We’re coming together as One U to improve Utah’s air quality and create cleaner, healthier air for everyone. This year, we’re taking on this challenge together as a comprehensive research university and innovative academic medical center. The 2024 U Clear the Air Challenge is your opportunity to make climate-conscious travel choices that will improve our air quality and contribute to the overall health and wellness of our communities.

This year’s challenge runs from October 1 to November 15 and is open to all current University of Utah and U of U Health students, faculty, and staff. The goal is to reduce the number of single-occupant vehicle trips you take and replace them with more sustainable ways to travel, such as using public transit, cycling, walking, carpooling or telecommuting.

Participants who sign up and record the minimum number of trips qualify for a chance to win exciting prizes, including a new e-bike, sports tickets, cycling and outdoor gear, and more!

It only takes five minutes to sign up, use your university student or employee email address to register and start logging your trips beginning October 1.

Why participate?  

Here’s why your involvement matters:

• University of Utah’s Air Quality Impact: With a large campus population, our commuting habits significantly contribute to local emissions. By working together, we can lead by example in the fight for cleaner air and reach the U’s climate goals and targets.
• Inversions: This phenomenon traps pollutants and smog close to the ground and drastically reduces air quality. Choosing sustainable modes of travel can help minimize the impact of these inversions, in both summer and winter.
• Driving less matters: Transportation emissions are responsible for nearly 50% of the pollutants that compromise our air quality. When it comes to our health, choosing to drive less matters a lot.

Strategies for success  

Need some ideas to get started? Try traveling using these climate-friendly strategies:

• Carpooling: Share your ride with coworkers, friends, family or fellow students.
• Public Transit: Use your UID Card to get FREE access to UTA buses, TRAX, and Frontrunner, making your commute not only cheaper but also climate friendly— just tap your ID and ride free.
• Active Transportation: Walk, bike, scooter, or skateboard to campus for a healthier and emission-free commute.
• Trip chaining: Save time, money, and emissions by grouping your errands. Instead of going immediately home after work or school, make stops to complete errands to avoid traveling back and forth.
• Skip the trip: Avoid unnecessary trips. For example, bring lunch to avoid driving off-campus for lunch, or plan your meals for the week so you can make just one grocery store visit.
• Telecommute: When possible, work or attend class from home to eliminate trips to campus.

Are U ready to Clear the Air? 

Let’s build on the momentum and make 2024 our best year yet. In 2023, the University of Utah took third place in the statewide Clear the Air Challenge, logging more than 5,000 trips and eliminating 25.5 tons of CO2 emissions. Let’s improve on that achievement and show that we can all make an impact together when it comes to clean air and improving our health.

We encourage all current faculty, staff and students to sign up for the U Clear the Air Challenge today!