Tag Archives: utah

Become a Salt Lake City Master Recycler!

Salt Lake City Green is excited to announce our new Master Recycler Program, coming this May! We’re currently looking for our inaugural Master Recycler class.

Do you want to be one of Salt Lake City’s first certified Master Recyclers? Fill out this short form & we’ll be in touch!

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.

Class Details

Master Recyclers commit to attending eight weekly workshops running from May-June 2015. Classes are scheduled for Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m.

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?

Recognition as one of the first certified Master Recyclers in Salt Lake City (awesome plaque included!)
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! We’re currently recruiting our inaugural Master Recycler class. Fill out this form & we’ll be in touch!

Mayor Becker Takes Action to Protect City Water Supply in Face of Climate Change Impacts

Water conservation starts at home! Register for a free sprinkler check by calling 1-877-728-3420.

SALT LAKE CITY – Mayor Ralph Becker is working to protect Salt Lake City’s water supply in the face of another year of below average snow levels and spring run-off for Salt Lake City by declaring a Stage 1 Advisory in accordance with the Salt Lake City Water Shortage Contingency Plan. A Stage 1 Advisory calls for water customers to be watchful in regards to water use by avoiding overwatering and water waste.

The Salt Lake City Public Utilities Department is closely monitoring water supply levels and demand patterns to determine if further declarations are warranted. While the City’s current overall water supply is about 90 percent of normal, stream flows are very low, prompting the Stage 1 Advisory.

“This careful water management approach is part of our overall efforts to adapt to, and mitigate, the impacts of climate change that are already upon us,” said Mayor Becker. “Conservation, efficiency and sustainability guide how we approach all our goals for the City and I hope residents will join us in this effort.”

“Unfortunately, Salt Lake City is not immune to the realities of the climate change crisis and our recent below average snow fall is a clear sign of that. We are doing everything we can to address this problem for the short and long term.”

Mayor Becker has been actively working to address climate change at both the local and national level for many years. In addition to implementing a wide array of cutting-edge sustainability practices in Salt Lake City, Mayor Becker also served on the White House Climate Change Task Force which developed recommendations for the federal government on mitigating the damage caused by climate change in local communities like Salt Lake City.

“Last year, we were able to carry over a portion of our water allocation and save it in our reservoirs in the event of another year of below average snowpack,” said Salt Lake City Public Utilities Director Jeff Niermeyer. “This year’s snow levels mean that it is important to maintain that goal of reserving water for future need, should this pattern of low snow fall and runoff continue into next year.”

The Water Shortage Contingency Plan outlines five water shortage stages triggered by water supply levels, stream flows, and water demand. It also provides recommendations for actions within each stage aimed at reducing water demand to levels that reflect current supply and future water needs.

Public Utilities offers these simple recommendations for using less water:

Adjust sprinkler controllers to reflect the season and weather
Check sprinkler systems for broken or misaligned spray heads
Check indoor faucets and fixtures for leaks and repair promptly
Sign up for a free sprinkler check by calling 1-877-728-3420
Visit http://slcgardenwise.com/ for water-saving tips and landscape information

For more information on how to reduce water use or to view the Water Shortage Contingency Plan, visit www.slcgov.com/waterconservation or contact Stephanie Duer, Water Conservation Manager at 801-483-6860 or stephanie.duer@slcgov.com.

Where have all the winters gone? Local consequences of climate change panel discussion

Where have all the winters gone? Local consequences of climate change
Thursday, April 16 from 7-8:30 p.m.
Malouf Hall 201, Westminster College

Panelists:

Laura Briefer, Water Resources Manager, Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities
Maura Olivos, Sustainability Coordinator & Ecologist, Alta Ski Area
Court Strong, Assistant Professor, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah
Moderator: Brent Olson, Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies, Westminster College

SLCgreen director touts city’s efforts toward sustainability, meets with President Obama during Utah visit (FOX13 Story)

SLCgreen Director Vicki Bennett was recently profiled by FOX 13 News during President’s Obama’s visit to Utah. Click on the screenshot above to view the video. Here is the transcript:

SALT LAKE CITY — Vicki Bennett has been with Salt Lake City for 14 years, and she said this city in particular has been on the forefront of sustainability.

The word sustainability can mean different things to different people, but for Bennett and Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker’s administration, it comes down a pretty basic concept.

She said: “How do we ensure we keep Salt Lake City the best we can, for now and for our children? We want people to want to continue to want to live here, we want a healthy environment.”

During Becker’s nearly two terms, Bennett has helped lead the mayor’s sustainability team by developing solar energy projects, reducing carbon emissions and encouraging local business owners to meet air quality and energy targets by evaluating their building’s energy use, setting energy-saving goals, and conducting energy-saving improvement projects.

“And what’s so exciting is that Salt Lake’s sustainability program, if you talk to our peers, is considered one of the top 10 in the nation, for a small city,” Bennett said.

Those efforts have also been noticed by leaders in Washington D.C.

Mayor Becker and President Barack Obama share a similar vision regarding sustainability, and it has helped them forge a strong, working relationship. Bennett said that in turn helps the effort back in Salt Lake City.

“He’s been able to get us a voice in the White House,” she said. “Because of that, we’ve been able to get funding for grants that a lot of cities aren’t even invited to apply for.”

Bennett knows there will soon be a new mayor but said she believes Salt Lake City’s advances in walkable housing, transportation, solar power and recycling are here to stay.

“We always have to be improving our environment, we always have to be ensuring we have healthy air to breathe, that we have water quality and water quantity for our residents,” she said.

Bennett was able to briefly meet President Obama Thursday night during his visit to Utah, and she said the honor gave everyone on their staff a renewed sense of determination to move forward with sustainability efforts.

Full story, including video, available at FOX13Now.com.

Exchange your old gas can (for free!) on Saturday, April 11

Exchange your old empty 2.5 or 5 gallon gas can for a free, brand new, environmentally friendly can of equal size!

UCAIR and Chevron are exchanging over 4,500 gas cans. That’s equivalent to eliminating 540 cars off Utah’s roads per day over the 5-year life of each gas can. Making this small change can have large impact on our air quality. Together we can make a difference in Utah’s air quality.

The Gas Can Exchange Program will be the first of its kind in Utah and help our state come into compliance with the EPA standard.

The event will be held on April 11, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the following locations:

2100 S. 300 W., Salt Lake City, Chevron Station
1997 E. 3500 N., Layton, Davis Landfill
1855 Skyline Dr., South Ogden, Chevron Station
1200 Towne Center Blvd., Provo Towne Center Mall

Why exchange your old can? Old gas cans contribute to volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by:

Permeation of vapors through walls of containers.
Escaping fumes while fuel is being dispensed.
Spillage and over filling as fuel is being poured into equipment.
Spillage and evaporation through secondary vent holes.
Evaporation through inadequately capped spouts.

The new cans have several improvements including:

Automatic shut-off feature to prevent overfilling.
Automatic closing feature.
- Sealed when it is not in use.
- Prevents leaking vapors.
- Protects children from accidental spills and ingestion.
- Secondary venting holes are eliminated to stop venting of fumes into the air.
- Thicker walls to reduce vapor permeation.

Please contact Angie at coordinator@ucair.org if you have any questions about the gas can exchange.

Source: http://www.ucair.org/hot_topics/ucair-chevron-gas-can-exchange/

SLCgreen Kicks Off Katharine Hayhoe’s Week in Utah

The Salt Lake City Green team was honored to meet with Katharine Hayhoe, renowned climate scientist, communicator and educator, to kick off her week in Utah. We had a fascinating discussion about Salt Lake City, Utah and climate change, and explored the unique opportunities in our community to move forward on climate action.

Dr. Hayhoe (@KHayhoe) will be in Utah much of the week speaking about faith, science and climate action.

Monday, March 23:

Tuesday, March 24:

Logan LDS Tabernacle (50 N Main Street) — 5 p.m.

Thursday, March 26:

Clark Planetarium (110 S 400 West) — 7 p.m.
Facebook event (RSVP)

Early registration now open for the 2015 Utah Bike Summit

The seventh annual Utah Bike Summit will be held Friday, April 10, and will gather citizens, riders, bicycle advocates, government officials, tourism and health representatives, and Utah’s bike brands to discuss, plan, and promote efforts to make Utah the most bike-friendly state in the country. The Summit will take place at the Provo Library at Academy Square and is open to the public, regardless of where, how, and why you ride.

This year’s keynote speaker is Gary Fisher, Founding Father of the Mountain Bike. Gary is a dedicated bicycle advocate and responsible for laying the early foundations for mountain biking. He is credited with developing some of the greatest innovations, including drum brakes, triple chainrings, motorcycle-style brake levers and 29 inch wheels. Gary is a longtime bicycle advocate and works to inspire people to get out and ride.

In addition to the keynote address, the Summit program will include presentations addressing topics relevant to people who ride bicycles for both transportation and recreation. The afternoon agenda is packed with breakout sessions looking at topics varying from making bicycling an equitable transportation choice to e-bikes, promoting bicycle safety, and creating a bicycle friendly ecosystem. A post-summit reception closes out the day’s activities at The Underground Social Hall.

More information about the Utah Bike Summit and how to register can be found at www.bikeutah.org/2015summit. Early registration ends February 27^th.

Mayor Becker Issues Executive Order to Increase Energy Efficiency at City Facilities

Today Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker issued an Executive Order designed to maximize superior energy management at all Salt Lake City facilities.

“We must lead by example,” said Mayor Becker. “By taking steps to actively monitor our energy use and improve the efficiency of city facilities, we will cut energy waste, improve air quality, protect our natural resources and ultimately save taxpayer dollars.”

The order, which establishes Salt Lake City among leading cities nationwide, creates a multi-department Energy Management Steering Committee and requires City facilities to develop annual Energy Management Plans and track results.

“Through this Executive Order, Mayor Becker again demonstrates his commitment to air quality and smart energy use,” said Sarah Wright, Executive Director of Utah Clean Energy. “Improving the efficiency of Salt Lake City municipal facilities is a fantastic way to showcase how local governments can save taxpayer dollars while simultaneously reducing pollution.”

Energy Management Plans will report on facilities’ progress utilizing best practices in energy management, including energy benchmarking, identification of energy-saving opportunities, requiring building energy efficiency training for facilities managers and operators, empowering employees to play an active role in cutting energy waste and improved transparency of facility energy performance.

The new Executive Order is a cornerstone of Project Skyline, an initiative designed to dramatically cut energy waste in Salt Lake City’s commercial buildings by accelerating investment in energy efficiency and raising public awareness of building performance. In 2014, Project Skyline kicked off with the Mayor’s Skyline Challenge, enlisting 20 businesses in a proactive effort to reduce building energy use. Learn more at SLCgov.com/ProjectSkyline.

A previous Executive Order issued by Mayor Becker in 2013 required all new City facilities achieve net-zero energy status (i.e. producing as much energy as they consume).

The Power of Technology: Tech 4 Good

Join StartSLC for the largest startup and technology festival in Utah!

The Sustainable Startups Series: Tech 4 Good will be offering a free lunch-time session (lunch included!) to learn about using the power of technology to improve our community. The lunch event will take place January 31^st at 12 p.m. at The Gateway.

If you are interested in more than just lunch, attend the entire StartSLC program! It is a free three day event with a festival-like atmosphere, a plethora of speakers, contests, and more. The dates are January 29-31 at The Gateway. Visit the website for more information!

Utah & Climate Change 2015 Series

Clark Planetarium and the Citizens’ Climate Lobby are hosting the Utah & Climate Change series in 2015. Utah & Climate Change is a multi-disciplinary panel discussion series on climate change in Utah, and its role in science, the economy, media and religion featuring experts in these areas.

The series kicks off with The Science & Economic Impacts of Climate Change on Thursday, January 29 at 7:00 p.m. The panel discussion will feature:

Rob Davies, a physicist with Utah State University
Maura Olivos, sustainability coordinator with Alta Ski Resort
Gabriel Lozada, an economist with the University of Utah
Laura Briefer, water resource manager with Salt Lake City

Get up-to-date information on the series, including how to get tickets.