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Forget about late-night soda sipping at the Clark Planetarium.
The planetarium pulls the plug on its pop machines overnight, putting a chill on its power bill and heat on energy conservation.
And that's just the beginning.
The Salt Lake County-owned star shop has swapped incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescents. It has put exhibits on timers, switched off computers at night and pulled light bulbs from vending machines.
"I'm convinced that climate change is caused by human beings," Director Seth Jarvis said. "Everybody's got to do their share to take carbon out of the air."
The planetarium's push for energy conservation - resulting in a 10 percent power cut - could serve as a guiding star for County Mayor Peter Corroon, who pledged this month to shave 20 percent from the county's energy and water use by 2009.
"We should be doing our part," Corroon said, "to set the example on how to conserve energy and water."
The mayor unveiled his plan as part of an eleventh-hour revision to his 2008 State of the County speech. He characterized his administration's gusto for green policies as both "life-enhancing" and "practical."
"It is the most important investment we can make," he said.
Much of Corroon's energy savings will come through energy-efficient upgrades to county buildings: more compact fluorescent light bulbs, tighter temperature controls, energy-efficient boilers and air-conditioning units.
The county also will tap waterless urinals, xeriscaping and water audits through Utah State University to slow its water flow.
The final energy cuts will come from employees. The county is considering a competition - maybe between buildings or government divisions - to encourage environmental-mindedness, according to Environmental Policy Coordinator Ann Ober.
The mayor's movement toward greener government operations comes as he lobbies the Utah Legislature for a law change that would allow larger-than-ever solar arrays atop businesses, industries and government facilities.
Corroon hopes to speckle the county's libraries, theaters and other facilities with solar panels - including a 1.8-megawatt system on the Salt Palace roof.
"I am completely convinced that 20 percent is a very achievable target," remarked Vicki Bennett, environmental-program manager for Salt Lake City. "We should be able to do more."
Salt Lake City managed to cut 31 percent of its greenhouse-gas emissions during former Mayor Rocky Anderson's administration, but the city had no numbers for energy and water conservation.
As Corroon lobs his latest environmental initiative, the Clark Planetarium - housed at The Gateway west of downtown Salt Lake City - already has lightened its energy load by 10 percent. Officials soon will lighten it some more.
The planetarium has announced plans to replace 520 incandescent globes in its star theater with dimmable LEDs - reducing energy output by 3 percent. It also will install a rooftop solar array this summer, capable of producing up to 10 percent of the building's electricity on a sunny day.
It makes good environmental sense, Jarvis remarked. But with power bills averaging $6,000 to $7,000 a month, it clearly makes "good financial sense" as well.
S.L. County plans to cut its energy and water use 20 percent by 2009. Specifics haven't been spelled out, but here are a few ideas:
* Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescents.
* Install energy-efficient boilers and AC units.
* Improve temperature controls.
* Encourage green-building designs consistent with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards.
* Promote competition among employees that rewards environment-friendly practices such as turning off computers at night.
* Solicit a water-conservation audit from USU.
* Incorporate xeriscaping into landscaping.
Source: Salt Lake County