At Valdosta State University, sustainability is about more than caring for our environment—it is about caring for our campus, our community, and the generations of Blazers who will follow. VSU proudly supports the University System of Georgia’s (USG) sustainability initiative and the efforts of the Campus Environmental Resource Group (CERG) to encourage thoughtful stewardship of our resources and responsible utilities management. From conserving energy and water and reducing waste to supporting sustainable building practices, protecting our beautiful green spaces, and making thoughtful choices about how we use our resources, every effort makes a difference. Together, we can help create a healthier, more resilient campus while honoring the natural beauty of Valdosta State and building a more sustainable future for our University and the communities we serve.
Housing
  • Our evolution to electronic PI's and room inspections will dramatically decrease paper usage.  

Parking & Transportation      

  • Recycle paper and make note pads
  • Cardboard is recycled for painting purposes  
  • Recycling containers in our office (both metal and paper)
  • Carpool in our vehicles and try to keep only one car out at a time to limit gas consumption
  • Use automotive cart regularly (when not cold) which reduces gas consumption.

1Card

  • Shredding paper for re-cycling.  
  • Recycling cans & plastic.  

Bookstore

  • The bookstore uses all shredded documents as packing material.  
  • All ink cartridges from printers and copiers are shipped to recycling facilities using labels provided by cartridge vendors.  
  • All cardboard used by the bookstore and union building is baled by bookstore staff and collected by a recycling facility.  
  • Bubble wrap and packing materials in incoming shipments are reused in outgoing shipments.  
  • Old editions of textbooks with no buyback value are collected during buyback from students and shipped to Bridge to Asia for use in foreign counties.

Student Health

  • Recycling (paper and printer/toner cartridges – when possible)
  • Building designed to LEED standards.

Dining Services

  • Recycle Card Board, Palms, Hopper, Catering, Student Union and Library
  • Recycle plastics at the library
  • Recycle used grease in all locations
  • Tray less in both resident dining halls
  • Project clean plate in Palms
  • Certified Humane Cage free eggs in all units
  • Purchase produce locally
  • RBGH free milk and yogurts
  • We purchase tomatoes that were grown in FL and pay a 1.5 cents more per lb to support the Coalition of Immokalee Farm Workers
  • We serve grass fed beef
  • Purchase Social and ecological certified coffee products
  • Purchase poultry products without the routine use of human antibiotics
  • We purchase and support the need for sustainable oceans by purchasing products recommended by Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program

Key Shop

  • Adaptation of ways and/or technology to lessen the use of paper and other office materials, especially in the form of key requests/receipts and hard-copy filing system.
  • Reduced use of aerosol type lubricants
  • All brass and other metals are recycled.
  • Transitioning to electronic locks reducing the need for metal keys.

Environmental and Occupational Safety

  • Recycling pickups through Physical Plant
  • Water Conservation through utilization of reduced flow replacement items by Physical Plant
  • Recycling Subcommittee of the Environmental Issues Committee
  • Energy Conservation Subcommittee of the Environmental Issues Committee
  • Signatory to the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment

Recycling

Physical Plant oversees the university recycling program.  Physical Plant has employees that collect paper, plastic.

Lighting

Interior lighting represents approximately 17% of the energy consumed in the commercial building each year.

  • Motion sensors.  VSU has installed motion sensors in most classrooms on campus to turn off lighting when rooms are unoccupied
  • LED lighting:  VSU has replaced most exterior lights with LED and the majority of the interior lights in the classroom have been changed to LED.  

Air Conditioning Improvements

Replaced outdated cooling systems with more efficient units at Bailey, Education Center, Odum Library, Pound and Thaxton Halls.

Holiday Building Turndown:  VSU programs the heating and cooling systems in selected buildings to maintain minimum temperature setting during Holidays while still protecting building contents.  

Roofing

VSU replaced aging roofs with highly reflective roofing.  These roofs on Fine Arts, Odum Library, and the Education Center significantly reduces heat gain from the summer sun.

A high solar reflectance is the most important characteristic of a cool roof as it helps to reflect sunlight and heat away from a building, reducing roof temperatures. A high thermal emittance also plays a role, particularly in climates that are warm and sunny. Together, these properties help roofs to absorb less heat and stay up to 50–60°F (28–33°C) cooler than conventional materials during peak summer weather. (US EPA)

Water Conservation

  • The majority of the water used for landscaping comes from wells.  There is no energy used in treating the water.  
  • VSU has replaced all the main water lines on main campus to eliminate leaking lines that waste water.  VSU has also replaced the main sewer lines on main campus to eliminate any leaking lines or cross contamination with storm drainage systems.
  • VSU has installed several storm drainage retention measures.  At the Education Center and Bailey Science Center, underground storm retention systems hold rain water from roofs and allow it to slowly discharge into the storm drainage system.  This helps reduce the surges of water in creeks near campus that can cause erosion.
Landscape and Grounds
  • Green space on campus:  VSU specifically strives to preserve the natural beauty, open spaces, trees and plant life. 
  • The Pinetum at Odum Library was planned in 2008 with the intentions of bringing the native pine species of the Southeastern region of the United States to Valdosta State University for the education of its students and the citizens of Valdosta. Here the pines are thriving among older pines on the banks of One Mile Branch Creek. Each tree is identified with a number that can be accessed to retrieve information about the exact species of that pine. With the collaboration of staff and students, the trees on the University’s Campus can be understood, respected and interrelated to the historical importance of our campus.
  • VSU’s commitment to healthy green infrastructure has garnered it national designation as a Tree Campus Higher Education Program, making it one of nine universities in Georgia with this distinction. According to ArborDay.org, the Tree Campus USA program recognizes campuses that “effectively manage their campus trees; develop connectivity with the community beyond campus borders to foster healthy, urban forests; and strive to engage their student population utilizing service learning opportunities center on campus, and community, forestry efforts.” The standards for Tree Campus USA designation include having a campus tree advisory committee, a campus tree care plan, a service learning project, a tree program with dedicated annual expenditures and an annual observance of Arbor Day.
  • Lake Louise Biology Education Area:  Recently completed board walk around Lake Louise provides biology faculty and student access to the nature area for classes and research.