East Georgia State College promotes conservation and other eco-friendly actions through:
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- recycling
- energy conservation
- sustainable environmental practices.
We encourage you to join our efforts!
Recycling Task Force is now the Sustainability Committee
The EGSC "Green Team" Recycling Task Force was created May, 2013. The task force has expanded its scope beyond recycling! The task force is now the "Sustainability Committee" and encompasses recycling, conservation and sustainable environmental practices. To view the works of the committee and committee membership, visit the Sustainability Committee Page.
Join the Green Team!
The college is a member of the College and University Recycling Coalition with access to technical knowledge and best practices on recycling and waste reduction programs among institutions of higher education. Resources include links to educational materials, blogs and social media strategies.
Campus Efforts
Recycling
EGSC recycles aluminum cans, plastic bottles, cardboard, and paper at various marked locations around campus. Plastic bottles and aluminum cans are collected in Coca-Cola bottle shaped bins made possible by a grant from Keep America Beautiful. EGSC recycles light bulbs, ballasts and UPS batteries. The EGSC Dining Hall recycles cooking oil through a partnership with Restaurant Technologies Inc. EGSC takes all aluminum cans collected on campus to the Swainsboro Fire Department for recycling. The Fire Department receives funds for the recycled cans and donates the funds to the Burn Center. For more information about this partnership, see the article below in "Featured News."
Energy Conservation
Georgia Energy Challenge -- In October, 2008, then Governor Sonny Perdue issued an Energy Challenge to all state agencies to reduce energy consumption 15% by 2020. East Georgia State College aggressively took the challenge and has reached the goal! We were recognized for this accomplishment at the Fall 2013 Board of Regents Facilities Officer’s Conference.
Sustainability
Energy - In support of the on-going Energy Challenge, EGSC adopted the "Personal Office Energy Usage Policy" and continues to schedule academic and community facility usage efficiently to maximize energy conservation. Daily space utilization practices within buildings contribute to the success of this effort. EGSC uses occupancy sensor lighting in the Jean Anderson Morgan Student Center, library study rooms, EGSC Statesboro facility and in the Academic Building expansion. Occupancy sensor lights are highly efficient means for saving energy, reducing bulb costs and fixture maintenance costs, and providing security.
Buildings - EGSC practices "adaptive use" to renovate and repurpose existing space which accommodates changing needs and reduces the need for expansion of building footprints as well as the immediate need for additional facilities. Campus buildings have been re-metered to monitor energy usage and efficiently manage and conserve energy.
Grounds - Lawnmowers are equipped with mulching kits to reduce the need for watering. Indigenous plant species are used for their resistance to drought.
Water - Conservation is practiced by using drip irrigation rather than spray. EGSC has eight (8) water refill stations on the Swainsboro campus. The water refill stations allow a user to refill his or her personal water bottle, discouraging the purchase of bottled water and thus eliminating the plastic water bottle from the landfill. The water refill stations track the number of refills and the number of plastic bottlers saved from the landfill with each fill up.
Custodial - The custodial staff uses environmentally-friendly cleaning products. Storage space has been reduced by using concentrated chemicals that are diluted on-site.
Bee Campus USA Affiliate Designation - EGSC has been designated as a Bee Campus USA affiliate! EGSC’s Bobcat Apiary features two hives of European honeybees (Apis mellifera), which are known to be gentle and good honey producers. The hives are located on EGSC’s Swainsboro campus to help promote the importance of pollinators in the community and worldwide. With the help of a portable observation hive, bees from the apiary will be transported to local educational outreach events and regional schools during Family Science Nights sponsored by the Magnolia Midlands Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center (MMGYSTC), to help educate students about the impact pollinators have on their lives. Bobcat Apiary’s bees will also offer teaching and research opportunities for students and faculty in the Biology degree programs. Don't miss out on the Bee Cam to watch the humming hive of activity that is EGSC’s Bobcat Apiary.
College Policies in Support of Sustainability
Resources
Follow the 3 R's: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
East Georgia State College practices, supports, and encourages recycling, energy conservation, and sustainability actions.
The following resources provide valuable information about eco-friendly efforts.
