Green Building
Salt Lake City Department of Airports
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In Fall 2020, the Salt Lake City Department of Airports (SLCDA) opened the first phase of The New SLC Airport—the first new large-hub airport built in the US in the 21st century. The New SLC was designed and built to provide a flexible, right-sized design for the future that is more efficient, sustainable, and maintains competitive costs. It was also designed to establish a benchmark for environmentally-responsible airports. Sustainable design strategies that aimed to minimize the airport’s environmental footprint included high-performance glazing, daylighting, energy-efficient mechanical and lighting systems, and an efficient configuration of terminal and gate locations to reduce fuel use and aircraft emissions. The SLCDA’s efforts have not gone unnoticed and were recognized in 2021 with a LEED Gold certification. Phases 2 and 3, which are currently under construction, are also on track to earn LEED Gold.
Novva Data Centers
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With sustainability at the forefront of each decision made, Novva Data Center’s flagship in West Jordan was designed to operate without water year-round, use solar energy, and cool with ambient air. As a result of these green practices, the facility has earned a LEED Silver certification from the US Green Building Council, a top honor legitimizing the sustainability efforts of the facility. The most unique feature of the flagship facility is a water-free cooling system that operates by utilizing a combination of the elevated floors surrounding air and heat exchange coils. Additionally, the facility is outfitted with countless green design features, including artificial grass to cut down on unnecessary water use, refillable water bottle stations, electric vehicle charging stations, and recycling receptacles that foster an overall green mindset amongst employees. The data center is an example of how thoughtful design can go a long way when creating greener facilities.
Green Business Leadership
Nu Skin
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Nu Skin focuses on being environmentally friendly through its business practices and community leadership. By 2030, the company has committed to making all product packaging recycled, renewable, recyclable, reusable, or reduced. In 2021 alone, Nu Skin’s repackaging and sustainability initiatives saved 118.2 tons of plastic and 33.1 tons of paper. Nu Skin is the first beauty company to use Eco-Pac, which is constructed of 100 percent Bio-pe (a bio-based plastic resin derived from sugarcane) that uses 83 percent less carbon emission and an average of 10 percent less plastic per product. A designated product recycling bin at Nu Skin’s global headquarters recycled 179.8 tons of materials in 2021 alone. Nu Skin leads sustainability efforts in the state of Utah by forming and leading the Utah Sustainable Business Coalition with Adobe and Young Living, which leads businesses and communities to better the world. Within five years, the coalition has grown to include more than 300 members statewide.
The Shop SLC
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The Shop SLC, a premier shared workspace for the creative professional, made history by opening the first carbon-neutral shared office space in the city. Here, teams large and small come together under one roof to share furniture, technology, coffee makers, and ideas. The Shop has championed sustainability beyond the build itself with a series of partners and initiatives, including a relationship with Momentum Recycling and Atlas Disposal to recycle appropriately, as well as a sponsorship of the nearby GREENBike station. The workspace’s roots grow deeper with outreach to eco-oriented nonprofits like the Green Urban Lunchbox and the Utah Sustainable Business Coalition. These partnerships cemented The Shop’s role in surrounding communities via commitments to provide local products for purchase in the workspace’s marketplace.
Social Impact
Utah Clean Energy
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What started as a small group of passionate volunteers working on climate issues around a kitchen table has become one of Utah’s most impactful and trusted clean air and climate change organizations, Utah Clean Energy. When incorporated in 2002, wind and solar farms in the state were nonexistent, next to zero homes had solar, and talking about climate change in the halls of Utah’s state capital required walking a political tightrope. Utah now has enough renewable energy to power nearly 700,000 Utah homes, energy efficiency is a priority energy resource, and Utah leaders from across party lines are discussing the risks and solutions of climate change. Over the past 20 years, Utah Clean Energy has become recognized as the state’s foremost expert on climate, clean energy, and air quality solutions. The organization’s mission is to “lead and accelerate the clean energy transformation with vision and expertise” and has supported those ideals through dozens of impactful measures spanning solar energy, electric vehicles, healthy homes, energy and equity, climate policy, and more.
Goal Zero
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A global leader in clean, consumer power solutions, Utah-based Goal Zero created the portable power station category more than a decade ago following a humanitarian mission to bring sustainable energy to those in need. From emergency outages to camping and off-grid projects and events, Goal Zero solar panels, power stations, and accessories give people the power to keep their gear charged through any situation. Born out of the desire to empower people everywhere and as an NRG company, Goal Zero is working to change the way people think about and use power by pioneering the development of smarter energy solutions.
