.m.

Effective Community Engagement

Activity: Waste Audit

 

  Tuesday, June 28th

3:00-6:00 p.m.

Climate Impacts of Waste

Guest Speaker: TBD

Photos from the first Master Recycler class

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.

Salt Lake City Green Drinks + e2 Business Event

It’s the 4th annual Salt Lake City Green Drinks + e2 Business event! The event will take place Wednesday, February 24th from 6:00pm-9:00pm at Cytybyrd Cafe and Restaurant in the City & County Building, 451 S State Street, Salt Lake City.
e2+green drinks

6:00 pm: Mingle and Network
Meet and greet with e2 businesses, have a drink and enjoy some light fare from Cytybyrd.

7:00 pm: Get Your Green Learn On! Learn about the e2 Business program from Peter Nelson and hear from Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski.

All are encouraged to bike, ride UTA or walk to the event. The City & County Building is easily accessible from either the Library or Courthouse TRAX stations.

*$5-$10 requested donation

Salt Lake City’s e2 Business program is dedicated to helping Salt Lake’s business community run in a more environmentally and economically sustainable manner. The e2 Business program is entirely funded and managed by the City. Participation is free to any business located within Salt Lake City limits.

Salt Lake City Green Drinks chapter typically meets once a month and is an informal networking opportunity for people interested in sustainability to get together & talk “green.” If you’d like to receive invitations to events as a member of SLC Green Drinks, please email slcgreendrinks2@gmail.com to be added to the email list.

Salt Lake City Partners with Utilities to Improve Building Energy Efficiency

Last Friday, Salt Lake City was recognized by The White House and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for its efforts to unlock access to energy data for building owners and improve energy efficiency.

Since 2013, Salt Lake City has partnered with both Rocky Mountain Power and Questar to provide whole-building energy data access to building owners through the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Tool. The effort, which is on track for completion in 2017, will ensure effortless energy data management for building owners, providing a complete picture as to building energy use and enabling them to employ more responsive strategies.

“Salt Lake City, Rocky Mountain Power and Questar are working together to help building owners understand how their building is operating and to identify opportunities to improve energy management,” says Vicki Bennett, sustainability director for Salt Lake City. “By automating and streamlining the process, more Salt Lake City building owners will be able to improve energy efficiency – ultimately saving energy, money and emissions.”

Salt Lake City is committed to improving air quality, and buildings play an important role in emissions. The most recent data from the Utah Division of Air Quality show that 39% of existing air pollution comes from area sources (i.e. homes and businesses). This percentage is expected to increase significantly over the next 20 years as vehicles become more efficient, making building energy efficiency efforts more and more important.

Last week, Mayor Jackie Biskupski extended an invitation to leading industry experts to share their ideas and best practices for energy efficiency in buildings, as part of the Elevate Buildings process.

“There is nothing more important than the air we breathe, and working to clear our skies is a top priority of my administration,” says Mayor Biskupksi. “By collaborating with industry experts we will help improve air quality through increased energy efficiency our city’s largest buildings.”

Learn more about Salt Lake City’s efforts to cut energy waste in buildings at SLCgov.com/ProjectSkyline.

Project-Skyline-Infographic-Blog-Banner

Solving Climate Change with Clean Energy: A Special Event on Thursday, February 4

Solving Climate Change Banner (1)

Tackling climate change requires fresh perspectives, diverse collaborations and a profound transition to cleaner energy sources.

Join us on Thursday, February 4th to explore these themes and what they mean for Utah. We’ll be joined by two prominent local leaders, Sarah Wright and Matt Pacenza, who will share their insights on clean energy and climate solutions.

We’ll start the evening with a 60-minute screening of Episode 6 of the Emmy-award winning series Years of Living Dangerously. This will be followed by a 30-minute panel with our local experts. Episode 6 of the series focuses on methane leaks from natural gas operations, lobbying forces in America and home-grown renewable energy solutions.

RSVP to the Facebook event!

Watch the trailer:

Speaker Bios

Sarah Wright is the founder and Executive Director of Utah Clean Energy, a non-profit partnering to build the new clean energy economy in Utah for the past 15 years. She leads a team that collaborates with government, private sector and other community partners to stop energy waste while simultaneously building a smarter energy future.

Sarah is an intervener in regulatory proceedings and an expert witness in legislative hearings, testifying in support of energy efficiency and renewable energy. Sarah has a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from Bradley University and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Utah.

Matt Pacenza joined HEAL Utah five years ago and began serving as Executive Director in 2015. HEAL is a non-profit that promotes renewable energy and advocates for enhanced public health while opposing toxic harms to the environment.

Matt has managed HEAL’s policy agenda on nuclear waste, energy and clean air issues and now leads the organization’s staff, program and budgets. Matt has a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Policy from Cornell University and a Master’s Degree in Journalism from New York University. From the east coast, he now happily calls “Sugarhood” his home.

Online reservations for Salt Lake City park pavilions begins February 1

030

The Salt Lake City Parks & Public Lands Division will begin taking 2016 online park pavilion reservations on Monday, February 1, 2016 beginning at 8 a.m. at: www.slcgov.com/cityparks-reservations

Telephone reservations can be made starting Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. by calling 801-972-7860. Walk-in reservations can also be made at the Parks & Public Lands Division Building, 1965 West 500 South. Phone and walk-in reservations can be made Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through October 7.

Online reservations start two weeks before phone and walk-in as a convenience and are highly encouraged. The online process saves wait time in long lines, particularly for reserving the city’s more popular pavilions such as Liberty, Sunnyside, and Washington parks.

Park pavilions available for reservation are in Fairmont, Jordan, Liberty, Lindsey Gardens, Poplar Grove, Riverside, Sherwood, Sunnyside, Washington and Westpointe parks. Pavilions are available from April 11 through October 9. All reservations must be paid for at time of transaction by debit or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express). Costs range from $44 to $55, with the lower reflected reservation prices for Salt Lake City residents. The exception is Washington Park in Parley’s Canyon, which is available for half-days from $82 to $110.

Residents can get even more from their park experience by renting recreation kits through the Parks & Public Lands Division. A kit includes two softballs, two baseball bats, a volleyball and volleyball net, a set of horseshoes, a football and a soccer ball. Kits can be picked up the day before or day of the pavilion reservation for $11 each. Kits are available only to those who have reserved pavilions and must be returned to Parks & Public Lands on the first business day after the reservation.

Questions? Call Parks & Public Lands Division before February 1 at (801) 972-7800.

Waste Less, Save More! SLCgreen Encourages You To Downsize Your Garbage

Truck Wraps Collage

Have you noticed the new truck wraps driving around Salt Lake City?

We’ve outfitted all of our Sanitation vehicles with bright new wrappers promoting downsizing options available to all city residents. So keep your eyes open on garbage day!

Every month, you pay one fee for your garbage can – that’s it. Your recycling and compost can service is included in that fee. There are three garbage can sizes, and if you downsize your can you also downsize your monthly waste fee!

Can Size Monthly Fee per Can
90-gallon Garbage $21.00
60-gallon Garbage $17.75
40-gallon Garbage $13.75

Call (801) 535-6999 to downsize your garbage can today.

U.S. Green Building Council Announces Utah is 10th State in the Nation for LEED Green Building

Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its national ranking of the top states in the country for LEED green building and Utah is the 10th state in the nation for 2015. The rankings come at an important time for states looking to reduce their energy use. LEED-certified spaces use less energy and water resources, save money for families, businesses and taxpayers, reduce carbon emissions and create a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

“Utah is a nationwide leader in green building and LEED certification. LEED creates jobs and increases opportunities for Utah’s workers and businesses while contributing billions of dollars to the state’s economy,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair of USGBC. “LEED has become an essential standard for the transformation of building design and construction. LEED certified buildings drive economic growth, creates jobs and makes communities healthier.”

The annual ranking is developed by analyzing each state in terms of square feet of LEED certified space per state resident. Now in its sixth year, the list highlights states throughout the country that made significant strides in sustainable building design, construction and transformation throughout 2015. Utah certified 31 projects representing 4,494,301 square feet of real estate, or 1.63 square feet per resident, in 2015.

“We are thrilled to have Utah businesses and institutions recognized in this way for the first time,” said Daniel Pacheco, executive director, USGBC-Utah Chapter. “This achievement affirms not only USGBC Utah’s mantra that where you live, learn, work and worship matters, but also that partners are taking sustainable concepts to heart as we develop healthy buildings for everyone in Utah.”

In addition, data from USGBC’s 2015 Green Building Economic Impact Study show LEED construction is expected to support 23,000 total jobs in Utah and have a total impact on GDP of $1.97 billion from 2015-2018.

A few notable projects that certified in Utah in 2015 include:

  • Salt Lake City Public Safety Building; LEED Platinum
  • S. District Courthouse, Salt Lake City; LEED Gold
  • University of Utah Football Center; LEED Silver
  • Ballet West; LEED Gold

The full ranking of the top 10 states for 2015 includes:

Rank State Projects certified in 2015 Square feet LEED certified in 2015 Per-capita square footage
1 Illinois 161 43,979,595 3.43
2 Maryland 127 17,659,881 3.06
3 Massachusetts 112 19,850,624 3.03
4 Washington 101 17,450,321 2.60
5 Colorado 95 12,218,992 2.43
6 Nevada 30 6,534,960 2.42
7 California 618 87,358,563 2.34
8 Texas 237 52,445,321 2.09
9 Virginia 121 13,005,968 1.63
10 Utah 31 4,494,301 1.63
* Washington, D.C. 84 11,612,237 19.30

*Washington, D.C., is not ranked as it is a federal district, not a state.

Collectively, 1,633 commercial and institutional projects became LEED certified within the Top 10 States in 2015, representing 274.9 million square feet of real estate. Worldwide, 4,837 projects were certified in 2015, representing 818.9 million square feet. Nearly 75,000 projects representing 14.4 billion square feet of space have been LEED-certified to date.

USGBC calculates the list using per-capita figures as a measure of the human element of green building. This also allows for fair comparisons among states with significant differences in population and number of buildings.