Resource Stewardship Awards

Current Initiatives

Award Recognition

Utah State Agencies have been recognized for the efforts to improve air quality by multiple entites over the years.  We hope that with each project highlighted by an award it shows the State is leading out by example.

2024 Utah Green Business Award

The Utah Division of Water Resources and the Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management were awarded the 2024 Utah Green Business Award in the category of "water".

The mission of the Utah Division of Water Resources, one of the divisions housed within the Utah Department of Natural Resources, is to plan, conserve, develop, and protect Utah’s water resources. The Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management, a division of the Utah Department of Government Operations, is responsible for all aspects of construction and ongoing maintenance of state buildings.

Over the last three years, these two entities have been collaborating to achieve the requirements outlined in HB 121, which imposes water conservation requirements for state facilities. To support HB 121, a new tool will be used as an opportunity to show the state’s improvements at individual facilities and campuses to track and reduce outdoor watering.

Our water conservation success is thanks to amazing partners like the University of Utah and Weber State University

Check out this helpful new tool for yourself by clicking the button below.

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2024 UCAIR Partner of the Year

The Utah Office of Energy Development (OED) was awarded the Community Partner of the Year Award at the 2024 Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR) Summit.

OED was selected for the award for its efforts to improve air quality using a multipronged approach through a comprehensive suite of programs, such as the Uinta
Basin Aerial Leak and Repair Detection Program multiple tax incentives and
rebates.

“This award is a testament to the positive impact our office has for communities across the state,” says OED Deputy Director Harry Hansen. “Our work is enhanced through collaborations with community organizations like UCAIR. Take our Uinta Basin Aerial Leak and Repair Detection program, for example; that program was made possible through a UCAIR grant, coupled with state and federal funds.  It supports local industry while also ensuring Utah’s natural resources are used to maximum benefit. We are honored to be chosen as Community Partner of the Year and to see our efforts recognized by a key partner.

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2023 Utah Green Business Award

The Utah Division of Purchasing and General Services was recognized by the Utah Business Green Business Awards for 2023 for its work in the sustainable procurement sector.

State Purchasing manages approximately $2 billion in public spending for goods and services in addition to providing centralized services to support government operations.

For the last two years, State Purchasing has been developing a sustainable procurement program (SPP).  In developing an SPP, Purchasing has undertaken research to help establish benchmarks, set common best practices, and provide specifics about key factors for successful SPP implementation.

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2023 Clear the Air Challenge

Each year, the State of Utah agencies participate in the Clear the Air Challenge.  The Challenge is run by the Utah Department of Transportation’s TravelWise program, the Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR), and the Salt Lake Chamber.

The State of Utah participated in the 2023 Clear the Air Challenge and was pleased to receive 2nd place in the “Large Team” category.

A total of 30 State agencies participated, with 334 employees taking on the Challenge. This participation is similar to that seen in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic during which many employees teleworked. Teleworking continues to be the most popular mode of alternative transportation during the Challenge, making up 50% of the trips tracked.

There were a total of 9,500 alternative trips taken, totaling 216,807 miles. This equates to 81.3 tons of CO2 being eliminated. That’s the same amount of emissions being saved by avoiding 91 road trips between Boston, Massachusetts, and Salt Lake City.

Finally, one of our State Fleet employees, Guinevere, also received first place for individual participants.

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Trophy for second place in the Utah Clear the Air challenge displayed in a window

2023 NASPO George Cronin Award

The Division of Purchasing and General Services was honored to be a Finalist for
the 2023 National Association of Government Procurement Officials (NASPO) George Cronin Award for Procurement Excellence for “State of Utah Sustainable Procurement Advancements”.

Named after NASPO’s first president, the George Cronin Awards for Procurement Excellence is NASPO’s annual award for outstanding achievement in state procurement.

Over the past two years, the Utah Division of Purchasing and General Services has been developing a sustainable procurement program from the ground up. The absence of an executive mandate or legislative instruction created a challenge; encouraging participation in a voluntary program. One response was to link it with other procurement initiatives, specifically a “buy local” campaign. The Sustainable Utah initiative demonstrates how sourcing locally is more sustainable.

Another approach was to make participation easy. Recognition of third-party certification for sustainable products and services saves time and resources for purchasers. Partnership with Amazon provided benchmarks and progress tracking for the sustainability of small purchases.

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2023 UCAIR Community Partner of the Year

The Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR) Board nominated the Workforce Expansion for Electric Vehicles (WeEV) collaboration team as its 2023 Community Partner of the Year.

WeEV is an electric vehicle (EV) auto technician program that utilizes the “Train the Trainer” model, curriculum, and proof of concept for working with disadvantaged communities and industries.

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2023 Intermountain Sustainability Summit Collaboration Award

For the first time, the Intermountain Sustainability Summit (ISS) community from Weber State University presented ISS Sustainability Collaboration Awards for sustainability professionals implementing partnerships to amplify their influence and impact.

The award was meant to highlight those in our community who have joined efforts to bring greater sustainability practices and equitable solutions to the region in relation to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The collaboration team was awarded the 2023 ISS Collaboration Award for work on their Workforce Expansion for Electric Vehicles (WeEV) Project. The team included:
    » Utah Department of Government Operations, via the Utah Division of Fleet Operations and the Coordinator of Resource Stewardship
    » Weber State University
    » Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity
    » UCAIR
    » Utah Office of Energy Development
    » Utah Clean Cities

The WeEV program was originally developed when applying for the Inflation Reduction Act Area of Interest 11 (AOI 11). While the project was not selected for funding by AOI 11, the collaborating groups continue to work together to find funding and making the project a reality.

Learn More About ISS
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2022 Utah Green Business Award

Each year Utah Business, in partnership with Rocky Mountain Power, honors Utah entities and individuals making strides toward our state’s environmental sustainability.

In October 2022, the Utah Division of Facilities and Construction Management (DFCM) was selected as one of the awardees for the 2022 Green Business Award in the “Community/Government Initiative” category.

DFCM strives to create professional spaces that implement cost-effective methods for energy-efficient design, construction, and operations. DFCM achieves this through multiple programs, including the High Performance Building Standard (HPBS), the State Facility Energy Efficiency Fund (SFEEF), and the implementation of the Statewide Space Master Plan.

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