CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
FISCAL YEAR2024 PROGRESS UPDATE
University of Utah Climate Action Plan
Introduction
This Fiscal Year 2024 (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024) Climate Action Plan (CAP) Annual Update report communicates progress made in the past year, reflects on opportunities for growth, and outlines priorities for the following year for each Core Area . Where appropriate, this report documents modifications to the strategies and key actions, so that ongoing work is based on the most recent information and resources available .
“As climate change continues to cause and intensify both local and global challenges, the University of Utah is choosing to act boldly and leverage its collective impact as an institution to pave the way for a better future.”
Taylor Randall, Climate Action Plan (2022)
The CAP communicates the U’s commitment to and vision of a more sustainable future . The U’s first CAP was released in 2010 and was updated in 2023 based on the feedback from approximately 4,300 participants . In the CAP update, the U expanded the scope of its commitment and identified four Core Areas of Action, each with a unique set of goals, targets, strategies, and actions to meet the urgency and scale required to address climate change at the U and beyond:
RESEARCH EDUCATION MITIGATION RESILIENCE
GOAL
Generate climate related research that supports those most impacted and drives solutions in Utah and beyond
GOAL
Graduate students with knowledge and skills to address climate-related challenges and opportunities
GOAL
Take urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
GOAL
Increase university and community resilience to the current and future impacts of climate change
The U has further renewed its commitment to driving unsurpassed societal impact with Strategy 2030 . Higher education is a compass pointing toward a brighter future as we embark on addressing challenges of our changing climate As Utah’s flagship higher education institution, the U embraces its responsibility to lead by example and take ambitious action to minimize its contribution to the changing climate while preparing for its impacts .
President
FY24 SUMMARY | AT A GLANCE
Research
• 29% increase in faculty with climate-related publications or grants .
• 35 undergraduate research projects mentored through the Wilkes Scholars Program
• Launched Critical Minerals Working Group, PEAK Water Sustainability Engine, and continued support for Wildfire and Energy Futures research initiatives
Education
• 70% of departments offered sustainability (SUST) courses, up from 65% in 2022 .
• 4,500 participants engaged in 77 events via the Sustainability Office, in partnership with 16 departments and student groups .
• $89,467 awarded through the Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund (SCIF)
Mitigation
• Despite 19% growth in campus size, carbon footprint reduced by 22 .4% since 2007.
• Launched Campus Emissions Reduction Plan targeting high-temperature hot water systems .
• Castle Solar PPA now supplies ~20% of the University’s purchased electricity .
Resilience
• Established Region VIII Center for Public Health Preparedness and Response .
• Developed UU Health Climate Resilience Plan with community and government partners
• Replaced 139,000 sq ft of turf with water-wise landscaping
University Institutional Boundary
In FY24, the U’s institutional boundary was updated to include all facilities fully under the U’s operational control that are within the state of Utah . This refinement improves data accuracy and is consistent with the OneU mentality to solve big problems through cross-campus collaborations . Greenhouse gas accounting is highly dependent on electricity and natural gas usage, so this more inclusive footprint allows for a holistic review of our campus operations to identify and implement improvements . The below map represents the OneU Campus Institutional Boundary:
This update increased the U’s footprint by 3 million gross square feet to include other buildings in Research Park, Salt Lake City, and off-site community clinics Footprint updates were made for all data reported in SIMAP, including historical data back to the 2007 baseline .
Under the operational control approach, a company accounts for 100% of emissions from operations over which it or one of its subsidiaries has operational control . (GHG Protocol 2025)
Note: Additional properties such as satellite campuses, field stations, data centers, and student housing in Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and South Korea are not included in the institutional boundary for reporting because these facilities are not wholly controlled by the U.
Research
Goal 1.0 Generate climate-related research that supports the needs of those most impacted and drives solutions in Utah and beyond .
2022 Status 2024 Status UpdateBy 2030 By 2040
41 faculty self-identified in FAR as having climate-related publications and/or grants
FY24 Updates
53
faculty (+29%) self-identified in FAR +50%
faculty producing research related to changing climate and its impacts +100%
faculty producing research related to changing climate and its impacts
• Interdisciplinary research and working groups were launched, including Critical Minerals Working Group and the PEAK Water Sustainability Engine . Others received ongoing support, including the Wildfire Research Working Group and Energy Futures Research Engine .
• NSF Futures Engine in the Southwest (formerly known as the NSF Sustainability Innovation Engine) was launched with partnerships spanning Utah, Arizona, and Nevada . The six core academic partners will be part of a multi-institutional enterprise to confront the climate challenges facing the desert Southwest and spur economic development in the region A total of $647,733 in climate-related faculty seed grants distributed from the Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy and the VPR Office (cumulative since FY23) .
• 53 faculty self-identified as having climate-related publications and/or grants, a 29 percent increase from FY22 .
• 35 undergraduate students research projects were mentored by faculty across the U through the Wilkes Scholars Program (WSP)
• 88 undergraduate students conducting climate-focused research through Science Research Initiative (SRI) program .
“Access
to clean water is one of the key challenges of our time. Researchers at the university are focused on water research in multiple domains such as water science, policy, and engineering. Our health sciences faculty examine the impact of water access for underserved populations and the negative health impacts of contaminated water on disease.”
Dr. Jakob Jensen, associate vice president for research at the U
FY25 Priorities
• Leverage new faculty profile tools to refine the tracking of climate-focused research
• Explore ways to better track climate-focused work by researchers and clinicians in Health Sciences who are not included in the faculty profile system .
• Foster and maintain relationships with communities most affected by changing climate
Opportunities for Growth
• Differences in digital profiles and metrics used in Health Sciences compared to the rest of campus complicate the tracking of climate research and collaboration efforts .
• Significant changes to the federal funding landscape may impact the availability and level of competition for external climate-related funding
We deliver transformative research and practical solutions that impact lives and improve our state and world.
Education
Goal 2.0 Graduate students with knowledge and skills to address climate-related challenges and opportunities .
2022 Status 2024 Status UpdateBy 2030 By 2040
Curriculum, 33 . 35/40 STARS points earned
Campus Engagement, 14 .76/21 STARS points earned
Curriculum, 33 . 53/40
Campus Engagement, 14 76/21 STARS points earned
Modifications to Key Action(s):
+5 STARS points in curriculum and engagement categories combined
+10 STARS points in curriculum and engagement categories combined
Strategy 2 .1, Key Action 2 requires modification as the faculty activity report (FAR) system was phased out in 2024, and there is no standard methodology for course assessment in U curriculum .
The Green Infrastructure Pollinator Garden “This is a paradigmatic example of how SCIF can help make campus better in cooperation with facilities. The original plan was to stop the flooding, but now the space has become a unique feature to campus.”
Mason Kreidler
FY24 Updates
• 9 faculty attended the Sustainability Teaching Workshop, resulting in four new courses achieving the SUST attribute
• 70% of departments offered a course with a SUST attribute . SUST courses prepare students with knowledge and skills to deliver societal impact and address urgent climate-related challenges and opportunities .
• Promoted a sense of belonging and community engagement by reaching approximately 4,500 participants at 77 unique events in partnership with 16 academic departments and dozens of student groups .
• A total of $89,467 awarded via the Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund (SCIF), supporting 15 student-led projects across 11 different university departments . SCIF is a unique opportunity to improve the campus by making a reality out of the best sustainability ideas, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship .
• The Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund (SCIF) grant program was modified to require a learning assessment to align with requirements for sustainability benchmarking
• The Edible Campus Gardens (ECG) program reached 1,744 students through 91 class sessions involving 11 academic departments
“The hands-on experiences in the [Edible Campus Gardens] were integral to our course objectives and learning outcomes. Many of my students said the hands-on experiences in the gardens really helped them understand our lectures more and made them feel like they were learning deeper.”
ECG Survey Respondent
FY25 Priorities
• Increase coordination with deans, chairs, and directors to explain the importance of integrating sustainability topics into degrees at the U
• Utilize the Martha Bradley Center for Teaching Excellence for advertising the faculty incentive programs
• Garner support for allocating additional funding to sustainability education
• Improve SUST course tracking by working with the Registrar’s Office
• Add clinical-based degrees (Health Sciences) to tracking
• Work with U Career Success to integrate tracking mechanisms for sustainability career opportunities .
• Coordinate with Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU) and University Analytics and Institutional Reporting (UAIR) to create a centralized sustainability engagement tracking system
• Identify opportunities to formalize relationships with student governance, living-learning communities, and student support departments to strengthen reporting mechanisms .
• Identify opportunities to integrate sustainability assessment question(s) into annual student survey(s) to measure student involvement and interaction with informal opportunities .
Opportunities for Growth
• The Sustainability Office does not currently have the appropriate support structure to facilitate widespread integration of sustainability into curricula .
• Budget for faculty incentive programs is limited .
• No U policy or directive to recognize or reward faculty for sustainability teaching and research .
• Informal opportunities (events, speakers, etc ) sponsored by student groups, community groups, and U departments are untracked, resulting in an undercount of students at the U learning about climate change and climate action .
Mitigation
Goal
Take
Buildings & Infrastructure
23% of energy use intensity is carbon-free
0% of buildings are net zero carbon ready
23% of energy use intensity is carbon-free for FY24
100% of capital development projects in FY24 are net zero carbon ready
40% of energy use intensity is carbon-free
80% of new construction and major retrofits are net zero carbon ready
80% of energy use intensity is carbon-free
100% of buildings are net zero carbon ready
Transportation 2% reduction in net GHG emissions from transportation, including fleet, commute, and air travel compared to 2007 baseline
8 . 5% increase in net GHG emissions from transportation, including fleet, commute, and air travel compared to 2007 baseline
<1% of fleet is electric No change
50% reduction in net GHG emissions from transportation, including fleet, commute, and air travel
Net-zero GHG emissions from transportation, including fleet, commute, and air travel
100% of new light-duty fleet vehicle purchases are electric
100% of non-emergency fleet vehicles are zero emissions
Procurement & Waste 5,935 tons to landfill for main campus (Not including U of U Health, portions of Research Park, third-party contracts, and construction and demolition debris)
4,494 tons to landfill for main campus (Not including U of U Health, and third-party contracts, and construction and demolition debris)
50% decrease in waste sent to landfill
Maintain 50% decrease in waste sent to landfill regardless of growth
“As a leading public research and flagship university, we have the responsibility to our campus community, the state we serve, and society at large to commit to actions that will lead to a more sustainable future.”
University of Utah President Taylor Randall, referring to President’s Climate Leadership Commitments
FY24 Updates
Buildings & Infrastructure
• Completed monitoring-based commissioning across main campus HVAC equipment resulting in $150,000 in avoided utility expenses annually .
• Constructed three new net zero carbon ready student housing buildings: Sunnyside Apartments (West), Kahlert Village (4th Wing) and Impact & Prosperity Epicenter Totaling about 830,000 GSF
• Initiated Campus Emissions Reduction Plan (CERP) to evaluate emissions reductions opportunities for buildings served by campus high temperature hot water system This would support campus’ evolution for College Town Magic and improve local air quality .
• Received renewable energy from Castle Solar Power Purchase Agreement, online in April 2024 This provides ~20% of the U’s purchased electricity at a fixed low rate for the duration of the 25-year contract and will reduce the OneU carbon footprint by 3 .6% starting in FY25 .
Note: Net-zero carbon ready buildings can become net-zero in the future with dedicated renewable electricity purchases, via Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
Transportation
• Commuter Services initiated the 100 Electric Vehicle partnership with Rocky Mountain Power that will upgrade or add charging stations in four garages in FY25 .
• The U in Motion program provided 102 eligible undergraduate and graduate students with a refurbished bicycle, related accessories, and bicycle safety and maintenance education .
Procurement & Waste
• Maintained landfill diversion rate of about 18 5%, despite increase in population and square footage across campus
• Both U of U Health and Chartwells dining services continued diversion of food scraps from landfill and repurposing to create biogas (or renewable natural gas) for use in Utah .
Research Impacts
• No update .
Castle Solar is an example of investments and local partner collaborations to strengthen and enrich the region. Castle Solar allows the U to make measurable impact on its carbon footprint, stabilizes our operational costs, creates local jobs, and supports Utah’s ability to meet rising electricity needs.
In support of Climate Action Plan (2023) and Impact 2030
Note: Landfill diversion is the process of preventing waste from being sent to landfills by redirecting it to recycling or reuse methods.
FY25 Priorities
Buildings & Infrastructure
• Increase automated meters on campus to improve data availability and building performance tracking . Automated meters are integrated with meter reading software (SkySpark), so trends can be used for analysis and benchmarking .
• Execute the 3 Retrocommissioning projects planned for FY25, and incorporate lessons learned into the next phase of the Retrocommissioning program .
• Complete optimization project in Acute Care Complex and Critical Care Pavilion
• Continue to identify new Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) as part of operational excellence .
• Continue working on CERP to develop recommendations for moving from the High Temperature Hot Water system
Transportation
• Continue collaboration to implement goals of the Transportation and Parking Infrastructure 10-year Strategic Plan and produce additional studies as needed
• Explore opportunities to automate parking availability information .
• Installation of bicycle, pedestrian, and scooter Eco-Counters to provide active transportation data and inform transportation access and prioritize facility development
• Create centralized secure bicycle parking program to ease access, track demand, and develop a plan to accommodate future growth .
• Continue replacement of gas-powered fleet vehicles with hybrid vehicles, and electric vehicles as appropriate
• Continue coordination with UTA to implement service improvements/changes .
• Continue offering free UTA passes to all students, faculty, and staff .
Procurement & Waste
• Work with Purchasing department to evaluate current procurement policies and identify opportunity to minimize waste associated with purchasing
• Kick off Sustainable Materials Management Center Feasibility Study to better understand waste streams and identify opportunities to improve operations
Research Impacts
• Work with campus leadership to establish structures and policies to address emissions associated with research .
Retrocommissioning reviews the performance of existing buildings and equipment to ensure they are operating optimally. As an efficiency improvement, Retrocommissioning balances energy use, operational costs, and occupant comfort to support both Operational Excellence and the Climate Action Plan.
Opportunities for Growth
Building & Infrastructure
• Implementing net zero carbon goals into new construction and major retrofits project requirements needs to be coordinated and widely approved across Real Estate, Planning, and Construction Management to ensure campus-wide adoption with funding sources allocated .
Transportation
• Identifying designated funding source for active transportation infrastructure such as expanded connected pathways, secure/covered bicycle parking, or improved Campus Shuttle stop amenities will support meaningful progress on many of the strategies identified in the 10-year Strategic Plan .
• Identifying designated funding source available to support proactive coordination with Utah Transit Authority (UTA) to expand transit route frequency and hours of service to the U to potentially expedite service and infrastructure improvements
• Exploring opportunities to address limited availability of electric vehicle equivalents to replace fleet vehicles (most relevant to heavy-duty fleet vehicles) will support transition
Procurement & Waste
• No U policy or directive to implement sustainable procurement standards
• Lack of governing body over Waste Management has resulted in contracts being managed through multiple departments using different contractors, making it difficult to streamline operations, collect data, and track landfill diversion rates .
Research Impacts
• No U policy or directive to implement sustainable procurement standards related to energy efficient lab equipment .
Resilience
Goal 4.0 Increase university and community resilience to the current and future impacts of changing climate .
2022 Status 2024 Status Update By 2030 By 2040
U of U Resilience Assessment
Resilience Assessment metrics being refined, no percent update available
+50% U of U
Resilience Assessment metrics improved
+75% U of U
Resilience Assessment metrics improved
Region VIII Center for Public Health Preparedness and Response
“represents
a significant step forward in our ability to support public health preparedness and response efforts across the region.”
Kimberley Shoaf, DrPH, MPH UofU Division of Public Health
FY24 Updates
• Announced Region VIII Center for Public Health Preparedness and Response, which will be available starting October 2024
• Opened a new permanent exhibit, A Climate of Hope, at the Utah Natural History Museum to educate Utahns on solutions being developed across the state and promote action
• Participated in the development of the Salt Lake County updated Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (2025)
• Reached beyond campus boundaries, University Neighborhood Partners (UNP) and Salt Lake City launched the Environmental Justice Resident Committee, providing feedback on the Priority Climate Action Plan for Salt Lake City, and the U shared best practices with the Fourth Street Clinic and Utah Community Health Worker Alliance and joined the new Utah Health and Environment Action Resilience Team (UHEART)
• U of U Health executed widespread community engagement efforts, including a Table Top exercise that shaped the U’s Utah Health Climate Resilience Plan
• Converted about 139,000 square feet of turf grass to resilient low-water use landscaping
• Donated 817 pounds of produce grown at Edible Campus Gardens that were distributed for free to the campus community through the FeedU pantry
“As we foster a culture of care that strengthens well-being and resilience throughout Utah, we envision a thriving community where every individual feels supported and all can flourish.”
Impact 2030
FY25 Priorities
• Conduct evaluation of existing emergency access points/evacuation centers to be utilized to support the U community during a disaster
• Refine Safety Administration (SAM) Hazards to incorporate climate change-related hazards .
• Work with county, state, and federal (Forest Service) entities to understand land-use plans and policies governing open space in the foothills surrounding campus and Research Park .
• Coordinate across U departments to understand the role non-health faculty/staff can play in recognizing health impacts of changing climate .
• Continue installation of new water meters and smart irrigation controllers to enhance water tracking capabilities and support water conservation efforts .
• Complete planned removal of about 297,200 square feet of turf and installation of 300 linear feet of bioswale to support water conservation efforts
• Continue University Landscape and Ecosystem Committee’s (ULEC) work to expand campus landscaping maps in GIS with web viewers that allow easy review of detention basins, swales, shrub beds, pollinator gardens, and turf fields
• Enhance landscape resilience and conserve regional biodiversity by adding native plants to the Utah Science Technology and Research (USTAR) detention basin .
• Implement RMP’s Demand Response program to promote resiliency on the grid and reduce demand charges on campus .
• Evaluate and quantify climate risk and vulnerability threats and update main campus emergency plans with climate resilience actions . Develop framework to eliminate potential duplication of efforts across plans
• Identify opportunities for climate resilience in new Physical Development Framework .
“It identified connection gaps. Especially, connections with local communities, groups, relationships are foundational to effective preparation for acute climate impacts and for effective response.”
Climate Resilience Table Top Participant
Opportunities for Growth
• Integrate resilience into campus-wide plans, especially the Physical Development Framework and Utility Master Plan .
• Explore frameworks to support cross-campus adaptation and resilience measures, which currently do not report to a single operational leader with dedicated budget .
Contributors
The implementation of the CAP would not be possible without the significant contributions of many staff, faculty, students, and community members . The following contributors provided updates to the FY24 Progress report for each Core Area but do not by any means capture everyone who works to make the U a unique place that strives for excellence
Alexis Lee, UHealth Director of Sustainability and Resilience
Ali McKelvy, Construction Project Manager, U Facilities
Andrew Schottel, Senior Energy Engineer, Sustainability & Energy
Chase Hagood, Education Institutional Planning, Associate Provost, Institutional Planning
Clifton Grindstaff, Associate Director, Surplus & Salvage
Dana Holmes, Program Manager Energy & Sustainability, U Facilities
Dustin Banks , Associate Executive Director, Facilities Management for Hospitals & Clinics
Emerson Andrews, SCIF Program Manager, Office for Sustainability Education (OSE)
Fred Monette, Executive Director, Environmental Health and Safety
Gabrielle James, Gardens Program Coordinator, OSE
Ginger Cannon, Interim Director, OSE
Ischa Jensen, Associate Executive Director System Planning, Hospitals and Clinics
Jack Kay, Project Manager, Energy & Sustainability
Jennifer Watt , Faculty Director for Sustainability Education, OSE
Jeremy Ferguson, Associate Director, Real Estate Management
Jim Agutter, Multi-Disciplinary Design, College of Architecture & Planning
John Close, Construction Project Manager, U Facilities
John Walker, Supervisor, Grounds and Landscape, U Facilities
Joshua James, Program Manager, Waste & Recycling
Julie Sieving , Co-Director, Intermountain Industrial Assessment Center
Kara Freedman, Sustainability Engagement & Events Coordinator, OSE
Katie Hoffman, Education, Career Services, Vice President University Career Services
Kevin Whitty, Professor, Chemical Engineering, Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering
Kimberely Shoaf, Professor, Division of Public Health
Kyla Welch, Climate Center Program Manager
Lori McDonald, Vice President for Student Affairs
Laura Rupert , Program Manager, Science Research Initiative Lisa Thomspon, Associate Director of Editorial and Media, Natural History Museum of Utah
Lissa Larson, Associate Director, Sustainability & Energy
Marian Lynn Rice, Associate Director Peak Water Sustainability Engine
Masood Parvania , Associate Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering, WIRED
Matt Yurick , Director, Operations and Logistics, Space Planning and Management
Max Seawright, Assoc Director Research Development
Michael Brehm, Associate Director, Environmental Health and Safety
Mike Smith, Director, Purchasing and Supply Chain
Morgan Lyon Cotti, Hinckley Institute of Politics
Paul Brooks, Professor, Geology and Geophysics
Phil Chaffee, Associate Executive Director, Emergency Management, Hospitals and Clinics
Robert Armstrong, Energy and Sustainability Coordinator, U Health
Robin Wheelwright , Career Coach, U Career Success
RyLee Curtis, Director Community Engagement, Hospitals & Clinics
Sara Grineski, Professor, School of Environment, Society and Sustainability, Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy
Sarah Hinners, Director of Conservation and Research, Red Butte Garden
Sarah Zucca , Communications & Relations Manager, OSE
Sean Nielson, Manager Engineering and Architecture, Sustainability & Energy
Shana Godfred Cato, Associate Professor Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Sijana Omerovic , Senior Manager Emergency Management, Hospitals and Clinics
Smitha Warrier, Medical Director Environmental & Social Sustainability, Hospitals & Clinics
Solomon Brumbaugh, Travel Demand Management Manager, Commuter Services
Steffanie Brown, Senior Energy, U Facilities
Steve Panish, Assistant VP Health Sciences Capital Projects, OSVPHS
Stuart Moffatt , Director of Emergency Management, Public Safety
Sue Pope, Open Space Manager, U Facilities Sustainability Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
