Learn more and get tools to plan your events and communications here: https://sustain.gatech.edu/sdg-week/
]]>Learn more and get tools to plan your events and communications here: https://sustain.gatech.edu/sdg-week/
]]>8:00 - 8:30 AM: Light pastries and orange juice at The Kendeda Building
8:30 AM: Meet in front of The Kendeda Building to depart for bird walk
10:00 AM: Bird walk ends at The Kendeda Building
Location: The Kendeda Building - meet at porch
Organizer: Birdwatchers & the Office of Sustainability
Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/r/p5TmkcqwiR
The recently published Georgia Tech Sustainable Procurement Guide, developed in partnership with the Office of Sustainability and the Office of Procurement and Business Services, reflects Georgia Tech’s commitment to sustainability. This guide provides faculty, staff, and departments with actionable recommendations to make environmentally responsible purchasing decisions.
Sustainable procurement is a forward-thinking purchasing approach that aims to create a circular economy — keeping materials in circulation for as long as possible while minimizing waste. By considering a product's full life cycle, from sourcing to disposal, and supporting local and certified suppliers, it fosters restorative supply chains that benefit the planet, society, and the economy.
Aligned with Georgia Tech’s strategic plan, the guide reinforces the Institute’s role in leading by example through sustainable practices, showcasing how smarter procurement decisions can drive campus sustainability and reduce environmental impact.
Georgia Tech’s community members can advance sustainable procurement by:
By making sustainable purchasing decisions, we can collectively reduce our environmental impact, support our local economy, and strengthen Georgia Tech’s position as a leader in sustainability.
Explore the Sustainable Procurement Guide here.
Georgia Tech recently achieved a STARS silver rating by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS stands for Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System and is awarded based upon measured success in five key areas of sustainability in higher education – Academics, Engagement, Operations, Planning and Administration, and Innovation and Leadership. The rating system helps benchmark achievements and identify opportunities where faculty, administrators, staff, and students can be effective change agents.
“The STARS report represents the cumulative work of sustainability performance and leadership across Georgia Tech’s academics, research, engagement, and business operations,” said Anne Rogers, project lead and associate director of Campus Sustainability. “Our silver rating is an important milestone as we continue to demonstrate strategic leadership in sustainability and alignment with the Institute’s strategic plan.”
Sustainability is a common theme throughout the strategic plan, which demonstrates a shared commitment to being thoughtful stewards of our resources – social, environmental, and economic. It is one of many ways Georgia Tech will lead by example in how we deliver on our educational and research mission. STARS will help inform and guide decisions on where to invest resources to achieve our sustainability goals.
Georgia Tech’s recent silver rating is the result of a 22-month effort, led by the Office of Campus Sustainability in partnership with Serve-Learn-Sustain, Facilities Analytics and Communications, and Institute Research Planning, to compile more than 1,300 unique information or data inputs about our sustainability-related actions. More than 150 people were engaged across 100 departments, demonstrating how sustainability is truly interwoven throughout Georgia Tech's operations, research, and educational functions.
Academics
The Academics category includes both curriculum and research offerings. Georgia Tech scored with 89% of academic departments offering courses in sustainability and 73% of departments conducting research related to sustainability.
Engagement
Engagement includes both campus and public outreach. Georgia Tech has a robust student programming portfolio of sustainability groups and numerous activities centered around gardening, farming, urban agriculture, and wilderness programs. These exist alongside opportunities for students to learn life skills through sustainable employment practices, workshops, conferences, speaker series, and cultural arts events. Staff professional development and training also contributes, with such efforts as the Sustainable Facilities Forum produced each year by Facilities employees. The forum highlights innovative projects and practices Georgia Tech uses to maintain its built environment.
Operations
Measuring sustainability within Operations involves energy usage, food and dining, procurement, commuting modes, fleet, waste, and water. Data in these categories is easily trackable and used regularly by the Institute to make operational decisions. Report data includes the following:
Planning and Administration
Sustainability within Planning and Administration includes the categories of access/affordability, investment/finance, and work/well-being. Georgia Tech’s graduation rate for low-income students is 84%. Work/Well-being ratings range from employees receiving a living wage to educational resources related to healthy eating, stress relief, and mental health.
Innovation and Leadership
The Innovation and Leadership categories in which Georgia Tech scores high include sustainability standards such as:
“The Institute’s strategic plan clearly outlines that Georgia Tech be a leader in sustainability. STARS is one framework to measure and track continuous improvement, and to motivate us to achieve more,” Rogers added.
The STARS silver rating will help define the future actions and resources needed to achieve even higher ratings in the years to come. The goal is to revisit this rating system every two years. To read the full report, click here.
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is a national organization founded in 2005. Its mission is to inspire higher education to lead the way in promoting and supporting sustainability initiatives. AASHE helps to ensure that current and future leaders are informed, equipped, and motivated to solve sustainability challenges by ensuring the institutions they attend are committed to this goal. Georgia Tech is an active member of AASHE. Current students, faculty, and staff can register to receive member benefits such as discounts on network events and access to the Campus Resource Hub with case studies and educational resources. Visit www.aashe.org.
]]>The SDGs were adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They address the world’s most monumental challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, and peace and justice. The SDGs appear by name in the Institute’s strategic plan as long-term goals that should guide Georgia Tech’s teaching, research, and operations.
A key feature of this year’s program, the Sustainability Showcase, co-hosted by the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems and the Office of Sustainability, includes a series of leadership panels and lightning-round talks throughout the week, including:
More than 20 additional events on the SDG Week calendar will be hosted by campus units and student organizations. These include arts-focused opportunities like the SDG mobile film festival on the evening of March 6, a “Teaching the SDGs” faculty workshop, and a variety of events for students to explore sustainability and international education opportunities.
SDG Action and Awareness Week is part of a larger global effort through the University Global Coalition (UGC), which Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera chairs and helped found. The UGC comprises higher education leaders from around the world who work to advance the SDGs through system change and global partnerships.
SDG Action and Awareness Week is an annual event occurring in early March. To collaborate next year, contact the Office of Sustainability at sustain@gatech.edu.
]]>Director of Sustainability Engagement, Georgia Tech
Program Director, University Global Coalition
]]>The 90-day rental program, which runs from Sept.1 to Nov. 30, will support the business travel needs of Institute employees.
The electric vehicle pilot program will provide sustainable transportation options to Georgia Tech that contribute to reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality, and support Tech’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
Leaders in the Procurement and Business Services department hope it will provide viable options for employees looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
“The overall goal of this project is to further Georgia Tech’s environmental and sustainability goals by providing our community with an electric vehicle option,” said Ajay Patel, executive director of Procurement and Business Services. “We are excited to collaborate with Hertz on this pilot program, as it allows us to maximize our efforts of becoming a more environmentally friendly campus community.”
The electric vehicles will be available for rental online at hertz.com/georgia, with daily rates ranging from $40 to $110. Rental options include vehicles such as the Chevy Bolt EUV, Kia Nero, Volkswagen ID4, Hyundai Ionic, various Tesla models, and more.
Electric vehicles included in this program will only be available for rent from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Hertz car rental facility located at 202 Courtland St. NE in Atlanta. Rentals can, however, be returned to any Hertz location in the metro Atlanta area.
For more information on rental rates, car charging requirements, and more, please visit HertzLink, choose “University System of Georgia” from the reservation category, and select “Georgia Institute of Technology” from the dropdown menu.
]]>
Communications Program Manager | Institute Communications
Georgia Institute of Technology
india.maul@gatech.edu | comm.gatech.edu | gatech.edu
“I am thrilled to return to Georgia Tech, my alma mater, to share my experiences and expertise in sustainability. In my opinion, the people at Georgia Tech are its foundation and what makes it great,” said Chirico. “I hope to serve as a connector and bridge in helping to lead the university in becoming a world-class sustainability Institute that is known for its advances and innovation in student programs, clean energy, net zero initiatives, zero waste, and climate justice.”
In this inaugural role, Chirico will lead the implementation of the Institute Sustainability Plan and the Climate Action Plan as well as help guide the future of sustainability at Georgia Tech.
You can learn more about Chirico at the upcoming Sustainable Facilitates Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Click here to learn more about this event.
]]>The Climate Action Plan, a key deliverable of the Sustainability Next Plan, will support the Georgia Tech strategic plan efforts to lead by example in solving some of the most pressing issues of our time. Once developed, this plan will lay the pathway forward for the Institute to achieve its climate goals, including reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
About the Process
The planning process launched last year and will extend through 2023. Led by Infrastructure and Sustainability, the process will include developing a greenhouse gas inventory, modeling potential mitigation strategies, and engaging with faculty, students, and staff from across campus. The engagement process will include an advisory task force and individual working groups that focus on specific climate solutions. Once complete, the plan will align with Georgia Tech’s broader commitments to address climate change and provide an actionable roadmap to achieving carbon neutrality and climate justice.
Get Involved
The Georgia Tech campus community is invited to take part in helping to develop the Climate Action Plan. Reach out to sustain@gatech.edu to express your interest. For additional information on the Climate Action Plan and other sustainability efforts across campus, please follow the Office of Campus Sustainability on Instagram and Facebook and visit sustain.gatech.edu.
]]>When Saporta asked Cabrera to rank on a scale of one to 10 the degree of urgency with which climate change needs to be addressed, without missing a beat, he responded, “10.” He referred to the latest “sobering” report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which describes how the perils of climate change are not only in the future but are already here now.
Bastian said, “We can’t walk out of this timeframe without a renewed commitment to replenishing the Earth … and creating an opportunity for all of our children going forward.”
Cabrera, hopeful that humanity can find solutions for this present threat, used the lightning-fast development of the Covid-19 vaccine as an example of what can happen when humanity unites to face a global threat. Solving the climate crisis, he said, will require “the best of our best thinking” from scientists, engineers, policy experts, social scientists, and others in many fields.
Cabrera additionally shared how Georgia Tech and Delta partnered on a project to remove the wiring from certain aircraft entertainment systems to make them wireless devices. That small change, removing kilograms of material from planes, led to improvement on the fleet’s overall efficiency. Cabrera said, “A lot of innovation is not about, ‘Oh, let’s all stop flying … or stop living.’ No, it’s, ‘How can we be smart about doing this?’” He acknowledged Georgia Tech experts in the room who understand what types of combustion technology can be most efficient, and those who are working on carbon capture. He said that while some may think carbon reduction is anti-business, the truth is quite the opposite. Cabrera said that many innovative solutions will, in fact, create more opportunities for business.
Developing innovative ideas and technologies isn’t the problem. The question is: How are they to be funded and scaled? Bastian said, “Ninety-eight percent of [Delta’s] footprint is fossil fuel … jet fuel.” The airline industry is classified as “hard-to-decarbonize.” While Delta is working with Georgia Tech and other organizations on how to replace their energy source, there isn’t presently a viable alternative to jet fuel. Bastian said, “At Delta, if we acquired all of the sustainable aviation fuel that exists in production today in the world, it’s enough to fuel our planes for one day.” Even though sustainable aviation fuel can be produced, it’s incredibly expensive, costing anywhere from three to five times a gallon more than jet fuel. “Energy producers aren’t going to invest the tens of billions of dollars required unless they know they’re going to have somebody on their side,” said Bastian.
The speakers expressed hope that our government can intervene the same way it did with electric vehicles (EVs). Incentives and subsidies created the investment for EVs to be produced – and this segment of the auto industry is now seeing a boom.
The Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business supports corporate sustainability through education, research, and industry partnerships. It is motivated by the example set by sustainable business visionary and Interface founder Ray C. Anderson (IE 1956, Honorary Ph.D. 2011), who understood the role of business in tackling the big challenges the world is facing.
Cabrera said, “[The center] is aligned with this vision that business ... and business leaders have a key role to play. And it all starts when a business leader says, ‘This is important, and I want to hire someone to lead the effort.’” He also explained that the solutions that are going to be coming forward are not just new technologies but new business models that accompany those technologies.
Drawdown Georgia is a multi-university research collaboration led by Georgia Tech, with leadership from the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. Its research has resulted in a list of 20 proposed carbon solutions tailored to Georgia to help businesses of all sizes understand the importance of their carbon impact.
Cabrera said, “This is an effort to bring this global problem close to home.”
Drawdown Georgia takes into consideration the state’s unique economy, population mix, and geography. Delta is one of the 28 (and counting) Drawdown Georgia Business Compact members seeking to reduce their carbon footprint and positively impact “beyond carbon” issues of equity, economic development, and public health.
Overall, the discussion underscored the urgent need for businesses, the government, and individuals to take action immediately. Valencia summarized what exactly is at stake. He said, “This is one of the most important discussions of our time. As a father of two small children, I want to make sure that I leave a good world here behind for my kids, and I know that these individuals here are doing their part to make sure that the future generations have a world to live in.”
In addition to the Atlanta Press Club and the Drawdown Georgia Business Compact, other sponsors included Delta Air Lines and Southern Company Gas.
]]>Georgia Tech has numerous student organizations and initiatives on campus working towards similar goals to advance environmental, social, and economic sustainability. What, then, makes the Georgia Tech EcoReps Program unique? Unlike any sustainability opportunity for students to get involved in, this program specifically supports Resident Assistants (RAs) in promoting, teaching, and exemplifying sustainable practices for and with their on-campus residents. Benefits of the program include $150 to support education/outreach efforts in residence halls, meeting other sustainability-minded RAs, networking with Campus Sustainability and Housing & Residence Life leadership, recognition by the Office of Campus Sustainability, and sustainable graduation memorabilia at the end of the semester. All RAs are invited and encouraged to apply to the program by August 23, 2021, here.
The Georgia Tech EcoReps Program was created in Fall 2020 with an inaugural class of 12 participating RAs. Members of the program, referred to as “EcoReps,” explored such topics as marketing sustainability, energy conservation, responsible consumerism, waste management, personal care products, environmental justice, fashion, foods, and transportation. The group was supported by the Residential Sustainability Engagement Assistant (student) in Housing & Residence Life and experts from the Office of Campus Sustainability, Auxiliary Services, Office of Solid Waste Management & Recycling, and local Atlanta organizations such as the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance and Last Bottle Clothing. Following biweekly trainings, EcoReps were encouraged to implement the topics they learned into practice by hosting sustainability-themed events for their residents.
Starting Fall 2021, EcoReps will attend two member retreats at the beginning of the semester to learn about sustainability topics and meet each other through fun activities and games. Throughout the semester, EcoReps will be required to host a minimum of 3 sustainability-themed events for their residents, collaborate with their class to launch a residential sustainability initiative, and regularly attend biweekly meetings focused on brainstorming and planning, with occasional guest speakers. Furthermore, they will also be able to join optional social events hosted throughout the semester and have the chance to connect with Housing & Residence Life leadership by supporting existing initiatives such as the Energy Competition in the Fall and the Move-Out program in the Spring. If you are passionate about residential sustainability and hope to increase your impact as an RA, consider applying to the program! No prior experience in sustainability is required, and RAs who graduate from the program are encouraged to remain involved in following semesters as mentors.
]]>Project Manager
Office of Campus Sustainability
]]>The campus EcoCommons is 80 acres of smartly designed and engineered performance landscape. This new 8-acre portion features more than 600 trees, tens of thousands of perennials, and an abundance of ferns and grasses. A granite outcropping adjacent to The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design provides an area of engagement featuring multi-level grassy areas perfect for picnics and excellent views of the entire acreage. Nestled among the granite boulders will be three bright yellow slides slated for installation this March. Nearby, a “snag,” or dying tree, has been purposely left in the area to encourage a wildlife habitat, and work is ongoing to certify the area as an Audubon bird sanctuary. Close to Ferst Drive will be a temporary sculpture installation by Stickworks artist Patrick Dougherty. With the help of hundreds of campus volunteers, the piece, resembling a small fortress, blends seamlessly into the landscape. Read more about the artist and his work here.
Traversing the area are pervious pathways, wooden bridges, and natural trails that will encourage a relaxing walk in the park between classes and meetings. Benches throughout will provide additional places to rest and enjoy this refreshed and renewed area of campus. Landscape Project Manager Jerry Young has guided the site transformation and looks forward to seeing the Georgia Tech community enjoy its natural beauty. "I've worked for Georgia Tech since 2006 and have overseen lots of projects. I can honestly say that this one was quite complex and extremely satisfying to watch evolve. I'm excited for spring to see it really come alive."
Across from Couch Park, a swath of tupelo trees strung with hammocks encircles a raised meadow planted with native grasses. There is also a contemplative grove, which pays tribute to and symbolizes an important moment in civil rights history. From 1947 to 1964, the Pickrick Restaurant stood on this portion of land and was the site of conflict over equal access to public accommodations. Historical signage will be in place to explain and contextualize the events that occurred there. Read more about the EcoCommons design, and the Pickrick and its significance, here.
The EcoCommons is more than just a park. According to Jason Gregory, senior planner in Capital Planning and Space Management, “If people think this is just a park, we have failed.” Georgia Tech’s overall EcoCommons project envisions 80 acres of greenspaces throughout campus that follow what were once naturally occurring stream paths before urbanization. These greenspaces are being designed, connected, and engineered to reduce stormwater runoff by 50%, increase biodiversity on campus, and provide a living, learning laboratory for the Georgia Tech community.
Extensive grading, soil amendments, and installation of drainage infrastructure were the first steps in transforming this area into an ecological treasure. Located near the Dalney Building is a large bioswale, capable of holding 500,000 gallons of water before releasing any of it back into the city’s water system. This large channel is designed to convey stormwater runoff while removing debris and pollution. A covered platform overlooks this seepage wetland and provides unique vantage points for observing this smart and effective water stewardship.
Located throughout the 8 acres will be numerous sensors connected to the LORA-WAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) Internet of Things (a networking protocol wirelessly connecting battery-operated “things” to the internet), which will measure air temperature and humidity, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, carbon dioxide levels, soil moisture, and water depth and pressure. Sensors placed at Tech Green will allow for a comparison of data between its open, grassy expanse and this piedmont woodland. The trove of ecological data collected from the sensors will be available to campus operators, researchers, and students alike so that the entire campus community can leverage this living laboratory.
With more than 10 years in planning and design, this latest portion of the campus EcoCommons performance landscape exemplifies Georgia Tech’s commitment to the individual health and well-being of its campus inhabitants while supporting its sustainability initiatives well into the 21st century.
]]>This year's forum, which will take place Tuesday, Oct. 27, kicks off with speakers from Stanford University, UC Santa Cruz, and Biohabitats, who will share their efforts and experiences in reducing energy and water consumption and minimizing material waste on their campuses.
Next, Facilities Management staff will lead four tracks for exploration: Sustainable Resource Management, The Eco-Commons, The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, and The Historic Sector: Preserve to Conserve.
The event will be hosted virtually and is free for all students, faculty, and staff to attend.
More about this year's tracks:
Georgia Tech has been innovating in the areas of hard-to-recycle materials, lab energy cost-savings initatives, and Covid-19 staffing efficiencies to meet sustainability goals. Learn how Georgia Tech responded to Covid-19 in the realm of cleaning and recycling, explore the Smart Labs project from the perspective of blending safety and savings, and understand how nontraditional recyclables on campus are diverted from landfills.
A new 7-acre section of the campus Eco-Commons will be opening soon. Take a virtual tour of the space, learn how its interpretive signage will relate to equity and wellness in outdoor spaces, and discover how Georgia Tech is enabling data collection and access for researchers in this on-campus ecosystem.
Virtual tours of The Kendeda Building will focus on how the building is reaching net positive water management and explore its sustainable energy features. The lessons learned during its first year in operation will be shared by Shan Arora, building director.
This track provides an overview of the campus historic preservation plan, the legacy of the Alumni House, and the promising future of East Campus housing.
The forum is co-chaired by Maria Del Mar Ceballos (BIM /VDC Manager) and Malte Weiland (Sustainability Senior Project Manager). Presenters from Capital Planning and Space Management, Building Services and Recycling, Design and Construction, Communications and Analytics, and Environmental Health and Safety will provide the inside story on Georgia Tech's latest campus sustainability efforts.
For more information and to register, visit the website.
]]>Who are the folks on this "Special Ops” team?
Marlon Ellis, Area 6 Manager, along with six other Facilities Management employees make sure that The Kendeda Building is operating smoothly. Learning new sustainable processes and procedures every day, Marlon reveals that he has begun to make different decisions at home because of the building. From conserving more water and energy to even purchasing plant-based butter, he’s become much more environmentally aware. He’s very proud of the fact that The Kendeda Building is one less building in Atlanta putting water and waste out to the city’s system.
Dexter Harper, the AC Mechanic II on site, states that working in the building is humbling. Window blinds that automatically descend, and open and close help maintain the temperature of the building almost as if the building is taking care of itself. Since working in The Kendeda Building, Dexter is more aware of what is being wasted energy-wise and hopes that the energy efficient operating systems make their way to other buildings and spaces across campus.
Ronald Wormley and Marilyn Lofton, both Custodian IIs, are the faces behind keeping The Kendeda Building clean. Marilyn originally turned down the offer to work in the building because she wasn’t sure what she would get herself into. Now, she finds that the building puts her mind at ease because it is such a beautiful space in which to work. Ronald is proud to a part of the team working in such a unique environment. He also enjoys talking football with Marlon and Dexter.
The Recycling Department plays a very active role in The Kendeda Building. Johnny Rand, Recycling Specialist II, a self-described neat freak often finds himself helping visitors place their recyclables in the correct container. “There is a learning curve, but I’m eager to help them understand how it all works.”
Alex Gurciullo, IT Project Manager Support Specialist II, maintains the building’s information technology and works closely with Shan Arora, the Director of The Kendeda Building.
As Marlon, Dexter, Ronald, Marilyn, and Johnny keep things on track inside the building, Steve Place, Horticulturist II, oversees the landscape outside. He recently met with individuals from the Audubon Society to discuss the surrounding landscape becoming a certified wildlife sanctuary.
As The Kendeda Building “lives” on campus, the Facilities Management professionals behind the scenes are dedicated to keeping it healthy. For interesting side notes about the team, visit www.livingbuilding.gatech.edu/about/team. (Above photo L-R: Alex Gurciullo, Marlon Ellis, Marilyn Lofton, Johnny Rand, Steve Place, Ron Wormley and Dexter Harper)
]]>Grand Challenges student assistants Madison Reddic and Ramsey Cook helped initiate the program after meeting with Malte Weiland, senior sustainability project manager for Auxiliary Services.
“There’s already a lot of progress being made in composting on Georgia Tech’s campus,” Cook said. “The first step is rolling out opportunities for interested students to compost. If the entire campus community composted, we could drastically reduce our impact on global warming.”
To compost, students simply collect their compostable waste, either in their room or the common area kitchen, and empty it into the black compost collection bins closest to their residence hall. They can use any type of container to collect the compost waste, and those who want to use compostable containers can contact a Residence Life staff member.
Additionally, staff members at Brittain, North Avenue, and the Student Center will now be sorting and extracting compostable materials.
Both Housing and Dining have partnered with CompostNow, an organization that assists businesses and individuals in diverting waste from landfills into composting. The material resulting from East Campus food waste will be returned to the Georgia Tech community garden and delivered to area farms by CompostNow to replenish nutrient content naturally.
Since September, the three major dining halls and Student Center have diverted more than 129,000 pounds of waste from landfills and into composting centers. The Student Center led the way, with over 38,000 pounds collected both from its day-to-day operations and various catering events.
“This is just one step in our fight against food waste,” said Jordan Barron, sustainability director for Georgia Tech Dining Services.
Dining wants to continue to expand its composting program, including making all food and containers from the second-floor West Village micro-restaurants compostable and adding signage in both Brittain and North Avenue. The signs will describe the composting process and explain its benefits for the environment and the people who receive the recycled material.
In addition, Housing is hoping to expand its composting program to West Campus residences.
“We want to help make this a normal practice for students, and hopefully they will take some of that with them when they leave campus,” said Weiland.
Dining and Housing both have open-door policies when it comes to composting. Students are encouraged to ask about the impact that each department’s program has had on campus and the environment. CompostNow also offers residential services for anyone living off-campus who’s looking to start composting on their own.
To learn more about Georgia Tech’s composting programs and other campus sustainability initiatives, visit:
Institute Communications
]]>But what happens to all of those solar panels in a couple of decades when they reach the end of their useful life? And what about electronic devices with even shorter life spans?
Those questions are at the heart of new research released by a team at Georgia Institute of Technology, where researchers looked into the impact of government policies put in place to reduce the amount of electronics waste filling up landfills.
“There is a lot of concern in sustainability circles that manufacturers are making things with shorter and shorter life spans, and products are perhaps even intentionally made to become obsolete to induce replacement purchases,” said Beril Toktay, a professor at Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business.
The study, which was published April 4 in the journal Management Science, focused on government policies used to encourage electronics makers to put more thought into what happens at the end of the product life cycle. Those programs, which are called extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws and are already in use in some states, have two common objectives: to have producers design their products to be easier to recycle or to boost their durability for increased device life span.
However, the researchers reported that those goals are often at odds.
“What we have found is that sometimes when you design for recyclability, you give up on durability, and when durability is the goal, recyclability is sacrificed,” Toktay said.
In theory, a product that is both easy to recycle and more durable would be the pinnacle of environmentally responsible product design. The researchers pointed to automobiles with thicker metal frames that last longer and also have more recyclable materials. In such a scenario, EPR policies emphasizing durability and recyclability work hand in hand.
“Sometimes simple choices that product designers make, such as using glue or fasteners to put together a device, really impact recyclability at the end of life,” said Natalie Huang, a former graduate student at Georgia Tech and now an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota.
More often than not, however, there is no such synergy. In the case of photovoltaic panels, the researchers highlighted how thin-film panels are much more cost effective to recycle than other panels because they contain precious metals. Meanwhile, crystalline silicon panels, which aren’t as cost effective to recycle, have much longer life spans because their components degrade much more slowly.
“These kinds of trade-offs are common, and so from a policy-making perspective, there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach that will work,” said Atalay Atasu, a professor at the Scheller College of Business. “You really have to distinguish between different product categories to consider the recyclability and the durability implications and make sure that your policy isn’t conflicting with the objective.”
The researchers said that in some cases, EPR policies could actually lead to increased waste generation if product designers make products more recyclable but less durable, or lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions if products are made more durable but less recyclable.
To help determine how government policies could impact individual products, the researchers built a mathematical model to help predict the impact those policies would have on products based on their materials and design characteristics. Among the factors the model takes into account are the base production cost of the product, the degree of difficulty in increasing recyclability and durability, the degree of interaction between recyclability and durability in the product design, and the recycling properties of the product.
“Ultimately what we’re after is to find a way to do scenario analyses to determine what would be the best policy for different product categories,” Toktay said. “Fifteen to 20 years from now, a lot of panels are going to be coming off of roofs. Are they being designed with the end of life in mind and with consideration of what’s the best way to reduce the impact of producing those panels?”
CITATION: Ximin (Natalie) Huang, Atalay Atasu and L. Beril Toktay, “Design Implications of Extended Producer Responsibility for Durable Products,” (Management Science, April 2019). http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2018.3072
]]>Research News
]]>A lush green space will soon emerge from what was formerly the Beringause Building and two surface parking lots. This renewal project will be purposely located due west of The Kendeda Building and will complement the regenerative principles of the Living Building Challenge.
Georgia Tech’s overall Eco-Commons project envisions 80 acres of green spaces throughout campus that follow what were the original, naturally occurring stream paths of this region before urbanization. These revitalized green spaces are being designed and engineered to reduce stormwater runoff by 50%, while also supporting increased living learning labs and biodiversity on campus.
This particular section will mimic a traditional piedmont woodland that was located on campus before the city grew up around it. Currently, the majority of acreage is covered by oak, pine, and hickory trees along with crepe myrtles and redbuds. The trees have been surveyed and range from specimen trees (those with high historic or ecological value), to trees in fair or poor condition.
According to Jason Gregory, senior planner in Capital Planning and Space Management, more than 60 trees will be temporarily relocated to the tree farm by the Roger A. and Helen B. Krone Engineered Biosystems Building while significant grading of the space is completed.
“It’s pretty neat that we have the ability to relocate these trees on campus while this project moves forward,” explained Gregory.
But before planting can begin at the site, extensive amendments such as compost and biochar will be added to the soil. Installation of utilities, water infiltration cells, and drainage infrastructure will also take place before any planting can begin.
After the site is prepared, more than 600 new trees will be planted in addition to the relocated trees. This increased tree canopy will support a display of perennials such as flowering dogwood, yellow daisies, and ferns. This recreated piedmont woodland will feature a grove of tupelo trees, a prairie-like area of grasses, a manicured lawn, a granite outcropping, and seepage wetlands. It is expected that by mid-year 2020, students, faculty, and staff will be able to meander the walkways and bridges and enjoy the natural beauty of this revitalized sector of campus.
The creation of this performance landscape helps demonstrate Georgia Tech’s thoughtful stewardship of land development by including smart infrastructure to facilitate a balanced flow of stormwater. In addition, this naturalized ecological and educational environment supports Georgia Tech’s commitment to fostering sustainability initiatives well into the 21st century.
To learn more about this distinctive campus initiative, stay tuned for the next article in a three-part series.
]]>The event brings together more than 150 faculty champions, thought leaders, students, and stakeholders to discuss solutions and plan actions to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Among the participants will be Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera, also one of the founders of the UGC.
“Universities around the world are essential in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” Cabrera said. “They conduct research that can lead to new solutions, they educate professionals and leaders who are prepared to enact those solutions, and they are trusted conveners of other stakeholders. It is exciting to see higher education getting organized to better collaborate in support of the Goals, and the 17 Rooms event will help us identify ways to have the greatest possible impact.” President Cabrera shared additional thoughts in a recent post on his blog.
The UGC is a platform of universities and other higher education organizations committed to working together and in partnership with the United Nations and other relevant organizations in support of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Other Georgia Tech participants include:
Georgia Tech faculty conduct cutting-edge research in areas that are critical to the Sustainable Development Goals. Researchers are working with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to reinvent the toilet — technology that hasn’t changed much in more than a century — which could provide safe sanitation to 2.5 billion people. Georgia Tech is also opening the doors to The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design this fall. It will be the most environmentally advanced education and research building ever constructed in the Southeast. And Tech's Global Change Program seeks to train a new generation of leaders who are equipped to pursue solutions to a host of interconnected challenges such as climate change, environmental pollution, water resources, human health, and affordable, clean energy.
Georgia Tech is also a partner in the Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) for Greater Atlanta, a sustainability network that supports implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the regional level through education and training. The designation makes Atlanta one of only seven RCEs in the U.S. and 168 worldwide. RCE Greater Atlanta brings together nine universities and colleges with nonprofit, community, government, and business partners, including leadership and participation from historically black colleges and universities.
The UN’s 17 sustainable development goals include:
Institute Communications
]]>Once completed, The Kendeda Building is expected to be one of the most sustainable buildings of its kind in the Southeast. As a building pursuing Living Building Challenge 3.1 status, the main purpose is to go beyond doing less harm and give back to the environment, as well as users and occupants of the building including The Kendeda Building Director, Office of Campus Sustainability, Global Change Program, and the anticipated thousands of yearly students and visitors. From the very beginning, the human element of this unique high-performance building has helped drive the planning and design decisions.
“The human component — and how we interact and actually benefit from the building’s environment — has fortunately become a significant variable in designing buildings,” said Gary Jelin, associate director of Design Services in Facilities Management.
Given that it is estimated that Americans spend approximately 87 percent of their time indoors, how buildings are constructed and the materials used to build and maintain them can have a profound impact on the health and well-being of the occupants.
Living Building Challenge 3.1 certification requires adherence to seven Petals: The Materials Petal has provided one of the greatest challenges for designers and builders. Among other requirements of the Materials Petal such as Net Positive Waste, designers and builders must abide by the Red List, which details a number of materials and chemicals (777 individual chemicals) that should be avoided in the construction of a Living Building Challenge-certified facility. Examples of banned materials include obvious items such as asbestos and arsenic (used for jobs like insulation and pressure treatment of lumber). Other materials like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), used today for plumbing and electrical pipes, are not as obvious. While exceptions are granted based upon market availability, the intent is to promote healthy buildings and surroundings by restricting the use of chemicals and materials that have the potential to be harmful to the environment and to humans.
With The Kendeda Building, planners, designers, and builders have given much care and consideration to following – and, at times, exceeding – the material regulations lordaecksargent.com/blog/a-living-building-project-journey-part-15.
Another intent of the Material Petal is to select materials that are not just “less harmful” to the environment but are regenerative and have the ability to give back to the environment and the occupants. An example of this is using materials, like wood, that have a reduced carbon footprint and are aesthetically appealing to the building’s occupants.
“It’s a completely integrated and healthy approach to designing and constructing high-performance buildings,” said Jelin. “We are learning that you don’t have to sacrifice human well-being for high performance. Actually, the two are quite complementary.”
Access to natural elements, like sunlight and clean air, matters too when it comes to improving the human experience. Since the 1990s, researchers have been drawing correlations between access to natural light and increased test scores in the academic setting. Improving air quality (via natural and mechanical ventilation) is also associated with increases in occupant productivity — not to mention a decrease in sick building syndrome or the range of nonspecific acute illnesses and/or discomfort linked to time spent in a building.
Jelin added that designing for both building and human performance just makes common sense and is a principle that is practiced in many of Georgia Tech’s renovation and new construction projects, not just The Kendeda Building.
For instance, the new facility for the Georgia Tech Police Department, which is expected to open later this spring, is also being constructed to positively impact human health and well-being. During the design phase, the project team incorporated features such as air, water, light, fitness, comfort, and mental well-being into the design of the building. Designers also took the time to ensure the building’s interior design and construction were conducive to creating a healthy and inviting space. For example, the lobby area will be filled with natural light and will include an area to feature community art. To help meet very high indoor air quality standards, the furniture finishes will meet low- and no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) requirements more stringent than previous Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification requirements. The end result? A building that fully functions as a state-of-the-art campus safety facility, and, like The Kendeda Building, gives back to the environment and those who occupy the building.
For more information on The Kendeda Building, visit livingbuilding.gatech.edu and livingbuilding.kendedafund.org. Updates on Georgia Tech’s transformation of campus can be found at news.gatech.edu/2019/02/04/construction-projects-watch-spring.
]]>Georgia Tech seeks to construct and operate The Kendeda Building to the Living Building Challenge certification standard, the world’s most rigorous sustainable design and performance standard for buildings. As such, The Kendeda Building will abide by strict construction guidelines as well as operating procedures. This includes harvesting more energy than it uses on site through renewable sources, as well as collecting, treating, and reusing more water than it needs on an annual basis.
“We are excited to showcase The Kendeda Building to the campus community,” said Shan Arora, director of The Kendeda Building. “By design, it will necessitate that we think differently about how to occupy and use a building. It’s an educational process for us all.”
At this time, The Kendeda Building is available for reservations from October 28 to December 19, 2019. Rooms available for booking include a 170-person auditorium, conference room, three classrooms, and four class labrooms. Georgia Tech students, faculty, and staff will receive priority in making reservations until April 26, when space in The Kendeda Building will be opened to the broader community.
Click here for additional details and to request a reservation. Contact Shan Arora for more information.
You can learn about this project at livingbuilding.gatech.edu.
]]>"By committing to maintain and grow our tree canopy, Georgia Tech is contributing to a cooler and more resilient city," explained Brian Stone, Ph.D., professor in the School of City and Regional Planning and director of the Urban Climate Lab.
Trees can benefit urban environments in many ways including reducing heat island effects, sequestering carbon, and even providing a place of rest and reflection for anyone passing through Tech’s open campus. As such, Georgia Tech’s 2010 Landscape Master Plan included a goal to increase the tree canopy to more than 50 percent. At last count, the campus had increased its coverage to 38 percent, which has only strengthened its place as a certified Tree Campus.
"Tree Campuses set examples for not only their student bodies but the surrounding communities, showcasing how trees create a healthier environment,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Because of Georgia Tech's participation, air will be purer, water cleaner, and your students and faculty will be surrounded by the shade and beauty the trees provide.”
The Tree Campus USA program honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management, and engaging staff and students in conservation goals. Georgia Tech achieved the title by meeting the Tree Campus USA’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance, and a student service learning project.
Most experts agree that the first step to responsible urban forest management is to inventory the forest and then develop a corresponding tree-care plan that provides appropriate care for that forest. Tech conducted its first comprehensive inventory in 2012 and a Tree Management/Care Plan in 2016. The inventory is maintained within geographic information system (GIS) files and includes every tree on campus that is greater than 2 inches in diameter.
In addition to adhering to core tenets of responsible urban forest management, Georgia Tech employs a dedicated tree team and tracks any tree loss in a Tree Bank. The tree team consists of a certified arborist, a tree surgeon, and a tree specialist. These staff members execute the tree-care plan and support all decisions related to trees throughout campus. The Tree Bank tracking system assures that every tree cut down on campus is replaced, caliper to caliper.
For more information on Georgia Tech’s urban forest management practices, visit facilities.gatech.edu/landscaping.
]]>Georgia Tech is a certified arboretum. The Georgia Tech Arboretum provides a platform for the development of educational tools defining the performance of individual trees and the collective forest in the urban landscape. From the microscopic impacts of trees on soil, to the regional impact of the urban forest on the air we breathe, the Arboretum provides the Georgia Tech community a tool for explaining tree performance values while they are being researched as part of our living learning laboratory.
]]>At least, for some people that is. At Georgia Tech, there are a collection of individuals and teams silently pushing through these lulls to create the next employee workforce. They might go unrecognized, but they rarely go unnoticed.
You probably know who we’re talking about. We’re hoping you can point them out to us.
Each year, Georgia Tech asks employees to nominate co-workers and team members who demonstrate excellence in their work and their attitude.
These Staff Awards are a small token of acknowledgment and appreciation. Even though they’re funded by Georgia Tech, they are meaningful because of you — because you noticed enough to tell them in a big way.
All employees are encouraged to submit a nomination, either for a coworker or themselves, from now until Feb. 8, 2019. Don’t let the process stop you — it’s been simplified:
“The awards process was revamped last year to make it easier to nominate,” said Candice Bovian, worklife specialist and Staff Awards manager. “This is a great way to recognize our coworkers who go beyond their regular responsibilities to bring about positive change to Tech and/or their community.”
Fast Facts:
Information on the awards, criteria for nomination, and instructions is available at http://hr.gatech.edu/staff-awards.
Specific questions about the Staff Awards can be directed to Candice Bovian.
]]>“Georgia Tech is very proud to be recognized for its environmentally responsible practices,” said Anne Rogers, associate director for Campus Sustainability. “Our goal is to be a leader in sustainable issues and to promote action and awareness on campus.”
The Princeton Review chose the schools for this ninth annual edition of its "green guide" based on data from the company's 2017-18 survey of hundreds of four-year colleges concerning the school's sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs. Information about Princeton Review's Green Rating and its Green Honor Roll, which lists schools that receive the highest possible rating score – 99, can be found at princetonreview.com/green-guide.
As noted in the selection criteria, Georgia Tech continuously demonstrates its commitment to the environment and sustainability in a variety of ways. This includes championing alternative transportation programs such as discounts on carpooling and mass transit, bike sharing, and pedestrian and bicycle-friendly pathways around Tech’s 400-acre campus.
The Institute is also committed to reducing its own footprint on the environment by purchasing sustainably harvested food, reducing the overall waste diversion rate and greenhouse gas emissions, and investing in renewable energy sources. Additionally, for many years, the Institute’s award-winning Green Cleaning Program has been protecting the campus community’s health while protecting the environment with eco-friendly products and methods. And, while still under construction, The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design is expected to earn one of the most stringent building performance accreditations available: Living Building Challenge 3.1 certification.
Academically, the Institute also has a long track record of promoting participation among students to help advance sustainability on campus. This includes offering degrees in environmental studies, as well as designing select programs that require sustainability as a defined learning outcome. In addition, the Office of Campus Sustainability and Facilities Management take great pride in working with students to apply sustainable learnings and practices both in and outside the classroom.
To learn more about sustainability at Georgia Tech, visit the Office of Campus Sustainability website at sustain.gatech.edu. Information about The Princeton Review Guide to 399 Green Colleges can be found at princetonreview.com/college-rankings/green-guide.
]]>You will have the opportunity to speak directly to vendors and benefits counselors. Vendors will be in the ballroom and Georgia Tech benefits counselors will be in room 301. There will also be computers and printers in room 301 where you can sign up for your benefits on-site.
Three additional vendors will be on-site promoting services for employees, including:
Unlike previous years, employees with a USG healthcare plan must certify your status as a tobacco user or non-user, as well as the status of any dependents. If you do not, everyone enrolled in your USG healthcare plan will be charged $75 per month. No refunds will be given.
Benefits Fair Participating Vendors:
OneUSG Connect – Benefits Website – under "Manage My Benefits," select the login option for single-sign-on
]]>Is this the year you’ll have that knee surgery? Will your middle-schooler need braces? Have you picked up an adventurous new hobby that may benefit from an extra layer of insurance?
This year, employees must take action: All employees on a USG healthcare plan, as well as any covered dependents (18 or older) must certify/recertify their tobacco use status in order to avoid being charged the $75 (per person) surcharge fee.
To get started, visit hr.gatech.edu/open-enrollment. There you’ll find:
Before the Open Enrollment window closes (on Nov. 9), visit the annual Benefits Fair on Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. There you can speak with benefit and retirement counselors from Georgia Tech and benefit providers like Kaiser Permanente, Delta Dental, and EyeMed (to name a few).
Be on the lookout: Benefits-eligible employee should expect two items in their mail, a benefits overview from USG and a Georgia Tech-specific benefits overview from HR.
]]>OneUSG Connect – Benefits Website – under "Manage My Benefits," select the login option for single-sign-on
]]>From leave to discounts, Georgia Tech’s expansive network of benefits was likely part of your initial draw to work here. But perhaps you’ve forgotten some of the more uncommon ones, or worse — never realized they existed. Many of Georgia Tech’s benefits come from the University System of Georgia (USG), which governs and administers benefits to its 26 state institutions. Here are four benefits you didn’t know you had:
1. Educational Support Leave
Is your child presenting at their science fair? Or your 5th-grader is graduating elementary school? The USG provides a paid day, away from work to promote education in Georgia. Any activity related to student achievement and academic support can qualify.
Details: eight hours of paid leave per calendar year (does not accrue or roll-over)
Eligibility: Full-time, non-temporary employees regularly working 40 hours
2. Perks at Work
You probably received an email about Perks at Work during your first month, but it might have been a while (if at all) since you’ve visited the site. The USG leverages its large employee pool to provide discounts on movie tickets (30%), the Georgia Aquarium (20%), Sea World (30%), and Adidas (25%), to name a few.
Eligibility: Active employees, family and friends
Learn more at perksatwork.com or attend the Perks and Programs Inform session
3. 100% Covered Tuition Assistance
Effective January this year, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) was amended to provide a full tuition waiver. Prior to the change, it only covered about half. Join the more than 350 employees enrolled in TAP. Georgia Tech also offers two additional tuition assistance programs, STRAP and GTRC.
Eligibility: TAP: Employees who have been full-time, benefits-eligible for at least six months by the application deadline date. STRAP and GTRC: Employees who have been full-time, benefits eligible for at least one year by the application deadline date.
4. Will Preparation
Georgia Tech’s Perks and Programs partner, LifeSuite Services, offers customized will preparation for free.
Eligibility: Active employees
Go to the GT Perks and Programs page and use the username and password listed. Hover over the link that says “Life” at the very top of the page next to the Securian Financial logo and select “Legal Services”. Then navigate to Wills by clicking Go to Legal Resources> Legal Forms> Personal Documents> Wills, Powers of Attorney and Estate Planning.
From leave to discounts, Georgia Tech’s expansive network of benefits was likely part of your initial draw to work here. But perhaps you’ve forgotten some of the more uncommon ones, or worse — never realized they existed. Here’s four benefits you didn’t know you had.
]]>Arora will start his new role on July 23.
“Shan brings a wealth of experience in bringing people together around sustainability,” said Michael Gamble, director of Graduate Studies, School of Architecture. “He demonstrates the ability to reach a variety of audiences effectively and will make an excellent addition to the project team.”
Arora comes to Georgia Tech with more than 12 years of experience in the sustainability sector including planning, public policy, and community engagement. Since 2010, he has worked at Atlanta-based Southface — a nationally recognized nonprofit that promotes sustainable homes, workplaces, and communities. His experience includes leveraging state-of-the-art data visualization technology to promote sustainability in the built environment.
The director for The Kendeda Building will be based out of the Office of the Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance and will be supported by the Office of Campus Sustainability as well as the Operations and Maintenance Program manager.
]]>The Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD) contributes to the success of the Institute by keeping community safety and well-being top of mind. The development of a new 30,000-square-foot Campus Safety Building will give GTPD a new home to enhance its work in maintaining a safe campus environment.
The location of the new Campus Safety Building, at the corner of 10th Street and Hemphill Avenue, is key to supporting campus safety.
“One of our top priorities is access to campus to make sure we can respond quickly,” said Rob Connolly, chief of GTPD. “The north campus location allows for easy accessibility to all parts of the campus, as well as Home Park, which is crucially important to the department.”
During the design phase of this project, members of GTPD emphasized a desire that the building provide a warm, welcoming environment.
“The building should represent how we operate as a department and should never give an intimidating presence,” said Will Smith, director of Emergency Preparedness. With this focus, the building was designed to meet WELL Building standards, the first on campus to do so.
WELL is a performance-based system, established by the International WELL Building Institute, for measuring and certifying features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being. These features include air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. The project team incorporated these ideals into the design to offer an airy, light-filled entrance and lobby that will invite people into the building.
Designers also took the time to ensure the building’s interior design and construction were conducive to creating a healthy and inviting space. For example, the lobby area will be filled with natural daylight and will include an area to feature community art. Snack machines will offer healthy vending options. To help meet indoor air quality standards, the furniture finishes will meet low- and no-volatile organic compound (VOC) requirements more stringent than previous LEED certification requirements.
Overall, the new building, which is expected to be occupied in Spring 2019, will offer a more cohesive, usable space. Currently, GTPD has limited space for security briefings, large-scale meetings, and events. The Campus Safety Building will include a patrol suite with room for approximately 75 people.
Other additions include an operations center with capacity to expand, a multipurpose center, an emergency center, and three additional conference rooms for meetings and internal training. With more available space, the department can host more outreach events for the entire campus community. New space will also be designated for student interns who are responsible for GTPD’s social media accounts and for students involved in capstone projects related to updating the department’s technology.
Although the new building will enhance numerous aspects of the police department, the most important thing is how it supports the community.
“It’s not just about our building; it’s about how we are evolving to meet the needs of our campus,” Connolly said. “As our campus and surrounding areas continue to change, GTPD will change with them in order to provide a safe environment and protect the well-being of our community.”
]]>The finished garden was made possible by a true community effort. Staff from Facilities Management constructed the raised beds and provided the compost, staff from Procurement & Business Services volunteered the top soil and plants, and Campus Services coordinated the effort. Further, Matthew Ritch and Isabelle Musmanno, students from the campus organization Students Organizing for Sustainability, shared their expertise in managing a community garden by volunteering at the planting. Joy Crawford, analyst with Procurement & Business Services, reflects on the value of the collaboration, “I believe the garden showed how team work adds strength to our campus.”
The dedication of Procurement & Business Services to the garden goes beyond the desire to beautify the space. As participants in both the Office of Campus Sustainability’s Work Green and Health Initiatives’ Certified Healthy programs, the department is committed to providing a work environment that is environmentally friendly and that supports employee health and happiness. The garden will provide access to sustainable, locally grown produce while providing a place for employees to gather while getting a bit of exercise and fresh air.
The garden was also created with the intent of serving as a campus-wide model for establishing requirements to build and maintain such a resource. Malte Weiland, senior sustainability project manager with Campus Services, explains, “The example being set by Procurement & Business Services in their community garden will set the standard for similar gardens across campus. Through research and benchmarking, the garden management team has developed comprehensive processes that can be easily replicated at other sites. Simultaneously, they have pursued a garden design that is clear and visually appealing, further promoting this model for future gardens.”
]]>Those interested in building their own garden can contact Malte Weiland at malte.weiland@aux.gatech.edu.
]]>“I am very proud of our Landscape Services team for leading the charge to obtain our Tree Campus USA designation for the 10th consecutive year,” said Mark Demyanek, Assistant Vice President, Operations & Maintenance. “We have strongly supported this program since the Arbor Day Foundation launched it 10 years ago. It is also extremely gratifying to see the excitement that our urban forest management efforts have generated across the Georgia Tech community.”
Georgia Tech was an inaugural signatory of the Tree Campus USA program in 2008. Georgia Tech achieved the title by meeting and maintaining Tree Campus USA’s five standards, which include maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning project. Currently there are 344 campuses across the United States with this recognition.
]]>Southface, a nonprofit that promotes sustainable homes, workplaces and communities through education, research, advocacy and technical assistance, presented one of its Fulcrum Awards to the Georgia Institute of Technology for the Kendeda Building project. The award was presented at the Greenprints conference March 12-14 at Georgia State University.
“The Kendeda Building has captured the imagination of the campus, sustainability advocates, design professionals and the construction world,” said Howard Wertheimer, Institute Architect. “It’s truly an honor to be recognized with a Fulcrum Award at this stage in the project, and we look forward to seeing an even greater impact as we realize the complete vision for this first-of-its kind building in the Southeast.”
Launched in November 2017, the Kendeda Building aims to become the first Living Building Challenge 3.1-certified facility of its size and function in the Southeast. It is being funded by a $30 million gift from The Kendeda Fund. The building should be completed in early 2019, with Living Building Challenge 3.1 certification expected in 2020. To be certified under the program, a building must meet all the program requirements over a full 12-month period of continued operations and full occupancy.
During the conference, Southface also presented Fulcrum Awards to Georgia State’s Leafy Green Machine and Live Thrive Atlanta’s Center for Hard to Recycle Materials, and the Len Foote Hike Inn for a Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Though diverse in scope, each Fulcrum Award recipient exemplifies our vision to promote a regenerative economy, responsible resource use, social equity, and a healthy built environment for all,” Southface president Andrea Pinabell said. “We are proud to honor these projects that bring us all closer to a better future.”
]]>Since implementation, composting has begun to take root in EBB, with many occupants expressing excitement at the addition. Although diversion rates from landfill waste can still be improved, those who are using the bins are doing so correctly. The project team is consistently fine-tuning the signage around the building to continue improving participation rates. In addition, though the project was originally intended to end after fall semester of this year, it has been extended into the spring. The extension allows more time to test different infrastructure and ensure the process is the best it can be before implementing it in The Kendeda Building.
If you’d like to learn more about the project and why composting is important in addition to what items are compostable, visit recycle.gatech.edu/compost.
]]>The building launch took place at the northwest corner of Ferst Drive and State Street and featured representatives from Georgia Tech and The Kendeda Fund, the project’s philanthropic donor.
“Georgia Tech is honored to partner with The Kendeda Fund to develop one of the most environmentally advanced buildings in this region,” said Steve Swant, executive vice president for Administration and Finance at Georgia Tech. “This project supports our longstanding vision for the campus and provides a unique opportunity to physically demonstrate how Georgia Tech practices thoughtful stewardship of all of our resources and how innovative thinking can transform the way we think about and interact with the built environment.”
The Kendeda Fund is investing $25 million to privately fund 100 percent of the design and construction costs of the project as well as an additional $5 million to support programming activities. The investment represents The Kendeda Fund’s largest single grant and ranks among the largest capital gifts ever received by Georgia Tech.
“As one of the world’s preeminent engineering universities, Georgia Tech is the ideal partner to help The Kendeda Fund prove that regenerative design can and will work in the Southeast. Together, we hope to transform how the region thinks, builds, lives, and learns,” said Dena Kimball, executive director of The Kendeda Fund. “From day one, Tech has embraced the Living Building Challenge enthusiastically, and they are already using it as a springboard to examine other projects across the campus.”
The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design demonstrates a commitment to build to the most stringent standards in the world in a way that not only does less harm to the environment, but is actually restorative and gives back to the environment and the community. For more than a year, teams from Georgia Tech, The Miller Hull Partnership, Lord Aeck Sargent, and Skanska, as well as representatives from The Kendeda Fund have been analyzing and discussing site evaluations, design considerations, and technologies needed to achieve Living Building Challenge 3.1 certification. The inherent challenge is to provide a fully functional building, within budget, that integrates naturally into the Georgia Tech campus — all while meeting the strict building and programming requirements (the Living Building Challenge Petals and Imperatives) and Georgia Tech’s desire for highly flexible academic and community space.
Construction is scheduled to start later this year. The building should be substantially completed in early 2019, with Living Building Challenge 3.1 certification expected in 2020. To be certified under the program, a building must meet all the program requirements over a full 12-month period of continued operations and full occupancy.
Learn more at livingbuilding.gatech.edu and livingbuilding.kendedafund.org.
]]>
David Brotherton
The Kendeda Fund
david@kendedafund.org
206-954-8672
The Tobacco and Smoke-Free Campus Policy dates back to March 2014, when the Board of Regents adopted a tobacco- and smoke-free campus policy for all universities and colleges in the University System of Georgia (USG). The purpose of the policy was to create a health-supporting community for everyone — tobacco-users and non-users alike. The policy defines "Tobacco Products" as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, all forms of smokeless tobacco, clove cigarettes and any other smoking devices that use tobacco such as hookahs or simulate the use of tobacco such as electronic cigarettes and vaporizers. This policy still applies to all students, staff, faculty, vendors, and visitors (as long as they are on a USG campus).
Students interested in tobacco cessation can schedule an appointment in the Stamps Health Services primary care clinic. The USG also provides numerous tobacco cessation resources for faculty and staff. Visit the USG Well-Being website for more information. Additionally, students, faculty, and staff can learn more about cessation options by visiting the Stamps Health website or by sending an email to healthy@gatech.edu to request more information.
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