Georgia Institute of Technology

Keep Georgia Beautiful recently recognized the Georgia Tech Office of Solid Waste Management and Recycling (OSWM&R) with the Move-In/Move-Out Program with a first place award in the Waste Reduction and Recycling category of the Keep Georgia Beautiful 2009 Awards Program. Cindy Jackson, Manager of the OSWM&R, attended a reception at Emory University on November 5 to accept the award.

In an effort to bring home the issues of energy and sustainability, a student team from the Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering analyzed electricity practices and identified potential energy savings for the ISyE complex. The team's findings prompted Georgia Tech Facilities, who provided assistance throughout the project, to enact a more sustainable nighttime lighting policy in the ISyE buildings.

Georgia Tech is taking an earth-friendly and budget-friendly approach to office supplies with the expansion of its one-day office supply exchange event to a year-round program, Office Supply Exchange 365.

Under the guidance of the Office of Solid Waste Management and Recycling's Manager, Cindy Jackson, Office Supply Exchange 365 allows all departments on campus to donate unused and unwanted office supplies in exchange for other needed supplies. Office Supply Exchange 365 is a free service - there is no charge to donate or shop for supplies.

The Georgia Tech Solar Jackets, a student organization, has successfully converted a 2001 Audi TT from a gas-powered sports car to a solar-assisted electric vehicle (SAEV) - the first of its kind.

According to Solar Jackets member Corbin Klett, the car runs on a combination of batteries and solar power. Light-weight solar cells coat the car's roof and hood. The solar ray provides 12 volts of power to support the power windows, the radio, the brakes, the power steering, and all lights. "Right now, electric cars don't use solar cell batteries to do this," said Klett.

Not so many years ago people might have laughed if told that used vegetable oil could be the fuel powering planes, trains and automobiles. Today that is just one of the environmental programs that GT Dining is working to make a reality.

Take a look at some of the programs GT Dining does and is planning to do on the Georgia Tech campus to promote and protect the environment.

Cooking Oil = Biodiesel Fuel

The Georgia Tech Residence Hall Association (RHA) in partnership with Students Organizing for Sustainability and Earth Alliance Georgia Tech is sponsoring

Learn more about the role of green jobs in stimulating the U.S. economy from distinguished Georgia Tech faculty.

For the first time, the Student Center Food Court, Brittain and Woodruff Dining Halls, and both convenience stores, EastSide and WestSide markets have organic foods, including packaged food products, produce and entrees. "We saw a demand for organic products so we teamed up with the SOS [Students Organizing for Sustainability] organization and created a committee to see what students would like," said Staci Heck, retail operations director, GT Dining.

The hard work of Georgia Tech fans has resulted in a record-breaking season off the field. The Georgia Tech game day recycling program has exceed their goal to recycle over ten tons of waste by the end of the football season. Georgia Tech fans and game day recycling volunteers worked hard to exceed the goal.