Buildings
Green Certified Buildings
In 2015, the Georgia Legislature mandated that state institutions could no longer utilize state funding to pursue LEED certification for building projects. Georgia State continues to incorporate sustainability in all new construction projects on campus by following the Georgia Peach Point Standards. Currently, we have three green-certified buildings on campus — Indian Creek Lodge, the Student Recreation Center and the College of Law.
Indian Creek Lodge
The lodge serves as a premier venue for meetings, conferences, retreats and social events and was the first LEED-certified building at Georgia State. Sustainable features of the lodge include:
- High-efficiency water fixtures
- Preservation of more than 77% of the LEED project boundary for open space
- Purchasing of renewable energy certificates that offset 100% of the building’s electricity use
- Reduction of water use by 35%
To find out more about Indian Creek Lodge and how to reserve space for events, click here.
Student Recreation Center
The Student Recreation Center opened in 2001 and was recognized by the National Intramural and Recreation Sports Association as an Outstanding Sports Facility. In 2012, the building became Green Globes certified, earning three (out of four) globes, due to the university’s commitment to green building and sustainable development. The building also houses Georgia State’s Touch the Earth program, where campus users can rent bicycles and outdoor gear for little to no cost.
College of Law
The College of Law opened in 2015. The state-of-the-art facility features a beautiful green roof terrace, wood paneling and an abundance of natural light.
Building Energy Consumption
Georgia State has a building automation system (BAS) that enables us to maintain a comfortable working environment. The system allows us to set occupancy schedules and run chiller plants at a lower cost per ton of cooling.
Energy Conservation Initiatives During Breaks
During winter break, Georgia State shuts down all buildings for three weeks to save energy. All HVAC and lights are turned off during this time with the exception of security lighting and HVAC in university housing. The university has also launched a “Shut the Shash” campaign in our laboratory spaces during breaks.
Food
PantherDining is committed to maintaining sustainable practices throughout its various locations. Patton, Piedmont Central and Piedmont North were awarded the prestigious 3-Star Green Certification from the Green Restaurant Association based on the categories of disposables, energy, food, furnishings and building materials, pollution and chemical reduction, waste and water use.
Click here to find out about all of PantherDining’s sustainability initiatives.
Green Office Certification
Sustainability Initiatives is proud to offer a certification program in which Georgia State offices and departments consult with our team to construct a comprehensive plan for making your office space “green.” The process begins with a waste and energy audit conducted by our team, in which we observe the natural usage habits of the office. From this, we find ways your team members can reduce, reuse, recycle and implement green practices in your space. While it may sound intimidating, we’re here for every step of the certification and will guide you in each part.
Complete the form below to learn more about obtaining a Green Office certification.
Rooftop Gardens at Center Parc Stadium
The Rooftop Gardens were first founded in late 2018, when a group of students from the Student Environmental Team applied for project funding through the Sustainability Fee Committee. They used the budget to purchase supplies and tools to build raised garden beds and transformed the rooftop of Center Parc Stadium into Georgia State’s largest rooftop green space. Today, there are over 30 beds and over 100 species of plants at the Rooftop Gardens.
The range of plant species is mostly made up of edible plants but also includes pollinators and a growing number of native plants. With the construction of the new Georgia bed, the gardening team hopes to cultivate native fruits like the Pawpaw and other native edibles. The most popular plants are strawberries, cucamelons, watermelons, figs and peaches. Almost all of the vegetables, fruits and herbs grown on-site are donated to Panther’s Pantry, the food accessibility program at Georgia State.
If you’re interested in getting involved, click here to sign up to volunteer at the Rooftop Gardens. Additionally, the Student Environmental Team and the Nutrition Student Network have volunteer meetings every Friday at the Rooftop Gardens from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sustainability Fee
In 2013, an overwhelming majority of Georgia State students voted to allocate $3 per semester toward promoting sustainability initiatives on campus as part of their existing mandatory student fees. The fee has since increased to $5 per semester. Every year, registered student organizations and departments on the Atlanta Campus have the opportunity to submit funding proposals to the Sustainability Fee Committee, which is comprised of students, faculty and staff.