Green Biz PC

Park City, Utah

Event Recap

Lunch and Learn Recap — Know Your Flow (8/13/25)

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In the heat of the summer, our August Lunch and Learn focused on one of our community’s most pressing topics- water! The Park City Water Department hosted us at the Three Kings Water Treatment Facility where we discussed the importance of water management, leak detection, landscape incentives, and more! 

Key topics covered by our presenters, Jason Christensen, Susan Cordone and Christine Williams from the Park City Water Department included: 

  • Park City’s water rates are structured to incentivize water conservation — the more a customer uses, the more expensive the charge 
  • Commercial customers of Park City have the ability to choose their base rate — businesses should ensure their current base rate is optimal for their operations
  • Water use in a mountainous community requires lots of pumping which is energy intensive, meaning when you conserve water, you contribute to conserving energy too 
  • Stormwater flows directly into creeks in our community which is why we should always prevent pollutants entering stormwater drains and educate our staff on stormwater best practices

Important takeaways

  • Identify who receives the water bill for your business and start a conversation about tracking cost and consumption — you would be surprised at how quickly you can start noticing overusage with basic tracking
  • If your water provider has an online platform to track usage — Park City, Mountain Regional, and Summit Water all do — determine which two people at your business should have access to this portal to enhance day-to-day water management 
  • Take advantage of landscape incentive programs offered by the state or your water provider to replace turf with water efficient landscaping 
  • Minimize stormwater pollution by reducing salt use in the winter, removing turf to reduce pesticide use, and bringing fluorinated ski wax to Recycle Utah

Resources

Lunch and Learn Recap – Watt’s the Cost?

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Our May Lunch and Learn focused on energy management and energy efficiency strategies for businesses to reduce usage and save on utility bills. We heard from Evan Heil and Kate Whitbeck from kW Engineering, a partner of Rocky Mountain Power’s WattSmart program, and from Ben Liegert and Allan Hilton with Basin Recreation’s Facilities team. Read below for some key takeaways and lessons learned from kW Engineering, Basin Recreation, and the MARC.

Key takeaways:

kW has free energy management services to offer Park City and Summit County businesses and can advise on efficiency upgrades, including available utility incentives.

  • kW Engineering is here to help: At no-cost and with cash incentives available, kW can help businesses improve their building’s energy efficiency through multiple pathways including energy benchmarking, improvements to building system controls, and upgrades to building envelopes, HVAC systems, and lighting.  
  • Understanding your utility bill: The “Demand Charge” on your Rocky Mountain Power bill is where energy management and efficiency projects will produce the most savings for your business. This charge represents the highest amount of energy used in 15-minute intervals during a billing cycle. By focusing on reducing your building’s greatest energy loads, you can achieve monthly savings while also helping to extend the life of building equipment. 
  • How to get started with energy benchmarking and management: Start tracking your building’s energy use using your monthly utility bills. You can do this through Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager or by starting a simple spreadsheet that looks at monthly electricity and gas usage over the last few years. Need help? Reach out to Celia Peterson or Megan Nick to get started. 

Basin Recreation continues to see the benefits of energy efficiency improvements at the Fieldhouse. 

  • The facilities team at Basin Rec has been working on improvements to their buildings over the last 18 months. This included a no-cost building walkthrough with kW Engineering at the Fieldhouse, where multiple actions were identified to reduce energy use and improve the building control systems. 
  • Since updating their building control software system, Basin Rec has seen a consistent decline in monthly energy usage. They are also seeing energy use go down from repairing solar inverters and implementing other efficiency measures.
  • A key to Basin Rec’s success is internal support for facility improvements. By having a sustainability team made up of staff members from different departments who are passionate about driving change from within, Basin Rec continues to make sustainable improvements across their organization. 

The approach to energy efficiency at PC MARC continues to evolve through lessons learned at its facilities.

  • Keeping an eye on electricity AND natural gas usage is critical for effective energy management. During the wintertime, natural gas use is considerably higher than electricity in Park City. As a major source of emissions, and without a feasible renewable alternative (yet), natural gas must be included in energy benchmarking and efficiency measures.
  • The MARC has taken advantage of several incentives over the years, including lighting controls and fixture upgrades, installation of sensors in the basketball courts, and efficient pool pumps.
  • A focus on practicality and occupant needs is essential. While lighting sensor technology can be a nuisance in office spaces, simple solutions – like hanging a thermal blanket over a drafty door – can result in considerable savings. As a business, take the time to evaluate which efficiency upgrades will be most cost-effective for your operations. And remember, efficiency, especially related to heating spaces, is the cheapest form of energy you can use!

Stay tuned for our next Lunch and Learn in August on the topic of water! 

Lunch and Learn Recap – Protecting worker health and well-being

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On February 12th, the Green Business Program hosted a lunch and learn on the topic of protecting worker health and wellbeing. The discussion included strategies to engage hard-to-reach audiences and for workplaces to support employees navigating political and policy uncertainty at the federal level.

Our panel was moderated by Morgan Mingle, Director of Sustainable Tourism for the Park City Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

Bailey Quinn, Multicultural Communication and Outreach Specialist with the Summit County Health Department shared best practices for connecting our Spanish speaking community with health resources. She showcased the Spanish Facebook page Condado de Summit and a recently launched WhatsApp group. Leveraging NextDoor neighborhood groups has been another useful tool to reach Spanish speaking or rural audiences.

Another unique way to connect with community members is by riding the bus! Summit County and Recycle Utah pooled together resources for bilingual communication in January to connect with individuals on public transit in Spanish and English.

Maria Villar, Director of Charity & Social Services with St. Mary’s Catholic Church, shared the importance of employees feeling welcomed and valued in their workplace. She showcased a booklet of available community resources, many pro bono, for community members in need, which can be provided to employees. Last year she helped over 400 families with financial housing and basic needs assessments – many of whom are members of our local workforce. The current increase in scrutiny of Latinx workers’ immigration status is already having real impacts, with many people not showing up at work or school. Maria advised against publicizing events where large numbers of Latinx community members may congregate.

Sarah Myers, VP of Operations for the Park City Chamber, reiterated that things are changing quickly with the new federal administration, and that certain rights around discrimination based on gender, sexuality and race may go away. She encouraged everyone to understand their rights and explained the difference between judicial and administrative warrants. The Chamber has prepared many workforce resources on this topic and more.

The panelists all reiterated the importance of ensuring that employees are seen and valued, which is a form of workplace wellness and the foundation for employees feeling safe and motivated at work.

Lunch and Learn Recap – The Future of the Employee Commute

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For our last Lunch and Learn of 2024, the Green Business Program focused on The Future of the Employee Commute. For presenters, we had Janna Young, Summit County Deputy County Manager, Hannah Pack, Park City Municipal’s Transportation Planner, and Heleena Sideris, Park City Lodging’s General Manager.

As transportation is a challenge for our entire community, here are some key takeaways from our speakers that can help your business reduce commuter burdens and address local traffic issues. 

Cultivating a flexible and productive culture in an ever-evolving remote work environment. By ensuring everyone is in the office together at least once a week, allowing more flexibility to employees who are unable to work remotely, and maintaining a strong line of day-to-day communication, your business can improve employee retention while also reducing vehicles on the road. Many businesses have seen an increase in productivity with transition to remote working, however overworking can become an issue.

Alternative transportation needs employer support. The PC Transportation Department found that that #1 determinant for commuters to choose alternative transportation was having an employer that supports sustainable commuting. Take Park City Lodging, which provides a $3 a day carpool incentive, made bike racks more accessible, and added a shower for those who choose active transportation.

Local resources for commuters continue to expand. Ride On Park City provides employer networks, incentives, and carpool matching for all employees in Summit County:

  • Look out for their annual Commuter Incentive Program from December 1st to March 31st with cash prizes, up to $1500 for first prizes.
  • A vanpool program for Park City businesses will also be available for Wasatch back employees through Park City Municipal. Note that there is a Council meeting to discuss this topic and more during the Transit Pilot Projects and App updates on November 21st at 4:40 PM. Tune in, use your voice, and let your Council members know this topic is important to you!
  • Guaranteed Ride Home for Park City employees ensures that if employees take transit in, they don’t get stranded after operating hours. Workers can get reimbursement for an Uber or Lyft ride home.
  • Review Hannah’s slides to learn more!

Have any follow up questions or want to learn more? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Green Business Team!

Brunch n Learn Recap — Food Waste

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Tackling Food Waste in Our Community

On August 14, 2024, the Green Business Program hosted a Brunch & Learn event focused on the critical issue of food waste. Local businesses, sustainability experts, and service providers gathered to share insights and strategies for reducing food waste, revealing both the surprising extent of the problem and practical solutions to address it.

Eye-Opening Discoveries in Food Waste

The panelists kicked off the event by shedding light on the alarming scale of food waste. Brittani White (Operations & Engagement Project Manager, Momentum Recycling) shared that up to 80% of waste in some businesses is food waste. Dana Williamson (Founder & CEO, Waste Less Solutions) highlighted that many people are unaware of the environmental damage caused by food waste in landfills, emphasizing the need for greater awareness and action.

Two other panelists shared their hopeful stories, demonstrating just how manageable the problem can be. Carissa Deveport (Owner, Este Pizza) revealed that since partnering with Momentum in 2021, they’ve successfully diverted 26,000 pounds of food waste. Jon Green, (Office Manager, Savoury Kitchen) underscored the simplicity of the solution—providing labeled bins and setting expectations around all employee behaviors can make a significant difference.

Managing Pre-Consumer Food Waste in the Kitchen

Managing food waste before it even reaches the consumer was another critical topic. Panelists shared a variety of strategies employed in restaurant kitchens:

  • Occupancy Reports: Keeping a close eye on expected customer numbers allows for smarter purchasing decisions, particularly during quieter months.
  • Creative Recipes: Using scraps from one recipe as ingredients in another, such as in dressings or sauces, can significantly cut down on waste.
  • Animal Feed: Some businesses bring food scraps to chickens, turning waste into a resource.
  • Catering Industry Practices: Thoughtful menu planning and combining orders reduce waste in catering. Offering a “chef’s discretion” menu based on available ingredients also helps.
  • Donating Leftovers: Leftover food or last-minute canceled orders can be donated to organizations like Peace House, ensuring that prepared food doesn’t go to waste.
  • Customer Education: Educating customers about sustainable menu options can be an effective marketing strategy.

Addressing Post-Consumer Food Waste

Even with preventive measures, post-consumer food waste is inevitable. Momentum helps businesses by setting up diversion systems, collecting food waste, and delivering it to Wasatch Resource Recovery, where it’s converted into methane for energy and compost for farmers.

Dana from Waste Less Solutions emphasized that not all food waste is truly waste—edible surplus can be redirected to feed people. By partnering with organizations like Waste Less Solutions, businesses can ensure that surplus food is donated, while inedible waste is composted.

Making Food Waste Reduction the Norm

To make food waste reduction a standard practice, businesses need to embed it into their culture. Local governments can support this by implementing ordinances that encourage food waste diversion. Although there may be initial costs, the long-term savings and environmental benefits make these practices worthwhile. Partnerships with nonprofits and waste recovery services are crucial in ensuring that both edible and inedible food waste is effectively managed.

Didn’t Get to Ask Your Question?

Don’t hesitate to get in touch! As always, you can reach out to your Green Business coordinators!

Brittani White – Operations & Engagement Project Manager, Momentum Recycling

Dana Williamson – Founder & CEO, Waste Less Solutions

Carissa Deveport – Owner, Este Pizza

Jon Green – Office Manager, Savoury Kitchen

Lunch and Learn Recap — Water (5/15/24)

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Here are some of the highlights from our recent Lunch and Learn on the topic of water.

QWEL Program

The Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) Certification is an essential program for anyone involved in irrigation:

  • Who Should Get Certified: Residential and commercial irrigation professionals.
  • Benefits: Reduce water usage by 20-30% (on average), gain recognition by being listed in the EPA and QWEL directory, access to free resources from the Center for Water Efficient Landscaping (CWEL), and networking opportunities.
  • Cost & Commitment: $100 for a comprehensive 20-hour training, with a free annual renewal. For more information, check the CWEL Website.

Local Initiatives

Park City and Summit County are spearheading several initiatives to enhance water management and conservation:

  • Wastewater Innovations: Alternative septic systems allow you to use graywater to water your plants subsurface!
  • Rebates and Programs for Water Conservation:
    • Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers: Available with rebates to help manage water use efficiently. For more information click here.
    • WaterSmart Program: Assists in identifying leaks and water usage anomalies. To get started click here.
    • Turf Removal Rebate: Receive $3.00 per square foot of live turf removed through an agreement with Weber Basin. For more information click here.

For more detailed notes and slides, please see the attachment.

We hope to see you at future Green Business events!

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