OVERVIEW

Learn how you can make a positive impact on campus and beyond!

ON CAMPUS

Residence Halls & Apartments 

Whether you live on campus or off, the actions you take within your room or apartment can be greatly beneficial to the environment. 

Living Spaces Bathroom Laundry Room 
  • Use LED light bulbs & turn off lights when not in use  
  • Turn off or unplug electronics when they are not in use 
  • Set your thermometer a few degrees higher in the summer and colder in the winter 
  • Sell, donate, and share what you no longer use rather than throwing it away 
  • Participate in the GT Energy Reduction Challenge in the fall 
  • Wash only full loads of laundry to save water, time, and money 
  • Wash all your laundry in cold water 
  • Choose clothing with natural fibers to avoid microplastics in our rivers and other water systems 
  • Select sustainable laundry brands and buy in bulk where possible 
  • Air dry your clothing when feasible 

 

Campus Transportation 

By utilizing forms of public and zero emission transportation you can easily reduce your carbon footprint significantly. According to the EPA, 27% of greenhouse gas emissions in the US are linked to transportation. Learn More 

Ride a Bike  Take Public Transit Commute Sustainably 
  • Take the Stinger – for free! There are nine Stinger bus routes that can be tracked with the Passio GO! App 
  • Ride MARTA – at a discount! GT’s Parking and Transportation offers discounted unlimited use monthly MARTA transit passes 
  • Get home safely at night!  The Stingerette offers free late-night transit every day from 8 pm – 3:15 am 
  • Carpool. Carpool permits are available at a lower price than the annual parking pass   
  • Drive less and pay and you go. SmartPark and the Flex Permit offer pay as you go parking options for those that drive infrequently and are great parings with biking and MARTA 
  • Drive electric. Georgia Tech offers 40+ electric vehicle charging stations 
Dining Halls & Restaurants 

At Tech Dining, we provide a delicious and sustainable dining experience by reducing our carbon foot print through sustainable operations and waste management, partnering with sustainability champions in our community, and increasing the availability of local, plant-based, and ethically-produced offerings across campus. Whether you are enjoying a meal at one of our three all-you-care-to-eat dining halls, or picking up a meal to bring back to your dorm, we invite you to join us in making thoughtful, sustainable choices as you dine at Georgia Tech. 

Reduce Waste Eat Well Get Involved 
  • Fight food waste by starting with what you know you can eat, then going back for more if you’re still hungry
  •  When we are dehydrated, our body sends signals that we’re hungry, when we really need something to drink. Try drinking a glass of water with or before your meal, you might not be as hungry as you think

 

  • Eat food that is locally sourced, sustainably produced, and/or 3rd party certified  
  • Eat with the seasons to enjoy fresh, peak-season produce while reducing the number of miles traveled from farm to plate  
  • Reduce your meat intake by eating plant-based meals a few times a week 
  • Follow us on Instagram at @techdining to be the first to learn about upcoming sustainability events and new menu offerings
  • Support our food donation efforts by volunteering with Klemis Kitchen and the Campus Kitchen team
  • Interested in becoming a sustainability influencer? For more information on student employment and volunteer opportunities, email our Sustainability Specialist at jordan.barron@dining.gatech.edu 
Waste & Recycling 

Throughout campus you will see a variety of infrastructure to help you recycle, compost, and otherwise reduce the amount of materials the campus sends to landfills.  Take some time to familiarize yourself with accepted recycling steams, and look for great ways to donate and receive second-hand products. 

Reduce Reuse Recycle 
  • Buy online versions of your textbooks 
  • Rent hard copies of your books 
  • Buy in the bulk section of the grocery store 
  • Use reusables – including reusable to-go contains, water bottles, and coffee mugs 
  • Utilize the Green Goodbyes annual give-away around Move-In 
  • Shop at the GT Thrift Shop rather than buying new 
  • Donate unwanted items to a local thrift shop 
Health & Well-Being 

Spending time in nature has proven so effective at reducing anxiety and increasing happiness that doctors in some countries prescribe it as a part of patient treatment, but time in nature also reminds people of nature's intrinsic value and inspires feelings of connectedness to other people and the world, which increases their desire to protect it.      

Physical Wellbeing  Mental Wellbeing  Social Wellbeing  Environmental Wellbeing  
  • ORGT offers trips to educate about outdoor recreational activities and gear rental to encourage exploration  
  • Starting from the Campus Recreation Center, complete the Pi Mile course and experience "green exercise" or exercising outdoors
  • Two hours per week outdoors can help increase self-esteem and lower anxiety. Consider walking to classes or lunch in the EcoCommons. Check out the Move Georgia Tech website for more ideas. 
  • Volunteering  improves social connectivity and educates volunteers about  impacting their community and the environment   
  • Take the Ride Smart class to learn more about bike commuting and get a free helmet  
  • While outdoors, stay hydrated with a reusable water bottle   

IN THE CLASSROOM

Coursework

Georgia Tech offers more than 100 courses with an emphasis in sustainability in every college, making it possible for every student to incorporate sustainability into their education.Varied and numerous in nature, the educational aspects of Georgia Tech's commitment to environmental sustainability reflect our promise to produce the technological leaders of the future.

  • Graduate and Undergraduate Program in Architecture
  • Graduate and Undergraduate Program in Industrial Design
  • Graduate Program in City and Regional Planning
  • Graduate Program in Building Construction
  • Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
  • School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Graduate Program in Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Water Resources
  • Graduate and Undergraduate Program in Environmental Engineering
  • Graduate Program in Structural Materials, Mechanics and Engineering
  • Graduate Program in Transportation Systems Engineering
  • H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • School of Literature, Media, and Communication
  • School of Public Policy
  • Doctoral Program in Public Policy (Ph.D.)
  • Graduate and Undergraduate Program in industrial and systems engineering
  • Specialization in Environmental Policy
  • Specialization in Energy Policy
  • Graduate Program in Public Policy (MSPP)
  • Undergraduate Program in Public Policy (BSPP)
Serve-Learn-Sustain

Serve-Learn-Sustain (SLS) is a campus-wide academic initiative working with all six colleges to offer students opportunities inside and outside the classroom to collaborate with diverse partners – across the community, non-profit, government, academic, and business sectors – on key sustainability challenges.  Through SLS, students use the knowledge and skills they are acquiring at GT to help create sustainable communities.

Serve-Learn-Sustain core programs include:

Serve-Learn-Sustain Courses include:

IN THE LAB - SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH

Georgia Tech’s research initiatives in energy and sustainable infrastructure focus on a broad range of challenges involving energy production, conversion, and efficiency; water resource management; infrastructure development; and the issues associated with a changing climate. The Institute’s graduate and undergraduate student researchers collaborate with faculty members on energy and sustainable infrastructure research initiatives.

Sustainability Related Research Centers:

IN THE COMMUNITY - AROUND ATLANTA

TAKE ACTION

  • Connect withthe Office of Campus Sustainability.
  • Join the Eco-Reps. Georgia Tech’s Eco-Reps program supports Resident Advisors in promoting, teaching, and exemplifying sustainable practices to on-campus residents. Eco-Reps are empowered to plan events and create targeted campaigns to support the achievement of Institute level sustainability goals in residence halls.
  • Join theStudent Sustainability Advisory Council. The Office of Campus Sustainability’s Student Sustainability Advisory Council is a group of 10 to 15 students whoadvise Georgia Tech on campus wide sustainability initiatives, advance programming, and meet with campusleadership.  
  • Joina sustainabilityfocusedstudentorganization. There are many student organizations at Georgia Tech focused on sustainability who actively work towards goals within all levels of sustainable practices. Group efforts on campus range from raising awareness and organizing accessible events, to the application of science, technology, engineering, and policy to service opportunities and grand challenges locally and abroad.
  • Take a sustainability themed campus tour or of theKendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design.