Facility

The Resnick Sustainability Institute is at the heart of Caltech's energy science and technology initiatives, both as a physical home and intellectual resource. The Institute is co-located with the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP) in the Jorgensen Laboratory building. The building has become the central hub for sustainable energy science and research, drawing faculty and students across campus to its cutting-edge spaces.

Formerly a computer science building, the Jorgensen laboratory was completely renovated and rededicated in the Fall of 2012. The building has achieved LEED Platinum certification and stands as a symbol of Caltech's lasting commitment to sustainability research.

The building's key green features include:

• Day Lighting
• Green Roof Above Entry Pavilion
• Neutral Dual Duct HVAC Scheme
• High-Efficiency Lighting
• Water Saving Fixtures: Low Flow and Dual Flush
• High Albedo Roof Surface to Reduce Heat Gain
• Climate Adapted Landscaping
• Use of Rapidly Renewable, Recyclable and Regional Materials (i.e. Bamboo, cork)
• Reuse or Recycling of Over 90% of the Materials Removed from the Original Building

A building planning committee chaired by Prof. Sarah Reisman was established in December 2019 and is working with Caltech Facilities and a project planning group on programming details for the new Resnick Sustainability Resource Center (RSRC) building.

The RSRC will house research resource centers along with state-of-the art teaching facilities. The centers include: 

• The Solar Science and Catalysis Center 
• The Remote Sensing Center
• The Ecology and Biosphere Engineering Facility
• The Translational Science Center 

Faculty leads guiding the RSRC building planning project include the PI's for the RSI's four key research initiatives Profs. Harry Atwater (Sunlight-to Everything PI), Paul Wennberg (Climate Science PI), Mark Simons (Water Resources PI) and Dianne Newman (Ecology and Biosphere Engineering PI), and John Dabiri, faculty lead for the Translational Science Center. Building programming and the selection of an Architect should be concluded by May-June 2020.

Campus Sustainability aims to enhance Caltech's core mission of research and education by reducing Caltech's environmental impact and promoting stewardship within the Caltech community. Visit their site to learn more about Caltech's actions and progress towards creating a sustainable future for our campus and our world.