Summit Schedule

Accelerating the Rollout of Renewable Energy in the West

This session has three main goals. First, provide an overview of what is going on in renewable energy at global and national scales. Second, examine advantages and obstacles for renewable energy in the western US, especially Utah. Third, draw on examples from around the world to accelerate clean electrification. 

Remaking the Way we Make Things

With a lot of nods toward Cradle to Cradle on design and with support from Utah GOED, Clever Octopus has embarked on a 1-year endeavor to develop a self-sustaining program to create much-needed jobs for individuals experiencing barriers to employment. Our target participants include people with a history of incarceration or addiction, recent immigrants and refugees, marginalized and resilient communities including Native artists, and people with mental health and developmental disabilities. This is a Waste-Based Social Enterprise with a mission to upcycle donated goods for resale while meeting social and environmental objectives. The revenue from low-cost resale supports overarching initiatives to reduce poverty and develop high-paying jobs in the waste reuse sector. Through skill-training, we provide dignifying experiences to historically marginalized people and assist them in breaking out of the low-income/low skill trap. With support from and modeled after the work of Cascade Alliance, which helps nonprofits turn discarded items into stable revenue streams and sources of quality jobs, we will work with demonstrated experts to scale our pilot phase into a self-sufficient, job-creating community enterprise. We have brought on the first team of makers to produce house-branded products using reclaimed materials. Skills in sewing, light manufacturing, and assembly are welcomed but not required - we can teach a motivated candidate how to successfully make tote bags, wax wraps, ditty bags, pet beds, pet toys, throw pillows, ottomans, clothing, and dryer balls. Throughout the year, all members of the team will be encouraged to pitch new product ideas for development - products that specifically reclaim the clean industrial discards we receive in quantity on a consistent basis. Well-designed products include a value-added concept, are tested for production efficiency with time studies, can be reliably produced to meet quality standards, and can be sold at a suggested retail price that supports paying the artisans a living wage.

Efficacy of AHUs to Reduce PM2.5 in Commercial Building

The University of Utah and DFCM have partnered to investigate the efficacy of air handling filtration systems in the removal of removing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from the air stream as it enters buildings. The study focuses on 3 types of events: wintertime inversions, fireworks and wildfires. The results show that in all events a typical air handling filtration set up does remove some particulate matter but the effects vary by event type and, possibly, air handler orientation relative to wind direction.  

Building for a Net Positive Future: Now!

Change is your choice. We can use life cycle thinking and net positive by design thinking to fundamentally change the world. We all contribute to our collective future, for better or worse, each and everyday through our choices. This will be a practical conversation illustrated with examples on how to think, choose, consume, and live in a life cycle thinking empowered way, to help change the world for better.

Carbon Drawdown Now: Turning Our Building's into Carbon Sinks

The carbon footprint from the production of building materials for low-rise homes in the US contribute as much as 30-40 million tons of GHGs annually. The sector is ripe for making large reductions in that total, trimming as much as 10-15 million tons of emissions per year by focusing on the “low hanging fruit” and potentially reducing the footprint to zero within a decade.

This presentation outlines the results of three major studies of material carbon emissions from low-rise homes, and maps out the pathways to significant reductions.

It covers the terminology and methodology used to determine the carbon footprint of a home’s materials, and the tools used to analyze and improve a design.

Two case studies will anchor the presentation and provide real-life examples of buildings that achieve major carbon footprint reductions today.

Utah 100 Communities: How Local Communities are Leading the Renewable Energy Program

This presentation will focus on the latest updates and milestones of the Community Renewable Energy Program. Attendees will learn more about how Program leadership is moving forward with the Renewable Energy Program as well as the benefits and engagement opportunities associated with the Program.  

Learning by Doing: Developing a Collaborative Climate Justice Curriculum for Young Activists

This presentation by Utah Youth Environmental Solutions Network will highlight youth leaders who are working collaboratively to develop a climate justice curriculum for young activists across the state. Solutions for climate change are within reach, but they are not being implemented at the necessary scale. Nearly six in ten young people are worried about climate change, yet Utah youth have identified a lack of climate education in their schools. The U-YES climate justice curriculum, which is designed by and for young people, will help to fill this gap by providing training, resources, and mentorship for young people to organize in their communities. This presentation will focus on our collaborative and student-informed curriculum designing process, as well as the content of the curriculum itself, which consists of four modules: 1) “who we are,” which explores individual identity, builds community among participants, and examines the power we have together; 2) “how we got here,” which looks at the history of climate change and the oppressive systems that produced it; 3) “where we go from here,” which imagines possibilities for alternative and sustainable futures; and 4) “how we get there,” which emphasizes community action and offers tangible tools for youth organizers who want to build these alternative futures. 

Expanding Diversity: The CURE to Inclusion Starts with U

Ruth speaks about her personal and professional journey through the lens of someone with a visible disability and shares what it’s like to lead through a world crisis and live life without limits or labels. Ruth touches on the subjects of invisible disabilities, covering hidden differences, and otherness. Her interactive presentation speaks to how we cope with feelings of isolation, our need to feel connected to others, and the ability to rise above life’s challenges. She demonstrates the power of living authentically and enables the recognition that our differences are our greatest gift. 

Carbon Drawdown Now: Turning Our Building's into Carbon Sinks

The carbon footprint from the production of building materials for low-rise homes in the US contribute as much as 30-40 million tons of GHGs annually. The sector is ripe for making large reductions in that total, trimming as much as 10-15 million tons of emissions per year by focusing on the “low hanging fruit” and potentially reducing the footprint to zero within a decade.

This presentation outlines the results of three major studies of material carbon emissions from low-rise homes, and maps out the pathways to significant reductions.

It covers the terminology and methodology used to determine the carbon footprint of a home’s materials, and the tools used to analyze and improve a design.

Two case studies will anchor the presentation and provide real-life examples of buildings that achieve major carbon footprint reductions today.

Neutral, Negative, Net-Zero or Positive: What it Means for Your Organization

Carbon neutral, net-zero, negative and positive are terms that organizations use to frame their goals for climate change and environmental sustainability. But, what exactly do they mean and how do they compare? Using case examples, we’ll discuss how these terms should be understood and used. Moreover, we’ll explore the bigger picture of how leading organizations are shifting their goals from reducing environmental harms to generating net-positive environmental outcomes.  

Envision a Sustainable Society

What does a fully sustainable future actually look like? The book Bright Green Future offers a glimpse into that world through the inspiring stories of innovators and activists who are building it right now. Join author Trevor Decker Cohen in a discussion on the types of thinking that can help us envision and then create a regenerative, resilient, and just future in the places we love.

Incentivizing a Greener Growth: The Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City's Sustainable Development Policy

In an effort to meet Salt Lake City’s climate goals and improve local air quality, the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City (RDA) spent a year drafting a sustainable development policy in collaboration with the City’s Sustainability Department and Utah Clean Energy with the support of a grant from UCAIR. The policy requires different levels of sustainable building design – from achieving a Design to Earn Energy Star score of 90 to utilizing on-site renewables – dependent on the level of incentive from the RDA. The policy was refined multiple times in response to comments from local development professionals, the Redevelopment Advisory Board and the RDA Board (City Council). As the policy begins to roll out, the RDA hopes that it can be used as a framework for other communities to incentivize energy efficient urban development. 

Regenerating the Existing

While we acknowledge the responsibility we have for our NEW future, to tackle the climate change crisis, we ought not to forget about the vast OLD existing building stock which will still be standing in 2030. Existing building stock account for substantial energy consumption and CO2 emissions. It’s unrealistic to tear down existing buildings to build new low/no carbon, highly efficient buildings. We need to embrace existing buildings and turn them into the regenerative built-environment that our future needs. This presentation shows the journey of one such old existing building, Arch Nexus Salt Lake City office, which is an adaptive reuse of a 30,000 square feet, fifty-year-old fitness center. 

Residential Electrification in Utah: An Economic Lens

At ISS 2021, members of the Building Electrification Institute and the Salt Lake City Sustainability department presented Building Electrification in the Utah Context, a discussion highlighting information-gathering efforts underway to better-understand the current state of building electrification technologies in Utah. In 2022, this session titled Residential Electrification in Utah: An Economic Lens builds on the momentum of last year’s discussion with a presentation of a recently released economic analysis of all-electric residential construction in Utah, first-of-its-kind for our region. Presenters from Utah Clean Energy and the Salt Lake City Sustainability Department will highlight the development process and scope of the study, key considerations of the analysis, and the positive economic implications of all-electric new-construction for homes in Utah. Experts from the Utah Valley Clean Air Task Force will also reflect on the positive energy efficiency and air quality impacts that electrification technologies present, particularly in the context of Utah’s growing renewable energy resources.   

Constitutional Climate Litigation in Utah: The Case for a Livable Future for Utah's Youth

Utah youth are joining young people around the world in standing up to protect their lives, health, and safety in the face of the climate crisis. Supported by Our Children’s Trust and Deiss Law, young Utahns are filing suit against the State of Utah for affirmatively causing and contributing to the climate crisis in violation of their fundamental rights under Utah’s Constitution. The lawsuit in Utah is part of an international, youth-led legal campaign to hold governments accountable and to secure climate justice for youth and future generations. These youth-led legal actions are unique in seeking enforceable, science-based remedies to stabilize the Earth’s climate system and reduce atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide to safe levels for current and future generations of youth. Join representatives of the Utah lawsuit, including Our Children’s Trust attorneys Andrew Welle and Amira Mikhail, to learn about the legal quest for climate justice in Utah. 

Sustainable Biking and Walking: Real Solutions to Real Problems

Walking and biking have wide-ranging benefits for individuals and communities. However, infrastructure that better supports active transportation is needed to realistically facilitate a transition from auto-dependency to a truly multi-modal society. Please join our panel of experts to discuss how we transition to more sustainable transportation with supportive infrastructure. The efforts of the Ogden Bicycle Collective, Ogden City’s GREENBike expansion, and planning researchers will be presented, demonstrating proven approaches to get more people biking and walking in your community. 

Mass Timber Buildings: Products, Carbon Footprint and Forest Sustainability

This presentation will review mass timber products available and explore the benefits of this new method of construction. Basic terminology related to carbon and buildings will be discussed as well as sustainable management of forests from which these products are sourced, with a focus on the forests in Utah.