Skip to content

Posts tagged ‘sustainable’

Mar 21

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.

 

Panel on broadening reach to under-represented groups
The Crossroads Project
Mayor Biskuspki with Sustainability Director Vicki Bennet and Johanna Stangland
Mayor Biskupski visiting with conference attendees
Panel discussion on exerting political influence
Conference attendees visit during break

Mar 14

Become a FruitShare Neighborhood Hub Leader!

gulb

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.

 

Mar 9

Sustainable Living Solutions and Inspiration, Winter Market at Rio Grande

WMlogoBlue

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.

Mar 7

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/

Feb 16

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!

Nov 25

Winterize Your Home- Energy Saving Tips

Basic tips for saving money and increasing energy efficiency this winter!

  1. Insulate your windows.  Single pane windows are especially inefficient, but double pane windows can also benefit from insulation.  Plastic film kits range from $10-$30, are easy to install, and effective. According to Lowe’s, window film can help retain up to 55% of your home’s heat in winter!  If you are feeling ambitious, consider installing storm doors and windows!
  2. Dodge the drafts.  Do you have cold air sneaking in at the base of your door? Use a rolled bath towel placed at the base of the door to block the air.  Or use an old sock or sew together some old fabric scraps and fill with sand or rice. Here are some draft stopper ideas!
  3. draft stopper

    Photo Credit: Frugal Homemaking

    Change your furnace filter. Dirty filters restrict air flow and increase energy demand.  Changing your filter once a month is recommended during the heating season, or use a permanent filter to reduce waste.

  4. Set your water heater to 120 degrees (or lower). Water heaters are often set to 140 degrees which is likely higher than necessary.  Lower the temperature to reduce your water heating costs.
  5. Turn down your thermostat. This is one of the surest ways to save money. For every degree you lower the thermostat during heating season, you’ll save between 1 and 3 percent of your heating bill.  Try 68 degrees, or lower when asleep or away from home.  And dress warmer for winter, wear a sweater!

Enjoy the winter season!

Jun 9

Downtown Farmers Market Opens this Saturday!

By SLCgreen Intern Nicole Muehle

The Downtown Salt Lake City Farmers Market begins this Saturday, June 13th at Pioneer Park and will continue through the end of the summer. This year the market will be offering everything from canning classes to musical performances from local artists. See the full list of market events happening this summer!

IMG_1418

Attending the Downtown Farmers Market is a great way to eat sustainably and get to know the local vendors. Spring and early summer crops include greens, strawberries, herbs, and spinach. There will also be baked goods, jams, and spreads.

Downtown Salt Lake City Farmers Market

Saturdays: 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (June 13th-October 24th)

Tuesdays: 4:00 p.m.-Dusk (August 4th-October 20th)

Located at Pioneer Park, 300 S. 300 W.

May 14

1 Comment

e2 Business Best Practice: Future of Food Waste

On Tuesday, e2 Business members gathered at the Central Valley Water Reclamation facility to learn about anaerobic digestion and how it can help solve the long standing issue of what to do to “recycle” food waste and prevent it from ending up in our valley’s landfills. And by food waste they mean just about anything — from bread, to fish, to expired milk and everything in between!
IMG_0951

Glen Perry is Vice President of ALPRO Energy & Water, the project development firm that has partnered with Momentum Recycling and Central Valley Water Reclamation facility to develop the proposed food waste anaerobic digester.

May_e2 036May_e2 109

The group noshed on delicious vegan sandwiches, salads and burritos from Bud’s Sandwich Company as they learned the ins and outs of anaerobic digestion (and its similarities to human digestion — interesting lunch talk!)

May_e2 089

Kate Whitbeck with Momentum Recycling shared how their organization plans to play a roll in providing the “feedstock” for the anaerobic digester in the form of post-consumer food waste, primarily from restaurants.

IMG_0957 IMG_0973IMG_0971

Following the discussion, the group took a tour of the Central Valley Water Reclamation facility, highlights including a rooftop view of the reactors and waste digesters. Learn more about the waste operations at the facility.

Green your business with the help of Salt Lake City’s e2 business program!

Mar 1

Dining with Discretion: Food Choices Matter

Last week, SLCgreen’s Bridget Stuchly and Tyler Poulson unveiled a compelling presentation at the Intermountain Sustainability Summit to a packed house. Dining with Discretion: Food Choices Matter outlines how personal choices about what and how we eat impact our environment and can either contribute to, or help alleviate, climate change.

The Presentation

If you missed it, you can scroll through their presentation slides.

Dining with Discretion from SLCgreen

Take Action!

Long story short, there are some very real steps you can take in your everyday eating habits that will have a positive impact on the environment:

  • Eat less meat & dairy
  • Eat more plants
  • Cook smart
  • Waste less
  • Speak out

Eat-Less-Meat-crop

Eat-More-Plants-cropCook-Smart-crop

Source: Meat Eaters Guide to Climate Change + Health

Source: Meat Eaters Guide to Climate Change + HealthSource: Meat Eaters Guide to Climate Change + Health

Feb 26

e2 + Green Drinks = A Great Event

Green Drinks 1

On Tuesday, Salt Lake City Green Drinks joined forces with SLCgreen’s e2 Business Program to host an evening of delicious food, refreshing drinks and amazing networking among SLC’s sustainability community at Local First Utah.

Green Drinks 3

Peter Nelson with SLCgreen’s e2 business program welcomed the group to SLC Green Drinks and talked about how the e2 Business program helps businesses pave the way towards more sustainable practices. Learn more.

Green Drinks 2

The group noshed on delicious food from Mazza Middle Eastern Cuisine and enjoyed beverages from both Epic Brewing Company and Uinta Brewing (all Salt Lake City e2 businesses!)

Green Drinks 4Local First Utah generously donated their space, located in the heart of the Central Ninth Business District, for the event. Thanks to everyone who attended!

 

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »