{"688605":{"#nid":"688605","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Students Take the Lead in Campus Energy Decisions Through Hands-On VIP Course","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech students are playing a direct role in shaping the Institute\u2019s energy future thanks to a unique hands\u2011on opportunity offered through the Georgia Tech Energy Solutions Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) course. In the fall, the class stepped out of the traditional classroom and into the mechanical rooms, rooftops, and hallways of campus buildings to conduct real energy audits \u2014 work that will help guide actual decisions about future building upgrades and operational improvements.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELed by Jennifer Chirico, associate vice president of Sustainability, and Jairo Garcia, resilience specialist in the Office of Sustainability, the course gives students not only technical training, but also meaningful influence over how campus energy systems evolve as well as a greater understanding of campus infrastructure systems.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur students are incredibly capable, and this course shows just how much they can contribute when given the opportunity. Their recommendations actively support Georgia Tech\u2019s long-term sustainability goals and help drive real change in improving our campus energy performance,\u201d Chirico said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter learning the fundamentals of building energy use and audit methodology in class, students partnered with Building Managers Eric Denison and Ross Bongiovi for an interactive walkthrough of four buildings on Marietta Street. The tour introduced them to the technologies behind campus operations, from HVAC controls to lighting systems, and demonstrated how real\u2011world building conditions affect energy performance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents then performed deeper assessments of each building, focusing on core areas such as:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHeating and cooling systems (HVAC).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELighting technologies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWater usage and plumbing fixtures.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EConstruction design and building envelope performance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese observations formed the basis for recommendations aimed at improving efficiency, reducing emissions, and lowering operating costs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the walkthrough, students identified actionable opportunities for campus energy savings, including:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETransitioning fluorescent bulbs to LED lighting.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EElectrifying gas\u2011powered space heaters.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EInstalling motion sensors for sinks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReducing energy loss from building envelope leakage.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EImproving HVAC zoning.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EConsidering renovation strategy and construction approach.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUsing building standards like LEED to guide upgrades.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir findings reflect classroom learning and fresh perspectives that building managers and sustainability staff value in long\u2011term planning efforts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe experience sparked inspiration and awareness among participating students. \u201cIt was interesting to see the different HVAC systems and the temperatures they are constantly maintaining. I didn\u2019t think about how these systems are always going even when we aren\u2019t in the building,\u201d\u003Cem\u003E \u003C\/em\u003Esaid electrical engineering student Noah Mitchell.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cJoining the VIP allowed me to see the behind\u2011the\u2011scenes steps of building maintenance, which added a human component to how campus operations work,\u201d environmental engineering student Calina Leavy said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese perspectives show how the course deepens students\u2019 understanding of the systems that power campus \u2014 and empowers them to help shape improvements.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter the on\u2011site assessments, students conducted full ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Level 1 energy audits on each building and presented their findings at the end of the semester. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese reports are now supporting campus planning for: \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EFuture building upgrades.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEnergy efficiency strategies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECost\u2011saving opportunities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELong\u2011term return on investment (ROI) calculations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShivangi Ranjan and Calina Levy, both second year students, will present their work during this week\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/sdg-week\/\u0022\u003ESustainable Development Goals calendar of events\u003C\/a\u003E on Thursday from 1 \u2013 1:30 p.m. at the Kendeda Building For Sustainable Design, Room 118. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.zoom.us\/webinar\/register\/WN_O8eOdtz7RPGrJ-mOiz14yQ#\/registration\u0022\u003EVirtual attendance\u003C\/a\u003E is available. For these students, their work doesn\u2019t end in the classroom. Their recommendations are helping to guide real institutional decisions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Energy Solutions VIP course demonstrates the power of experiential learning: Students gain industry\u2011relevant skills while directly influencing how Georgia Tech advances its sustainability goals. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EStudents are shaping how campus uses energy by participating in a hands-on, project-based course.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Students are shaping how campus uses energy by participating in a hands-on, project-based course."}],"uid":"35028","created_gmt":"2026-02-27 19:19:01","changed_gmt":"2026-03-04 16:25:48","author":"cbrim3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-27T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-27T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679501":{"id":"679501","type":"image","title":"P1000288.JPG","body":"\u003Cp\u003EStudent participants in the Energy Solutions VIP course.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772483594","gmt_created":"2026-03-02 20:33:14","changed":"1772483594","gmt_changed":"2026-03-02 20:33:14","alt":"Student participants in the Energy Solutions VIP course.","file":{"fid":"263670","name":"P1000288.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/02\/P1000288.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/02\/P1000288.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4107640,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/02\/P1000288.JPG?itok=VFtj9idg"}}},"media_ids":["679501"],"groups":[{"id":"383831","name":"Facilities Management"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"190615","name":"Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program"},{"id":"192081","name":"office of sustainability"},{"id":"168693","name":"campus sustainability"},{"id":"191427","name":"Jennifer Chirico"},{"id":"194949","name":"Jairo Garcia"},{"id":"194950","name":"energy audits"},{"id":"194097","name":"IS News"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECathy Brim\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunications Officer II\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Cathy.brim@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}