Energy
Growth
Georgia Tech has seen significant growth in our student body and our buildings. Since 1994, our student body has doubled in size with expectations of 20,000-22,000 students in 2014. Our gross square footage has doubled, and is expected to continue growing to 16,079,000+ gross square feet in 2014.
Energy savings for our buildings is averaging between 15-40% more energy efficient than current building codes.
Energy Programs at Georgia Tech :
Conservation
Energy use and emissions are related, so we actively promote energy conservation on campus with our students, staff and faculty. Research lab buildings consume more than four times as much energy per square foot as the average classroom or administrative buildings. Residential buildings are our second highest consumers, outside of plant facilities.
We have reduced the energy consumption in 62 of our buildings built since 1995 by 11% through energy conservation practices (both mechanical and behavior changes) since 1995. Click here to see how.
However, demand for energy on our campus continues to increase. This is due to a combination of increased numbers of students, more research intensive buildings, more energy demands per students, and a massive growth in buildings on campus. While the Gross Square Footage on campus rose 7.9% from 2006 to 2007, the kWh increased at 3.1%.
Preventative Maintenance
It has taken years to setup a preventative maintenance system on the 13,298+ pieces of equipment on campus. It is a series of periodic scheduled inspections, maintenance work, repairs, and upgrades of all building system son the Campus. It is designed to insure that our systems remain in good working order, prevent future breakdowns, and extend the useful, operating lives of these systems and lower energy consumption. Systems include: packaged HVAC, Chillers, Air Handling Units, Electric Distribution Systems, Pumps and Motors.
Energy Star
Georgia Tech has had a green purchasing policy since 2004 and provides education to administrative and management personnel support the policy. We have proactively encouraged the purchase and use of EnergyStar certified products since the early 2000's. An energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy will be implemented requiring the purchase of EnergyStar products in all areas for which such ratings exist and are available under state purchasing contracts and regulations. To learn more about the Energy Star program, click here.