{"691210":{"#nid":"691210","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Launches New Sustainable Lab Certification ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Office of Sustainability, in partnership with the Office of Research Operations, is launching Georgia Tech\u2019s first \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/sustainable-lab-certification\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESustainable Lab Certification\u003C\/a\u003E program, which will provide a framework for campus laboratories to implement practical, high-impact sustainability measures. Labs earn recognition for their efforts through tiered certification levels \u2014 bronze, silver, or gold \u2014 based on the number and results of practices implemented. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn average, labs use four times more water and 10 times more energy than office spaces. This disproportionate impact makes laboratories some of the best places for reducing institutional energy use. Small actions can have a big effect; for example, increasing the setpoint of ultra-low temperature freezers by 10 degrees Celsius can reduce the device\u2019s energy use by 30% and save over $150 per year per freezer. (That figure is derived from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/the-beaker-blog\/8-ways-to-save-energy-in-the-lab\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/the-beaker-blog\/8-ways-to-save-energy-in-the-lab\/\u003C\/a\u003E and Georgia Power billing documents.)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore Sustainable Lab Certification, some campus labs had begun exploring reduced energy, water, and materials consumption through My Green Lab certification, a pilot program also sponsored by the Office of Sustainability. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShweta Biliya, a research scientist in the Molecular Evolution Core Lab, explained that while My Green Lab offered a helpful framework, translating certification requirements into actionable steps for her lab was difficult without local examples or tailored support. \u201cNow that we have a resource on campus, it\u2019s extremely helpful in that initial stage,\u201d she said. \u201cIt helps you see how to approach everything, get support, and make it feel possible.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBiliya hopes more laboratories across campus will participate in Sustainable Labs Certification, helping to create a shared culture of sustainable research at Georgia Tech. \u201cIt might feel like one lab doesn\u2019t make a difference, but when every lab contributes in small ways, it really adds up,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA Sustainable Lab Certification information and celebration session will take place in September. To learn more about the program, visit the Sustainable Labs page at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/sustainable-labs\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/sustainable-labs\/\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECampus labs have a new pathway to strengthen sustainable operations through a campus comprehensive certification program.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Campus labs have a new pathway to strengthen sustainable operations through a campus comprehensive certification program."}],"uid":"35028","created_gmt":"2026-07-22 17:46:33","changed_gmt":"2026-07-24 20:50:48","author":"cbrim3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680673":{"id":"680673","type":"image","title":"Molecular Evolution Core Lab ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EResearch technician Myles Hilson (left) and research scientist Shweta Biliya (right) of the Molecular Evolution Core Lab stand in front of TipCycle program equipment. TipCycle collects, sterilizes, and returns pipette tips to labs, reducing costs and decreasing plastic waste.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1784926218","gmt_created":"2026-07-24 20:50:18","changed":"1784926218","gmt_changed":"2026-07-24 20:50:18","alt":"Molecular Evolution Core Lab ","file":{"fid":"264964","name":"Screenshot-2026-07-24-at-4.41.24-PM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/24\/Screenshot-2026-07-24-at-4.41.24-PM.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/24\/Screenshot-2026-07-24-at-4.41.24-PM.png","mime":"image\/png","size":3356878,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/24\/Screenshot-2026-07-24-at-4.41.24-PM.png?itok=Jjm-cw4M"}}},"media_ids":["680673"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"168693","name":"campus sustainability"},{"id":"192081","name":"office of sustainability"},{"id":"195199","name":"sustainable lab certification"},{"id":"8254","name":"Administration and Finance"}],"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\u003EDrew Cutright\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDirector of Sustainability Engagement\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOffice of Sustainability\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Drew.cutright@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}