Salt Lake City updates Sustainable Infrastructure Policy as new projects kick off

Oct. 7, 2024

Salt Lake City is celebrating Utah's first-ever SITES- and Envision-certified projects following its recently updated Comprehensive Sustainability Policy. Glendale Regional Park, where work began last month, is on track to become the first SITES-certified project in the state and one of the largest park investments the City has ever undertaken. Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities' new water reclamation facility, which began construction in 2020, is the first Envision project registered in the state.

Enacted last December in alignment with Mayor Erin Mendenhall's sustainability goals, the updated Sustainable Infrastructure policy added Envision and SITES to its approved certification pathways. The Envision framework is designed to help implement more sustainable, resilient, and equitable projects, while SITES supports nature-based landscapes that enhance biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and conserve resources. These two additional systems allow for a more diverse range of City projects to utilize sustainability frameworks.

"It's important for the City to drive sustainability through our capital investments," said Mayor Erin Mendenhall. "By going beyond LEED to include SITES and Envision, we are further tackling complex challenges like urban heat island, air pollution, water stewardship, and resource management through our built environment. This is a core part of delivering on our goal to improve environmental resilience and environmental justice across Salt Lake City."

Salt Lake City has several other major projects currently seeking or planning third-party certification. These include:

• City Creek Water Treatment Plant: SLCDPU upgrades to theproject are underway and will also be certified through Envision.
• The Department of Airports: Two new taxiways are being designed to be Envision-certified. Phase 2 of the Airport Redevelopment Program will be LEED Gold-certified, as was Phase 1.
• The Redevelopment Agency: Design of a major public improvement project in the Rio Grande District is kicking off and will include Sustainable Infrastructure certification.
• Pioneer Park: Design is underway to implement the recently completed Park Vision Plan. The project will be SITES-certified and will begin construction by Fall 2025.

The SLCDPU and Salt Lake City Airport projects are among the first projects registered for Envision in the state and will compete for which one becomes the first Envision-certified project in Utah.

The policy recognizes that projects several years away will begin to incorporate these guidelines now as they undergo design and budget finalization, and will include requirements for third-party certification in their scopes of work and Requests for Proposal.

"It's important for the City to execute projects to the highest standard, including thinking holistically about environmental and community impacts. While we have done that on our own for years, going through a third-party certification process now adds a new level of organization, transparency, and coordination," said Debbie Lyons, Sustainability Department Director.

"This policy sends a signal to the private sector with whom we contract that expertise in these certifications is important for doing business with Salt Lake City," said Sustainable Infrastructure Committee co-chair and Senior Landscape Architect Nancy Monteith. "We can also set an example for private developers who are looking to go above and beyond in their own work."

"We are already seeing the impact of this policy with consultants for our major projects seeking training and learning from one another to meet the requirements for Envision certification. This will have an impact in other areas of the community as we have more awareness of sustainability goals in the design and construction fields," said Committee co-chair and SLCDPU Policy & Public Affairs Director, Holly Lopez.

The policy update was researched, designed, and vetted over two years by the City's Sustainable Infrastructure Committee, a cross-departmental working group leading infrastructure projects citywide.

About Envision- Envision is a framework developed by Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) that encourages systemic changes in the planning, design, and delivery of sustainable, resilient, and equitable civil infrastructure through education, training, and third-party project verification. Envision was specifically designed for use across a range of civil infrastructure sectors and project types.

About SITES - SITES provides a comprehensive framework for designing, developing and managing sustainable and resilient landscapes and other outdoor spaces. SITES is the ideal tool to support nature positive design. This track record has earned SITES certification an important place in the rapidly evolving ESG reporting world as a standard of leading commitment. SITES-certified projects help reduce water demand, filter and reduce stormwater runoff, enhance biodiversity, provide pollinator and wildlife habitat, reduce energy consumption, improve air quality, improve human health, increase outdoor recreation opportunities and much more.

About LEED - LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world's most widely used green building rating system. LEED certification provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings, which offer environmental, social and governance benefits. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement, and it is backed by an entire industry of committed organizations and individuals paving the way for market transformation.

About Salt Lake City's Comprehensive Sustainability Policy - It is the City's policy to carry out its activities in a manner consistent with sound environmental practices, energy efficiency and waste minimization, and to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations. First established in 2017, it is the compilation of several Salt Lake City Executive Orders and other administrative guidance, which has been further refined and enhanced to help Salt Lake City be a leader in sustainability through its internal operations and activities.

Tags: airport, capital investments, City Creek Water Treatment Plant, Comprehensive Sustainability Policy, Envision, LEED, pioneer park, Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City (RDA), Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City Council, Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, SITES, Sustainable Infrastructure

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