Student Sustainability Living Guide

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	Work to keep your shower time to 5 minutes or less Turn off the water when not in use. Submit maintenance requests to GT Housing if you see leaks or drips Make your period more sustainable by not flushing your period products, choosing organic, or switching to a reusable menstrual cup	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
Rent a bike from Relay Bike Share Purchase a bike from Starter Bikes, a student led initiative that provides the community and students with entry level bikes that have been refurbished Register your bike with the Georgia Tech Police Department and always wear a helmet Check out GT’s Parking & Transportation bicycling page	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	Aluminum cans, cardboard, glass, office paper, and plastic bottles & containers can all be recycled on campus Compost your food waste and compostable packaging outside your residence hall Look for plastic film recycling and other hard-to-recycle options at the Campus Center or Kendeda Building

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 COMMUNITY - AROUND ATLANTA

Eat from a local plant-based restaurant (click here to view a list created by Veggie Jackets of vegan or vegan-friendly restaurants in Atlanta)
Join a sustainability-related network such as RCE Greater Atlanta and/or Global Growers Network.
- Interested individuals can also remain up-to-date with sustainability news and initiatives by signing up to the RCE Greater Atlanta Google Group here.
Join an action-oriented organization such as the Climate Reality Project and/or Citizens Climate Lobby.
Participate in one of the City of Atlanta’s Mayor’s Office of Resilience initiatives such as the Sustainability Ambassadors program.
Volunteer with a community-based non-profit organization such as Trees Atlanta and/or the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance.

TAKE ACTION

Connect with the Office of Sustainability.
- Join our email list
- Follow us on Instagram
Join a sustainability-focused student organization. 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 of the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design.
Take part in Green Goodbyes, our move-out program where students are encouraged to donate usable items, supporting fellow Yellow Jackets, and reducing waste.
Get familiar with campus recycling and zero waste initiatives here: Zero Waste
- Download the ECGO app for recycling rewards around campus.

Office of Sustainability

Search