Office of Sustainability Launches Green Lab Committee to
Expand Impact and Cost Savings in Campus Labs
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Last spring, we celebrated three labs that achieved My Green Lab certifications: the School of Biological Sciences’ Instructional labs, the Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience’s Molecular Evolution Core Facility, and the Takayama Lab.
To build upon those achievements, the Office of Sustainability launched a more expansive green lab committee. This fall, the committee will kick off a series of education and engagement campaigns to reduce energy consumption in labs. Follow our newsletter and social media for updates on Shut the Sash, the Freezer Challenge, a sustainable lab workshop (Thursday, Sept. 25 at 11 a.m.), and the development of a Georgia Tech-specific green lab program.
Below are a few actions you can take today to reduce energy, water, and waste in your lab:
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Energy: Keep ultra-low temp freezers at -70° C rather than -80° C. (Note: Always check with the lab manager before adjusting equipment.)
- Energy: Shut the Sash – When not in use, keep fume hoods closed. When utilizing fume hoods, open the minimum amount needed to complete work. Only use the hood when working with volatile chemicals.
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Water: When new equipment is needed, purchase Water Sense labeled equipment.
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Waste: Use Georgia Tech-founded TipCycle to save money and resources. TipCycle will collect, sanitize, and deliver pipette tips back to you for reuse.
- Engage:
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Develop materials to communicate lab sustainability efforts in department or university newsletters, on social media, and on digital signage.
- Save the date for the Lab Manager's Sustainability Workshop, September 25 at 11 a.m.
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Scope 3 Impacts: Calculating Georgia Tech Food Emissions
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As part of the Climate Action Plan and expanding our Scope 3 emissions calculations, the Office of Sustainability partnered with Tech Dining and sponsored the Center for Good Food Purchasing to complete a circular economy assessment of our food purchasing and emissions on campus. The assessment calculated food-related emissions for Georgia Tech’s greenhouse gas inventory and resulted in the following accomplishments:
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Achieved Bronze Good Food Provider recognition—Georgia Tech is now the first institution in Georgia to earn this designation.
- Scored 59% on the Community Health & Nutrition Checklist, surpassing the minimum target of 51%.
- Implemented 8 of 11 environmental sustainability strategies, including composting, reusable dining ware, and offering plant-based options at every meal.
- Strengthened relationships with local and sustainable food vendors to support values-based procurement.
- Initiated efforts to promote climate-friendly food choices, with plans to expand education and outreach strategies.
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Thank you to Tech Dining for your collaboration and partnership in increasing healthy and sustainable food on campus!
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Schedule a Sustainable Procurement Session for Your Department
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The Office of Sustainability recently published the Institute's first Sustainable Procurement Guide. This fall, we are offering information sessions on how to use and implement the guide to departments across campus.
To schedule an info session for your department please contact Office of Sustainability Program and Operations Manager, Kamilah Roberts (kamilah.roberts@sustain.gatech.edu).
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Join Us for the Institute Strategic Plan's
SMART Campus Forums This Fall
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The Institute Strategic Plan's SMART Campus Foundational Priority, managed by the Office of Sustainability, will be holding three events this fall. Please join us to learn how our campus is advancing these goals.
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Aug. 14: SMART Campus Forum: Sustainable Campus Mobility - Register here!
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Sept. 18: SMART Campus Forum: Water Management Register here!
- Oct. 15: Campus Sustainability Forum - Save the Date
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Sustainability News Around Campus |
- SCORE is Hiring! Apply for the Community-Engaged Research Program & Portfolio Manager position by Aug. 15
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‘Biochar’ Can Naturally Clean the Pollution that Rain Washes Off Georgia’s Roads, College of Engineering, July 10
- Sustainable Solutions Team Wins National Competition, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, July 8
- Carbon Capture Method Uses Cold Temperatures, Common Materials, College of Engineering, July 7
- How Wildfire Influences Climate, Georgia Tech Research, July 9
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Sustainability On Tap, Scheller College of Business, July 2
- Georgia Tech’s Role in Urban Canopy Research, Georgia Tech Center for Urban Resilience and Analytics, June 18
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