Tag Archive for: Salt Lake Chamber

2023 Clear the Air Challenge Results Announced

The Salt Lake Chamber, along with partners TravelWise Utah and Utah Clean Air Partnership – UCAIR, is excited to announce the results of the 14th annual Clear the Air Challenge. This year’s top honors go to Fidelity Investments for large teams and Architectural Nexus for small teams. 

“This past month has shown what we can achieve as a group of committed participants joining together for our air quality needs,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “The Clear the Air Challenge shows the strength of business doing good in the community, and highlights how each of us can make a difference to reduce pollution and collectively improve our quality of life. We congratulate all the businesses and individuals who participated by adopting Travelwise strategies to clear the air!”  

The Clear the Air Challenge is a month-long initiative undertaken by business, government and community leaders that encourages Utah residents to drive less and drive smarter during the month of July. Participants help improve air quality by avoiding trips alone in their car and using TravelWise Strategies such as carpooling, teleworking, taking public transit, biking or trip chaining.

“Summer ozone poses a real health challenge, and through the Clear the Air Challenge, we were able to highlight the actions we can individually take to make a difference for one another,” said Kim Frost, executive director of UCAIR. “Air quality is a continual challenge in Utah, but each year we can educate more people and empower them to develop healthy travel habits. We congratulate this year’s team winners, large and small, for leading by example and showing the impact that comes through collective effort.”

Over the past month, businesses and individuals from across the state participated in the annual competition to show their commitment to our environment and, more specifically, our air quality. Collectively, this year’s participants reduced 365.1 tons of CO2 emissions, eliminated 55,179 trips, reduced 1,027,027.3 miles traveled, saved $600,000, and burned 1.9 million calories in just 31 days.

Top Large Teams:

  1. Fidelity Investments (CO2 saved: 107 tons; Total Trips Eliminated: 14,336; Miles Saved: 290,235.7)
  2. State of Utah Agencies (CO2 saved: 81.3 tons; Total Trips Eliminated: 9,526; Miles Saved: 216,790.2)
  3. University of Utah (CO2 saved: 25.4 tons; Total Trips Eliminated: 5,227; Miles Saved: 75,828.5)

Top Small Teams:

  1. Architectural Nexus (CO2 saved: 15.9 tons; Total Trips Eliminated: 982; Miles Saved: 43,407.8)
  2. GSBS Architects (CO2 saved: 10.9 tons; Total Trips Eliminated: 1,764; Miles Saved: 32,171.7)
  3. Dell Technologies-Utah (CO2 saved: 6.4 tons; Total Trips Eliminated: 560; Miles Saved: 15,941.8)

“Fidelity Investments has always enjoyed participating in the Clear the Air Challenge since its inception 14 years ago. We were proud to join in again with more than 300 new associates in the Utah region,” said Lori Smith, Utah regional leader, Fidelity Investments. “As one of the largest corporate citizens in the area, we support all Utahns through our associates, customers, and surrounding communities to help reduce our environmental emissions and carbon footprint leading to better air quality for all.” 

The Clear the Air Challenge Community Supporters included Breathe Utah, Envision Utah, GREENbike, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Utah Open Lands and Utah SBC (Small Business Council).

Thank you for a great Challenge!

2023 Clear the Air Challenge Kicks Off

Clear the Air Challenge lasts one month to build Travelwise habits and improve air quality

The Salt Lake Chamber, along with its partners Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR) and TravelWise, kicked off the 14th Annual Clear the Air Challenge today. Issued by business, government and community leaders, the Challenge is a month-long competition designed to encourage Utahns to reduce their vehicle emissions by choosing alternatives to driving alone.

“We are excited to launch the Clear the Air Challenge again this year to keep air quality front and center for our communities,” said Gary Hoogeveen, chair of the Salt Lake Chamber and president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Power. “Our partners here today represent leaders who seek solutions and ways to help improve air quality and put their actions behind their words. No solution is perfect for maintaining clean air, but we know practical actions exist that can yield significant outcomes. By empowering ourselves through education and actively minimizing our environmental footprint, we can genuinely enhance the quality of our air.”

Nearly half of the pollutants that contribute to Utah’s poor air quality can be attributed to transportation emissions. By adopting more intelligent driving practices, you have the ability to safeguard the health, environment, economy, and quality of life in Utah. To achieve this goal, participants of the Clear the Air Challenge actively employ TravelWise strategies such as carpooling, utilizing public transit, teleworking, trip chaining, as well as walking, biking, or using scooters, all aimed at reducing emissions and promoting the improvement of Utah’s air quality.

“At UCAIR, we place immense importance on understanding the driving forces behind behavioral change and the environment,” emphasized Kim Frost, executive director of UCAIR. “The Clear the Air Challenge plays a key role in helping businesses and individuals understand the significant impact their actions can have in clearing our air. When individuals recognize the efficacy of their efforts, they are far more inclined to embrace behavioral shifts, not just during the Challenge, but throughout the year.”

One of the key objectives of the Challenge is to raise awareness among Utah residents regarding our air quality concerns. In prior years, the Challenge took place in February, aligning with the winter inversion period when air quality visibly deteriorates. However, again this year, the event will be held in July to address Utah’s summertime ozone issues. Though not as visible, summertime ozone is equally harmful, yet its detrimental effects are less commonly known among the general public.

“By carpooling, biking, walking, or using public transportation whenever possible, we reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier environment,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “But this challenge goes beyond individual actions. It requires a collective effort. It takes collaboration between businesses, organizations, and community leaders. When we support sustainable practices and policies that prioritize clean air, we provide the next generation of Utahns with a healthier future.”

Since the Challenge started in 2009, participants have helped make a big difference in improving Utah’s air quality. In that time, participants have eliminated more than 1.3 million trips, saved more than 20 million miles and reduced their emissions by more than 6,700 tons.

“We’re proud to join the Clear the Air Challenge again this year,” said Lori Smith, Utah regional leader at Fidelity. “The Challenge serves as a great educational opportunity for our communities on the impact of poor air quality and a heightened sense of awareness that together, through our choices, we can help create a healthier future for all Utah residents.”

By encouraging employees to participate, businesses can create a team to make an even bigger impact. The Clear the Air Challenge begins July 1.

How to Participate:

  1. Sign up on the Clear the Air Challenge website at cleartheairchallenge.org and create an account.
  2. Challenge friends and co-workers to participate as a team or individually.
  3. As a business owner or team manager, send out the challenge fact sheet available in the Startup Toolkit to your employees that explains what the challenge is and why they should participate.

Questions? Contact info@cleartheairchallenge.org.

Top Reasons Businesses Should Care About Our Air

As Utahns, we are lucky to live in a state with breathtaking natural beauty and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Unfortunately, our mountainous landscape creates a natural barrier that can adversely affect our air quality, especially when inversions trap pollutants close to the ground. As a result, many people in Utah are starting to take action to reduce their emissions and improve air quality. Here’s why businesses should, too:

Protect health and well-being: Utah’s air quality has a direct impact on our health and well-being, especially for those with pre-existing respiratory conditions. By taking steps to reduce emissions and improve air quality, businesses can help protect the health and well-being of their employees, customers, and fellow Utahns.

Support Utah’s economy: Utah is known for its business-friendly environment and growing economy. By promoting sustainable practices and reducing emissions, businesses can help ensure that our state remains a great place to do business for years to come.

Save money: Speaking of the economy, many of the strategies for reducing emissions and improving air quality can also help businesses save money! For example, encouraging employees to use alternative transportation options like carpooling or public transit can reduce commuting costs and parking expenses. Improving energy efficiency in buildings can also help lower utility bills.

Preserve our natural beauty: Utah’s stunning natural beauty is one of our state’s greatest assets. By taking action to reduce emissions and improve air quality, businesses can help preserve this natural beauty for future generations to enjoy.

Connect with our community: Utahns take pride in our state and our communities. By caring about our air and participating in initiatives like Utah’s Clear the Air Challenge, businesses can show that they care about our state and our fellow Utahns. Being involved helps build stronger connections with customers, employees and other stakeholders.

By taking action to reduce emissions and improve air quality, businesses can help protect our health, support our economy, preserve our natural beauty, connect with our community and even save money in the process. An easy place to start is Utah’s Clear the Air Challenge, a month-long competition that gives Utahns the chance to reduce their vehicle emissions by choosing alternative methods of transportation using TravelWise strategies. To create a team for your business or organization, email info@cleartheairchallenge.org to get started. Together, we can help ensure that Utah remains a great place to live, work, and play for generations to come.

Join Us for Team Manager Training and Networking

When it comes to clearing the air, businesses and organizations have huge potential to make an impact. As a group of coworkers and office friends, your team has the unique opportunity to make the Clear the Air Challenge more than just a challenge – you can make it a contest, team-building event or even just an exciting game.

Of course, organizational involvement and team participation wouldn’t be possible without our fantastic team managers, the individuals that manage their business’s or group’s team. To show our appreciation for these managers’ involvement and to ensure they get the support you need to make their Challenge experience a success, we are hosting a Clear the Air Challenge Team Manager Training & Networking Event. Join us to learn about Challenge basics, available resources and best practices, and network with other team managers:

Clear the Air Challenge Team Manager Training & Networking Event
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Salt Lake Chamber Office
201 S. Main Street #2300
Salt Lake City, UT

Click here to RSVP. In preparation for the event, we recommend you review the Challenge startup toolkit, video tutorials, and website. If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please let us know at the event!

If you are unable to attend, we still want to help you. Reach out to info@cleartheairchallenge.org and let us know what we can do to assist you.

The Clear the Air Challenge Needs You This Year!

Since 2009, participants in the Clear the Air Challenge have helped make a big difference in improving Utah’s air. But we need your help to make this year’s Challenge an even greater success. 

“Just as each of us contributes to emissions that lead to poor air quality, we all have an opportunity and responsibility to make a difference,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “We recognize that there are no perfect answers to keep our air clean, but there are practical solutions that can help us achieve meaningful results. By choosing to educate ourselves on the issue and reduce our impact we can improve our air quality.”

The 2023 Clear the Air Challenge begins in July. It is a month-long competition that gives Utahns the chance to reduce their vehicle emissions by choosing alternative methods of transportation using TravelWise strategies. It’s as easy as working remotely, carpooling, and using public transportation! By driving less and driving smarter, we will ultimately help improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion and conserve energy in Utah.

Our goal this year is to:

  • Reduce 375 tons of CO2
  • Eliminate 100,000 single-occupant trips
  • Save 2 million miles

Signing up for the Challenge takes less than two minutes, and together, it can have a big impact on our state. To help us meet our goals, encourage your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to join you for this year’s Challenge. Remember – even small changes can make a big difference. Sign up at cleartheairchallenge.org.

Why should you participate?

  • The Challenge startup toolkit and website are fantastic educational tools that can help you learn actionable steps to clear the air.
  • The Challenge gives Utahns a fun and competitive way to engage in TravelWise strategies – compete with your family, friends and co-workers!
  • Participants of the Challenge have the opportunity to win weekly prizes!

If you need help setting up your team and/or have questions in the meantime, please reach out to info@cleartheairchallenge.org. Let’s see how many pounds of emissions, gallons of gas and dollars we can save when we work together!

2022 Clear the Air Challenge Results Announced

Fidelity Investments and Dell Technologies Take Top Awards

Results are in for the 13th annual Clear the Air Challenge, hosted by the Salt Lake Chamber, TravelWise Utah and UCAIR, with perennial winners Fidelity Investments and Dell Technologies-Utah taking top honors. Numerous businesses and individuals participated in the annual competition to show their commitment to our environment and to raise public awareness of the importance of clean air.

“The Clear the Air Challenge is just one way to highlight how each of us can individually take steps to reduce the impact we have on our environment,” said Derek Miller, President and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “Over the past month, participants have shown how easy it is to reduce our carbon footprint by using TravelWise strategies. By taking steps to reduce pollution, we can improve the health and quality of life of all who live and visit here. We applaud all participating teams and individuals for their collective efforts and for leading the way in improving our quality of life.”

The Clear the Air Challenge is a month-long initiative undertaken by business, government and community leaders that encourages Utah residents to drive less and drive smarter during the month of July. Participants help improve air quality by avoiding trips alone in their car and using TravelWise Strategies such as carpooling, teleworking, taking public transit, biking or trip chaining.

“With the Clear the Air Challenge’s transition to the summer, we were able to spotlight summer ozone issues,” said Kim Frost, Executive Director of the UCAIR – Utah Clean Air Partnership. “By providing education, we hope that Utahns will become more equipped to understand how air quality issues arise and what can be done to mitigate its effect. We congratulate this year’s top large and small teams for their dedication to our community and recognize their willingness to change habits and make this issue a priority.”

Collectively, this year’s participants eliminated 53,541 trips, saved 1,079,434.1 miles, 392.7 tons of CO2 and $0.6 million, and burned 1.4 million calories in just 31 days.

Top Large Teams:

  1. Fidelity Investments
  2. State of Utah
  3. University of Utah

Top Small Teams:

  1. Dell Technologies-Utah
  2. GSBS Architects
  3. Penna Powers

Top Participants:

  1. David Vasquez, State of Utah
  2. Alison Mortensen-Hayes, University of Utah
  3. Guinevere Timpson, State of Utah

ABOUT THE CLEAR THE AIR CHALLENGE

The Clear the Air Challenge, issued by business, government and community leaders, is a month-long competition starting February 1 that gives you the chance to reduce your vehicle emissions by choosing alternatives to driving alone. The Clear the Air Challenge is a partnership between the Salt Lake Chamber, TravelWise and UCAIR.

Clear the Air Challenge: Solutions to Economic Growth & Sustainability

The 2022 Clear the Air Challenge is a month-long initiative undertaken by business, government and community leaders that encourages Utah residents to drive less and drive smarter during the month of February.

“Poor air quality doesn’t just hinder the views of our beautiful mountains,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance. “It jeopardizes our health, and it hinders our ability to keep businesses and jobs coming to our state. Since each of us contributes to emissions that lead to poor air quality during inversions, we all have an opportunity and responsibility to make a difference.”

​​Transportation emissions are responsible for nearly fifty percent of the pollutants that make up Utah’s poor air quality. By driving smarter, we can protect our health, environment, economy and quality of life. For this reason, participants of the Clear the Air Challenge use TravelWise strategies like carpooling, using public transit, teleworking, trip chaining, walking and riding their bike or scooter to reduce their emissions and help clear Utah’s air.

“We recognize that there are no perfect answers to keep our air clean, but there are practical solutions,” said Thom Carter, Utah Clean Air (UCAIR) executive director. “These strategies represent many of the practical steps all of us can take to make a difference for our air. While the Clear the Air Challenge takes place for just one month, we hope it will provide Utahns the opportunity to start new habits and think about how their individual behaviors contribute to our air quality challenges.”

By encouraging employees to participate, businesses can create a team to make an even bigger impact. The Clear the Air Challenge begins July 1. Register your team of coworkers, family or friends at ClearTheAirChallenge.org and be part of the solution.

2019 Clear the Air Challenge Kickoff

One month of driving less and smarter to help improve Utah’s Air

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (January 25, 2019) – Today the Salt Lake Chamber, along with its clean air partners UCAIR and TravelWise, kicked off the 10th Annual Clear the Air Challenge. The Challenge, issued by business, government and community leaders, is a month-long competition designed to encourage Utahns to reduce their vehicle emissions by choosing alternatives to driving alone.  

Transportation emissions are responsible for nearly fifty percent of the pollutants that make up our poor air quality. By reducing vehicle trips, we can protect our health, environment, economy and quality of life. That’s why participants of the Clear the Air Challenge use TravelWise strategies like carpooling, using public transit, teleworking, trip chaining, using electric vehicles, walking or riding their bike or scooter to reduce their emissions and help clear Utah’s air.

“While we can’t do much about our geography, we can control the choices we make to decrease the emissions that cause air pollution,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance. “The Clear the Air Challenge shows us that small individual changes can, and do, make a difference to Utah’s air quality. And when we improve our air quality, we enhance the well-being of all Utahns and ensure our continued economic success.”

Since the Challenge started in 2009, participants have helped make a big difference in improving Utah’s air quality. In that time, more than a million trips have been eliminated, 15 million miles saved, 5,000 tons of emissions reduced and $6.5 million saved.

“As we all know, there are no perfect answers to solving Utah’s air quality problems, but there are practical solutions,” said Thom Carter, UCAIR executive director. “The Clear the Air Challenge is one way to engage the citizens of Utah in finding practical solutions that make a real difference in improving our air quality.”

Business and organization participation is a key component of the challenge. By encouraging employees to participate, businesses can create a team to make an even bigger impact.  

“Penna Powers is proud to have been a partner and a participant in the Clear the Air Challenge for the last 10 years,” said Dave Smith, president of Penna Powers. “We incentivize our employees to participate in the challenge by offering fare reimbursement for those who take public transit, flex schedules, teleworking options as well as encourage carpooling whenever possible. As a result, Penna Powers employees are proud to work for a business that cares about the environment as much as they do.”

Tracking your miles during the Clear the Air Challenge just got easier thanks to the new Commute Tracker app. Now participants can log their trips on the go. The Commute Tracker app allows Clear the Air Challenge participants to log their regular trips, like those from home to the office, automatically. It also allows users to manually log their trips from their phone throughout the challenge.

As always, you can track your trips saved from your mobile device or computer with the TravelWise Tracker. Once you register for the challenge at ClearTheAirChallenge.org you can enter in a starting and ending location and receive carpool options, transit routes, or biking and walking routes. The TravelWise tracker gives the amount of emissions you’ll save and the time it will take to make your trip.  

The Clear the Air Challenge starts February 1st.  Register your team of coworkers, family or friends at ClearTheAirChallenge.org and be part of the solution.

The Challenge would like to recognize community supporters: Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce, Cedar City Chamber of Commerce, Davis Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Alliance, Greater Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Heber Valley Chamber, Holladay Chamber of Commerce, Hurricane Valley Chamber of Commerce, Moab Chamber of Commerce, Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce, Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce, South Jordan Chamber of Commerce, Tooele County Chamber of Commerce, Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce, West Jordan Chamber of Commerce, and Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Additionally, the Challenge recognizes media partners: X96 KXRK, ABC4 Utah and Fox 13.

ABOUT THE CLEAR THE AIR CHALLENGE

The Clear the Air Challenge, issued by business, government and community leaders, is a month-long competition starting February 1st, that gives you the chance to reduce your vehicle emissions by choosing alternatives to driving alone. The Clear the Air Challenge is a partnership between TravelWise, UCAIR, Penna Powers and the Salt Lake Chamber.

ABOUT THE SALT LAKE CHAMBER

The Salt Lake Chamber is Utah’s largest and longest-standing business association. A statewide chamber of commerce with members in all 29 Utah counties, the Chamber represents the broad interests of the state’s 63,000- plus employers, which employ more than 1.4 million Utahns. This includes thousands of Chamber members and their employees. With roots that date back to 1887, the Chamber stands as the voice of business, supports its members’ success and champions community prosperity.