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Salt Lake City News
Top 10 City Lists – Salt Lake City #7
Every year, RelocateAmerica.com judges U.S. cities based on different criteria, and puts out their Top 10 Lists for those considering a move. While we didn’t make the Top 10 Overall, Salt Lake City did make it to the number seven spot for recreation (of course, those who live here aren’t surprised…but just what does Ithica, NY have over us?!):
Top 10 Recreation Cities:
1. Boulder, CO
2. Santa Cruz, CA
3. Flagstaff, AZ
4. St. George, UT
5. Ithaca, NY
6. Corvallis, OR
7. Salt Lake City, UT
8. Stevens Point, WI
9. Wilmington, NC
10. Portland, OR
See the other Top 10 Lists.
Recycling Efforts in Salt Lake City
Who says recycling isn’t working?
As joint owners of the landfill Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County each received a one time dividend of $7 million dollars from landfill funds that were intended to cover some of the expenses to close the landfill. Due to waste diversion efforts, the life of the landfill has increased, and we expect it to remain open for at least 50 more years. The City has chosen to use the funds to support further sustainability efforts.
The “waste diversion efforts” means, in large part, RECYCLING.
Now is the Time to Go Solar
Take advantage of the new renewable energy rebate for home & business owners while it lasts!
The Utah State Energy Program will be offering a new rebate for home and business owners that install solar energy. That means if you install solar energy on your home or business you could get a check in the mail for thousands of dollars back! This is a brand new program intended to stimulate economic growth and create jobs, but it won’t last forever and everyone will have questions about how it works. To help answer those questions and provide the info you need to take advantage of the new rebate while it is available, the Utah Solar Energy Association is hosting the Utah Renewable Energy Conference 2010 that will provide a physical location where you can come and learn about the new rebate and how much money it can save you. This event will be held on Saturday, March 27th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and it will be located at the Salt Lake Community College Miller Campus off I-15 at 9750 South in Sandy. Admission is $5 for an individual or $10 for a family, and your conference admission will get you $100 off a solar energy system from any of the solar installers participating in the conference! For more information and to register for the event visit www.utsolar.org.
Birds and the Bees (Raising them, that is!)
Salt Lake City has made changes to city ordinances to relax restrictions and allow residential chicken coops and beekeeping.
Residents who qualify are now permitted to raise chickens for the purpose of eggs and bees for the purpose of honey. Residential bees and chickens benefit our community in a variety of ways while providing a sustainable, healthy and fun source of food.
Over the past 50 years, domesticated bee populations have decreased by 50%. These animals are critical in our food production for the pollination services they provide. Pollination by bees alone is responsible for 15-30% of the food eaten in the United States. Concerns about “killer” bees led to a ban on beekeeping in Salt Lake City in the 1980s; however, domestic strains of honeybees have been selectively bred for their gentleness and can be safely kept in populated areas with proper maintenance.
Backyard chickens can improve the health of your yard and your family. The most obvious benefit of keeping chickens is the production of eggs. Eggs from well-maintained backyard chickens are not only cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but they are actually healthier and taste better too! Compared to factory-farmed eggs, backyard eggs contain significantly more Vitamins A and E, beta-carotene and omega-3 fatty acids.
Chickens provide more than healthy food. They act as a natural pest control by eating insects and their droppings are rich in nitrogen, making it an excellent addition to your compost bin.
Finally, raising chickens and bees at home can help reconnect the divide that has been created between the American diet and food production. Playing a larger role in the production of the food on your table will help foster a greater understanding of and appreciation for the food you eat.
Learn more about the chicken ordinance.
Learn more about the bee-keeping ordinance.
Source: Salt Lake City Council District Seven
