Student Sustainable Living Guide

Student Sustainable Living Guide

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

On Campus

Sustainable Move-In and Move-Out Tips

Waste Reduction and Recycling

  • Instead of throwing away unwanted items, consider donating them to the Kendeda Revolving Closet (clothing only), Green Goodbyes Thrift Shop or charities. 
  • If you need to dispose of paper items, recycle them in designated recycling bins on campus.
  • Before moving out, try to consume or donate any perishable food items to minimize food waste.
  • Dispose of hazardous materials such as batteries, electronics, and chemicals properly. There are many drop-off locations for these items on campus.
  • Minimize packaging waste by choosing products with minimal packaging or packaging made from recycled materials.

Eco-Friendly Materials and Cleaning

  • Opt for eco-friendly packing materials and storage such as biodegradable bubble wrap, recycled cardboard boxes, and reusable containers instead of single-use plastics.
  • Use environmentally friendly cleaning products or homemade cleaners made from simple ingredients like vinegar and baking soda (such as what you made if you attended our DIY Green Clean workshop!).
  • Opt for sustainable furnishings (e.g., second-hand furniture, sustainably sourced materials) when decorating your living space.

Transportation and Move-Out Preparation

  • When transporting your belongings, try to carpool with friends or use public transportation if possible. 
  • Consider sustainable moving services (e.g., companies that prioritize eco-friendly practices) when moving into or out of your room.
  • Before leaving your campus housing, ensure that you leave the space clean and free of any personal belongings or trash. Follow any specific move-out instructions provided by GT Housing and Residence Life to ensure a smooth transition for the next occupants.

Residence Halls and Apartment

Living Spaces

  • 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.
  • To clean up, use washable rags and eco-friendly products instead of disposable paper towels.
  • Sell, donate, and share what you no longer use rather than throwing it away.
  • Participate in the EcoReps Energy Saving Competition for your residence hall in the fall.

Bathroom

  • 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.

Laundry Room

  • 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

Ride a Bike

Take Public Transit

  • Take the Stinger – for free! There are nine Stinger bus routes that can be tracked with the Transloc 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.

Commute Sustainably

  • Carpool: Carpool permits are available at a lower price than the annual parking pass.
  • Drive less and pay as 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 and Restaurants

Reduce Waste

  • Fight food waste by starting with what you know you can eat, then going back for more if you’re still hungry.
  • Choose food options with no packaging or compostable/recyclable packaging.
  • Learn about and join Green Forks, a new program tackling food waste and student hunger on campus. Event organizers can easily share leftover catering food with students facing food insecurity.

Eat Well

  • 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.

Get Involved

  • Follow Tech Dining 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.

Waste and Recycling

Reduce

  • 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.

Reuse

Recycle

  • 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 and Wellbeing

Physical 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.

Mental Wellbeing

  • 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.

Social Wellbeing

  • Volunteering  improves social connectivity and educates volunteers about  impacting their community and the environment.

Environmental Wellbeing

  • 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

Colleges & Coursework

College of Design
    College of Sciences
    College of Engineering
          Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts

                  Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE)

                  Programs
                    Courses

                      Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business

                      Programs
                      Courses

                      In the Lab - Research

                      Georgia Tech’s research initiatives in energy and infrastructure focus on a broad range of challenges involving energy production, conversion, and efficiency; water resource management; infrastructure development; and more. The Institute’s graduate and undergraduate student researchers collaborate with faculty members on energy and infrastructure research initiatives. Interested in a my green lab certification or participating in TipCycle? Check out our Green Labs page.

                      Sustainability Related Research Centers

                                Around Atlanta

                                Take Action

                                • Connect with the Office of Sustainability.
                                • 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 tour of the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design.