In partnership with Rocky Mountain Power, Utah Business is proud to celebrate the Utah companies and individuals making our state a greener place. From clean energy goals to innovative recycling initiatives, this year’s honorees exemplify the power of business to drive positive change for our planet.
Rocky Mountain Power Blue Sky Legacy Awards
Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
Merit Medical’s proprietary medical devices are used in interventional, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, particularly in cardiology, radiology, oncology, critical care and endoscopy. Merit Medical realizes that to continue positively impacting customers and patients around the world, the company must be sustainable and reduce its environmental footprint. Accordingly, it promotes robust internal goals for reductions in energy consumption, water use and greenhouse gas emissions intensities. Merit Medical set a goal in 2020 to reduce its energy intensity by 10 percent before 2030 and has already achieved and exceeded that goal, reducing energy intensity by 19 percent in 2023. Merit Medical boasts a workforce of 2,200 employees in Utah and 7,100 worldwide.
Reckitt
Operating in 68 countries across six continents through a team of 40,000 employees, Reckitt is a leading producer of hygiene, health and nutrition brands. The company has been in business since 1840 and creates products that protect, heal and nurture millions of customers. Reckitt’s sustainability efforts are focused on purpose-led brands, a healthier planet and a fairer society. The climate crisis is a health crisis, and Reckitt works to address these challenges in part by making its operations and value chain more sustainable. Reckitt has set a goal of achieving 100 percent clean energy usage by 2030 and has already achieved that goal in Salt Lake City in partnership with Rocky Mountain Power and Blue Sky participants.
Sundance Resort
Located on the Alpine Loop in Utah County, Sundance Resort was founded in 1969 through Robert Redford’s vision of a community dedicated to the arts and the beauty of nature. Early in its history, the organization helped nurture a community of creatives whose efforts led to the annual Sundance Film Festival. The resort’s mission is to be a leading North American experience-driven destination that ignites the senses, nurtures the soul, inspires stewardship and fosters creativity. Over 70 percent of Sundance Resort’s acreage has been set aside for conservation. At an onsite glassblowing studio, staff members recycle and upcycle all glass on the property (last night’s wine bottle becomes tomorrow’s vase, centerpiece or drinking glass). The organization invites visitors and guests to participate in property-wide recycling efforts and continues to stay at the forefront of sustainability through new techniques and technologies.
Community/Government Initiative
City of Orem
Orem is home to nearly 100,000 residents and is an award-winning city known for its family-friendly atmosphere and high quality of life. The city is undertaking a robust solar power program for public buildings in its new city center that, when coupled with an innovative battery storage system, will significantly reduce Orem’s dependency on coal-generated power and provide critical power redundancy during emergencies. Orem is also enhancing its infrastructure to support electric vehicles with multiple charging stations strategically placed throughout the city, with 100 percent of the revenue generated from these stations reinvested into green initiatives. The city has planted over 307 trees since January 2023 and is incorporating xeriscaping in new park designs. Additionally, Orem is investing in a water reuse facility to conserve drinking water, reduce nitrogen and phosphorus levels in treated water released into Utah Lake, and improve the lake’s environmental quality.
Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
Merit Medical’s proprietary medical devices are used in interventional, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, particularly in cardiology, radiology, oncology, critical care and endoscopy. Merit Medical realizes that to continue positively impacting customers and patients around the world, the company must be sustainable and reduce its environmental footprint. Accordingly, it promotes robust internal goals for reductions in energy consumption, water use and greenhouse gas emissions intensities. Merit Medical set a goal in 2020 to reduce its energy intensity by 10 percent before 2030 and has already achieved and exceeded that goal, reducing energy intensity by 19 percent in 2023. Merit Medical boasts a workforce of 2,200 employees in Utah and 7,100 worldwide.
Corporate Initiative
SnugZ USA
Founded in 1989 in a modest Utah attic, SnugZ USA has grown into a recognized industry leader in the promotional products sector. It specializes in producing lanyards, health and beauty items, drinkware, and corporate gifts. The recent acquisition of Sweda Inc. expanded its product range, including the Basecamp line, which supports the Wounded Warrior Project. In the past year, SnugZ set the groundwork for continuous improvement in environmental sustainability, social responsibility and corporate culture. Its recently released ESG (environmental, social, and governance) report highlights initiatives such as recycling over 2,100 pounds of e-waste and 18 tons of cardboard in 2023, installing an 8,000-gallon alcohol storage tank to save 750 metal drums from landfills annually, and donating over 25,000 items to local schools and charities. SnugZ has switched to recycled cardboard for all shipping boxes and plans to add nearly 30 new sustainable and eco-conscious products in 2024.
Energy Conservation
Intermountain Health
The energy management team at Intermountain Health has engaged in an internal monitoring-based commissioning effort — termed the Remote Operation Center (ROC) — since the start of 2023. The ROC has implemented an analytic software called SkySpark with the support of a third-party consultant, kW Engineering. This software collects facility operation data from various building automation system platforms and brings it into one centralized system to easily evaluate and compare equipment operations. The ROC integrated 10 Intermountain Health sites into its pilot Phase One Project. The ROC team consists of energy engineers and building automation specialists who collaborate with facility maintenance teams to troubleshoot operation faults and implement solutions. These projects range from repairing VAVs (variable air volume systems) to upgrading chiller system controls, involving the performance upgrades of a plate-and-frame heat exchanger. Since 2023, these efforts have resulted in the completion of over 300 projects, saving its facilities 1,884,474 kilowatt-hours (kWh) and 179,523 therms.
Green Building
Leitner-Poma of America
Leitner-Poma of America (LPOA) offers a complete line of cable transport systems, including surface lifts, chairlifts, gondolas, MiniMetro urban transports, trams, inclined elevators and industrial trams. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and maintains transportation systems adapted to customers’ changing needs. As a market leader, LPOA has installed more than 10,000 aerial and surface systems in 61 countries, safely transporting 8 million passengers each hour. In June, LPOA celebrated the opening of its new Skytrac manufacturing facility in Tooele, Utah, which includes significant investments in sustainability and renewable sources. The facility features a powerful LTW42 wind turbine developed by LPOA’s affiliate company LEITWIND. Standing at 162 feet tall with a capacity of 250 kilowatts, the turbine can cover up to 100 percent of the plant’s electricity needs. The LTW42 turbine is a unique solution that reduces carbon footprint and facilitates decentralized energy generation, making it ideal for businesses and communities seeking clean and cost-effective energy self-sufficiency.
Utah Clean Energy’s Climate Innovation Center
Utah Clean Energy, a leading public interest organization, has been at the forefront of clean energy, air quality and climate policies in Utah for nearly 25 years. In June 2024, it opened the Climate Innovation Center, a high-performance building and hub for local climate action in downtown Salt Lake City that showcases energy efficiency, solar power, all-electric systems, transit-friendly design and water-wise features. The Climate Innovation Center reduces energy waste and pollution through energy efficiency measures, harnesses solar power through 70 bifacial solar panels, provides community resilience with battery storage, was built with low-carbon materials and reduces transportation emissions by prioritizing public transit, bike racks and EV charging stations. As Utah Clean Energy’s headquarters and a teaching tool, the Climate Innovation Center inspires the community to reimagine living and working spaces.
Innovation
Alpine Distilling
Alpine Distilling is a craft distillery in Park City that specializes in internationally award-winning gin, botanical spirits and small-batch whiskey. Founded in 2016 by Rob and Sara Sergent, Alpine creates spirits that reflect mountain town community values, provide distilling and aging expertise, and pay homage to family heritage. As environmental stewards of the Wasatch, Alpine Distilling has been committed to eco-friendly practices since its founding. It established an internal environmental guide called “Utah Spirit” to ensure all operations take an environment-first approach. Alpine Distilling partners with local organizations to support sustainability efforts, such as recycling spent grains into fuel, diverting food waste from the local dump and advocating for green businesses. The distillery has also implemented operational sustainability initiatives, including a steam-powered production site, LED lighting, water conservation, comprehensive recycling, sustainable sourcing of botanicals, reduced cardboard consumption for packaging and the use of biodegradable straws and napkins at its lounge.
Sierra
Sierra inspires adventure through performance-driven, sustainable innovations as a leader in racing and recreation. In 2023, Sierra committed to an all-electric future with the launch of the Sierra Echo line, available in three configurations: Base Model, R-Spec and Block Edition. These vehicles, powered by an 18.6 kWh battery pack, offer eco-friendly alternatives without compromising performance. Sierra collaborates with industry leaders like Utah-based Hypercraft to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of its electric vehicles. A portion of the proceeds from the limited Block Edition model was donated to the 43 Institute, a nonprofit organization supporting aspiring athletes and creatives. Sierra sets an example of how motorsports can integrate environmental responsibility into core operations and product offerings, advancing the electric vehicle and clean energy industry.
Torus
Torus addresses critical challenges facing current energy infrastructure, including aging grid systems, extreme weather events, cybersecurity threats and an exponential increase in energy demand driven by electrification, AI, electric vehicles and data centers. Torus has developed a full-stack, vertically integrated energy storage and management system that unifies hardware, software and services for a seamless user experience. Its innovative, inertia-based flywheel energy storage supports the grid with frequency regulation, voltage support, load leveling and peak shaving — all to improve the stability and resiliency of our grid. By integrating flywheel technology with chemical batteries, Torus has doubled the lifespan of energy storage systems, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency over 20–40 years. Prioritizing cybersecurity, the company employs real-time monitoring to protect the grid from threats. Manufacturing domestically, Torus addresses national security concerns associated with foreign-made energy infrastructure.
Waste & Recycling
LUX Catering & Events
Over the last decade, LUX has created an award-winning recycling and waste management program that has changed the way it operates and sets an example to others in its market and community. On average, LUX produces over 250 pounds of food waste per day — up to 60 tons every year. Rather than contributing to a landfill, these scraps and leftovers are recycled into fertilizers for city parks and local farms through the company’s partnership with Momentum Recycling. When events require disposable flatware, LUX offers only biodegradable options made from natural fibers that will completely decompose or can be composted. When an event does not require disposable products, LUX offers an array of eco-friendly china tableware options that are cleaned and processed through its building, which maintains LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) energy guidelines and is wind-powered. LUX also partners with various local food rescues to ensure leftover food is going to those in need.
Salt Palace Convention Center
The Salt Palace Convention Center excels in environmental stewardship through an effective landfill diversion program that focuses on material donations, food donations and recycling. Partnerships with hospitality partners, recycling haulers, nonprofits and schools play a crucial role. Unused event materials such as signage, decorations and electronics are donated, and the Salt Palace has donated over 1 million pounds since 2017. “Monumental Mattie,” a mosaic made from carpet samples, showcases an innovative reuse of materials. The Salt Palace’s partnership with Dreamscapes, an exhibit by the Utah Arts Alliance, upcycles and repurposes various materials from the convention center into art installations. The convention center maintains a robust recycling program and has recycled over 3 million pounds of materials, and a collaboration between Sodexo Live! and Swire Coca-Cola has cut single-use plastic bottles by 90 percent. It also recently introduced a horizontal baler to improve cardboard recycling efficiency. The Salt Palace, alongside Sodexo Live!, has also donated over 235,000 pounds of food to local shelters and rehab centers since 2017.
Water
Steven E. Clyde
Director & Shareholder; Co-Chair of Natural Resources & Water Law Practice Group | Clyde Snow & Sessions
Steven E. Clyde would often tag along with his father, Ed Clyde, to meet clients around Utah, see various farms and ranches, and hear water discussions. His early exposure to his father’s legal work, which addressed clients’ water concerns, sparked Steven’s interest in water law. Steven followed in his father’s footsteps and went to law school, graduating in 1975 from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. After his father’s passing, Steven stepped into the role of general counsel for the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. His leadership was instrumental in key negotiations, such as the lease of power privilege on the Bureau of Reclamation facilities for The Central Utah Project. Furthermore, his service on the Utah Water Task Force and the Water Development Commission has been pivotal in revising and shaping Utah’s water laws.
Utah Department of Natural Resources & Utah Department of Government Operations
conservewater.utah.gov/state-facility-water-conservation/
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.
Green Business Leadership
Nu Skin
Nu Skin is committed to making all its products recyclable, reusable or renewable by 2030. Improvements include featuring 100 percent recycled material packaging and reduced carbon use for Epoch and Nutricentials lines. Nu Skin focuses on enhancing energy efficiency, design durability, and use of sustainable materials and packaging by joining the EcoBeautyScore Consortium and launching sustainable device criteria. These efforts have reduced the use of 40 tons of plastic and 12.5 tons of paper. Additionally, 100 percent of palm-derived ingredients in personal care products are sourced sustainably through Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) models. In 2023, Nu Skin opened a green building-standard manufacturing facility in Shanghai, utilizing smart and autonomous systems for energy and water conservation. Through the Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation, the company collaborates with the Seacology Foundation to address economic issues and environmental conservation. For every Epoch line product sold, $0.25 is donated to the foundation, supporting projects in Fiji, Indonesia, Thailand, Madagascar, the Philippines and Micronesia.
Park City Lodging, Inc.
Founded in 1984 by Rhonda Sideris, Park City Lodging is a full-service property management company that manages approximately 250 private homes and condos and 12 homeowners associations in Utah. Park City Lodging’s sustainability practices include gifting reusable grocery bags to guests, using eco-friendly cleaning supplies and toiletries, switching to bulk amenities to reduce plastic waste, recycling materials, implementing a carpooling initiative for employees, and offering a towel reuse program for guests. Park City Lodging’s headquarters, constructed in 2016, features solar panels, organic rooftop garden plots, discounted employee housing units and an innovative ozonating system in the commercial laundry to save water and energy. The company also supports local nonprofits through its Gift of Giving Initiative and partnerships with organizations like Image Reborn and Recycle Utah. For every night booked, guests donate $1 to the Summit Land Conservancy.
Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University (UVU) has a rich tradition of embracing the principles of sustainability to create a sustainable ecosystem on campus, model positive behaviors for the community and teach principles of sustainability to its students. For the past three years, UVU has hosted an on-campus Sustainability Summit. UVU offers two bachelor’s degrees with a heavy sustainability focus and offers sustainability-related courses in other programs, such as engineering, communications and business. UVU has three LEED-designated buildings. For more than 40 years, UVU has tapped into geothermal wells to heat and cool the campus, and the university is well on its way to meeting a goal of 92 percent of its energy needs coming from renewable, carbon-free and solar power sources. Smart landscaping strategies have saved 50 million gallons of water on irrigation each year. UVU also supports clean air by offering students and employees free UTA passes.
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