September 2024

The Office of Sustainability welcomed 18 new and returning student assistants in August. The Fall 2024 team includes Office of Sustainability student assistants, Kendeda Fellows, and Living Campus Fellows—all passionate about advancing sustainability at Georgia Tech. Read more about the team and their work.    

The Georgia Tech Sustainability Network held its inaugural session on September 17. The network is a monthly series that welcomes all Georgia Tech students, faculty, and staff to learn about a sustainability topic and to connect with others working in or interested in sustainability. Each month will be organized by a different group. September's session was sponsored by the Office of Sustainability and featured updates on operational sustainability initiatives. Information on October's session coming soon!

Jake LeJeune, fire safety coordinator in the Environmental Health and Safety department, helped Georgia Tech Fire Safety become a paper-free office by implementing digital solutions for architectural plans and inspections. His work aligns with the Georgia Tech Climate Action Plan zero-waste goals and reflects his commitment to making Georgia Tech more sustainable.

Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) seeks your input on how to make campus transit options more sustainable and enjoyable. The survey will inform Georgia Tech's Campus Transit Master Plan, a key step towards implementing many of the Mobility strategies in Georgia Tech's Climate Action Plan. 

PTS will also host two listening sessions on September 25. For details, email Director of Transportation Derrick Walker (derrick.walker@pts.gatech.edu).

More than 70 attendees gathered last week for a Sustainability Workshop for Building & Lab Managers, developed in partnership between the Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB) and the Office of Sustainability. The event provided a platform for staff and students to connect, learn, and share ideas on promoting a more sustainable campus.

Presentations covered a wide range of topics, including:

Sustainability Guide for Building Managers: Practical guidance on reducing electricity and water consumption, implementing zero-waste practices, and creating healthier and happier workspaces.

Recycling and Composting Strategies: Innovative approaches to waste management, focusing on enhancing recycling and composting programs.

My Green Labs & Tip Cycle: Georgia Tech’s commitment to sustainable laboratory practices through the My Green Labs program and Tip Cycle pipette tip recycling program.

Green Cleaning: An overview of Georgia Tech's green cleaning program featuring environmentally friendly cleaning products and practices.

Green Events: Strategies for hosting events that minimize waste and promote environmental consciousness.

To learn more about the topics, check out the presentations from the workshop.

Steve Place, campus sustainability program manager, and Janelle Peters, president of the ECO student organization, worked together to host a recycling bin design competition at the Hinman building. Steve and students in Hinman noticed that large quantities of cardboard were being thrown into trash bins. To address the issue, they challenged architecture students to curate painted artworks on the bins that would encourage proper recycling.

"I wanted to promote a sense of ownership and involve the students in a fun, creative way," Steve explained. The winning design, with an "Ocean" theme, was closely followed by "Georgia Tech" and "Atlanta" as strong contenders. Participants were awarded hand-painted coasters made from salvaged slate, along with Office of Sustainability swag.

Is your Georgia Tech organization's newsletter missing? Email us at sustain@gatech.edu to be added to our list.

Food is essential to well-being. Sign up your department to organize a Shelf-Stable Food Drive for Klemis Kitchen, Georgia Tech's on-campus food pantry for students who are food under-resourced.