Green by Nature

Salt Lake is different — and green — by nature. It's part of our heritage and fills our views no matter where you look in Salt Lake. When settlers first came here, the Salt Lake valley didn't have many trees. Along with planting crops, planning the city, and building their farms, the settlers planted trees around the valley. If you look around now you won't have to look far for trees and nature. When you lift your gaze a little bit you'll see the majestic Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains that are just minutes away.

On this page you'll find links and information about how Salt Lake, Visit Salt Lake, and area businesses, are trying to help the environment and be green.

Offset your travel to Salt Lake

We want you to come to Salt Lake and enjoy the natural beauty here. Unfortunately even travel to Salt Lake creates extra carbon. Now you can calculate and offset the extra carbon with our handy carbon footprint calulator.

Visit Salt Lake

We are committed to conserving resources and preserving our environment. Some of the environmental programs at Visit Salt Lake include:

Promoting Green Members We want the businesses in Salt Lake that embrace environmentally friendly policies to have your business. Look for a link to their green policies or check out a full list of our green members

Cruiser Bicycles for staff to use for short errands and nearby meetings.

Energy Conservation using CFL or other energy efficient alternatives in all lighting and all computer workstations are set to energy saving mode.

Dishes in the break room Rather than use paper plates and foam cups.

Recycling All recyclable waste is collected at one of 7 recycling stations within our offices and all computers, batteries, and other e-waste are recycled as needed.

Reduction of waste Staff members of Visit Salt Lake are encouraged to avoid printing or to print two-sided when necessary.

Paper Products All paper products used by Visit Salt Lake are printed on recycled paper.

Carbon Offset Calculator In conjunction with Tree Utah, the carbon offset calculator is available for so visitors can assess the carbon that will be emitted by traveling to Salt Lake and purchase seedling trees to be planted to offset the negative effects of those emissions.

Meet Green in Salt Lake

Join us on our journey to make our community an environmentally-sustainable host for conventions, meetings, and visitors. The Salt Palace Convention Center along with hotels and local businesses make it easier than you think to have a green meeting in Salt Lake.

Find out more about Meet Green in Salt Lake and the new solar array being installed on top of the Salt Palace Convention Center.

Salt Lake City

The goal of the Salt Lake City Green program is to maintain a high quality of life, while ensuring a healthy, sustainable future. This comprehensive program promotes alternative transportation, greenhouse gas emission reductions, and water conservation while inviting businesses, citizens and students to institute environmentally and economically sustainable initiatives and become e2 certified. On May 27, 2008, the first e2 Business Certificate awarded during Mayor Becker's term was given to Visit Salt Lake.

Salt Lake County Green

Salt Lake County's green efforts span a wide variety of programs including smart growth combined with the preservation of open space, building green, focusing on the Jordan River and other waterways, decreasing energy use, and increasing air quality. One of the County's hallmark programs is the Million Tree Program - a ten-year campaign to plant one million trees in Salt Lake County by 2017.

Find out more about the environmental programs in Salt Lake County.

The Clear the Air Challenge

This challenge, first issued in 2009 by Utah's Governor, Salt Lake City's Mayor, and Salt Lake County's Mayor, is a creative initiative to help Utah's residents drive less and drive smarter to help reduce vehicle emissions and improve Utah's air quality.

Find out more about the challenge