Sustainable Buildings
Building energy use is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions at Georgia Tech. Planning, designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and demolishing buildings impacts land use, transportation systems, water use, materials, occupant health, and the overall sustainability of campus.
Sustainable Building Data
Georgia Tech prioritizes sustainable building design and operation. The Institute has 30 LEED Certified Buildings on campus, including 6 LEED Platinum Buildings. Our campus is also home to the first Certified Living Building in the Southeast, the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design.
Living Building Challenge Certified Building
LEED Certified Buildings
LEED Platinum Certified Buildings (highest level of LEED certification)
Georgia Tech's Approach
Climate Action Plan Building Energy Strategies
- Transition to electrification of combustion-based heating systems.
- Increase operational energy efficiency and conservation.
- Develop standards for decarbonizing new buildings and renovations.
- Invest in targeted renewal for existing buildings.
Comprehensive Campus Plan (CCP)
Led by the Planning, Design, and Construction department within Infrastructure and Sustainability, the CCP is a living document that will guide how campus space will evolve to support the growing needs of the campus community for the next 10 years and beyond. The plan is flexible, adaptable, and considers estimated future needs as well as projected trends in higher education.
Explore
Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design
The Kendeda Building fosters regenerative and restorative relationships among humans and nature, allowing us give back more to the environment than we take.
Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons (CULC)
Take a tour of the Clough Undergraduate Commons, including the sustainability features, utilized daily by thousands of students.
John A. and Joyce K. Caddell Building
The Caddell Building for the School of Building Construction is an ambitious LEED platinum adaptive-reuse of a 1950s-era motor pool building.
Planning
Building sustainability starts well before construction. The Comprehensive Campus Plan, unveiled in 2023, is the Institute’s master plan for campus spaces.
Design and Construction
The Georgia Tech Yellow Book is a Georgia Tech’s internal building and design standards guide. It addresses multiple aspects of building sustainability.
Operations and Maintenance
Georgia Tech has received numerous awards and certifications for its green cleaning efforts. Energy efficiency projects also support sustainble building operations.
STARS
Georgia Tech actively participates in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) to benchmark its sustainability efforts. Learn more about building operations at GT by exploring the credits below.
Climate Action Plan
The Climate Action Plan serves as a roadmap for Georgia Tech’s sustainability efforts. By implementing the strategies outlined below, the Institute strives to become a leader in resilient building design, construction, and management.
