Sustainability Office

Explore Sustainability at the U

Are you up for the challenge?

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The inversions that occur annually in many of Utah’s valleys are a natural outcome of our topography. However, the pollutants emitted into the air aren’t natural. In fact, they are dictated by our decisions and actions. No one wants bad air, but unfortunately our lifestyles and transportation choices add particulate matter to the inversion, resulting […]

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Print & mail recognized

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This article, originally published in @theu on August 9, 2019, was written by Corinne Smart, University Print & Mail Services. In an industry based on using paper, sustainable practices are an ongoing challenge for organizations like University Print & Mail Services. But taking that challenge on has proved successful for the department, which has just […]

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New Directions for Environmental Justice

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By Nicholas Apodaca, graduate assistant, Sustainability Office Many of us who care about climate change and environmental justice take action in our daily lives to do our part: we recycle, use sustainable products, use public transportation or eat locally grown food. Yet often environmental problems play out at a larger scale, and while our personal […]

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HEALTHIER CAMPUS INITIATIVE

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Originally posted on @theU on March 8, 2019. By Shawn Wood, communications specialist, University of Utah Communications The University of Utah has adopted guidelines to promote better health on campus through nutrition, physical activity and programming over the next three years through the Healthier Campus Initiative sponsored by the Partnership for a Healthier America. President […]

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THE U’S IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY

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Orginally posted on @theU on February 19, 2019. By Myron Willson, Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer The inversion season is upon us. This can be a time to point fingers at other polluters, but it should also be a time to recognize our own contributions to the murky haze and examine what steps we are taking […]

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Searching for ‘Soul’-utions

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“Imagining Sustainable Futures: Collaborative ‘Soul’-utions for Earthly Survival.” The Global Change and Sustainability Center (GCSC) seminar series presents a lecture by Giovanna Di Chiro, Lang Professor for Issues of Social Change at Swarthmore College. By Nicholas Apodaca, graduate assistant, Sustainability Office When we talk about sustainability, we might assume that progressive science policy would naturally […]

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SHEDDING LIGHT

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How the project benefited the library Then: Lights in the Special Collections area were typically on 10-13 hours per day Now: Lights now are only activated when there is activity and only in the area where that activity is occurring Then: A compact fluorescent bulb is 54 watts, lasts about 10,000 hours and produces heat […]

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THE WASATCH FRONT: A LIVING LAB

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Originally posted on @theU on September 17, 2018 By Paul Gabrielsen, science writer, University of Utah Communications University of Utah scientists know how to turn a challenge into an opportunity. Repeatedly, researchers at the U have developed innovative research solutions to some of the Salt Lake Valley’s most serious environmental issues. Light rail trains sample […]

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5 GREEN FEATURES

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Originally posted on @theU on September 10, 2018 By Brooke Adams, communications specialist, University of Utah Communications The newly opened Gardner Commons building, which replaced Orson Spencer Hall, was designed with sustainability at its core. Here are five of its green features: Looking out towards a carbon-neutral future Gardner Commons is designed to be 100 […]

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POWER TO THE PEOPLE

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Originally published on @theU on August 20, 2018. By Vince Horiuchi, public relations associate, College of Engineering Hurricane Maria’s devastation of Puerto Rico last September, which left nearly all the island’s 3.4 million residents without power, is one of the most frightening scenarios for a metropolis: A natural disaster or cyberattack wipes out a city’s […]

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