Sustainability Office

Explore Sustainability at the U

TRAX air quality study expands

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This article, originally published in @theu, February 26, 2020, was written by Paul Gabrielsen, Science Writer, University of Utah Communications For more than five years, University of Utah air quality sensors have hitched rides on TRAX light rail trains, scanning air pollution along the train’s Red and Green Lines. Now the study, once a passion […]

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Seeking Systems that Serve Us All

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by Amber Aumiller, graduate assistant, Sustainability Office In the western United States, most of our cities are situated in arid landscapes–dryland ecosystems or deserts.  Historically, dry landscapes have been viewed as wastelands, lacking value until we created a use for them. Most humans now live in cities, and dryland ecosystems are currently home to over […]

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Clear the Air Challenge update

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This article, originally published in @theu, February 19, 2020, was written by Ayrel Clark-Proffitt, Sustainability Office We all benefit when the air is clean. That’s the idea behind the statewide Clear the Air Challenge. Every February the University of Utah launches a team as part of a month-long effort to get people out of single-occupant […]

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EPA ranks U No. 8 for green power use among universities

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This article, originally published in @theu, February 12, 2020, was written by Kate Whitbeck, Communications Manager, Sustainability Office The Green Power Partnership Top 30 College & University ranking, released Jan. 27, 2020, lists the U as No. 8, with 49% of its energy supplied through geothermal and solar power purchase agreements. The U stands out among those […]

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Solving the world’s environmental problems

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This article, originally published in @theu, February 11, 2020, was written by the Environmental Humanities Graduate Program Acclaimed American essayist and novelist Jonathan Franzen will be the 2020 recipient of the Utah Award in the Environmental Humanities. Franzen’s environmental essays have stirred audiences on the subjects of climate mitigation, the importance of birds, interspecies ethics and human […]

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UTA on Demand by Via

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This article, originally published in @theu, February 11, 2020, was written by Claudia Trochez, Commuter Services Thanks to UTA’s Ed-Pass, students, faculty and staff can ride the bus, TRAX and FrontRunner for no additional fee, making public transit the obvious choice for commuting to campus. Depending on where you live exactly, UTA service can either be […]

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Converting my commute

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This article, originally published in @theu, February 11, 2020, was written by Andy Lambert, MA Student, Atmospheric Sciences As a graduate student in Atmospheric Sciences, many of my discussions and much of my research fall under the umbrella of air quality and climate. Conversations with colleagues and others inevitably turn to the topic of driving improvement […]

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Are you a space heater user?

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This article, originally published in @theu, February 5, 2020, was written by Kate Whitbeck, communications manager, Sustainability Office Take part in our space heater exchange program to help reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while keeping you comfortable. For every personal space heater brought in as part of this program, University faculty, staff and interns can choose between […]

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Celebrate sustainability leadership on campus

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This article, originally published in @theu, February 4, 2020, was written by Kate Whitbeck, Sustainability Office The Sustainability Leadership Awards recognize excellence in two areas: sustainability education and the use of our campus as a living lab. An award of $2500 will be given to a recipient in each area. All students, faculty, and staff are eligible […]

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The Wheels of Winter

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By Ginger Cannon, active transportation manager, Sustainability Office It’s snow season and freezing temperatures are the norm but that doesn’t mean you have to hang up your bike. Salt Lake City’s high elevation helps the snow on our roadways melt quickly, leaving the surface dry and largely ice-free for your winter bike commute. Thirteen percent […]

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