Calculating the Real Carbon Footprint of Our Purchases Climate ChangeGreen Technology Southface Curator | August 9, 2019 We may be aware of how much CO² our cars emit or is produced by the energy they consume, but are we aware of how much carbon is released into the atmosphere during the production process of the car itself? Some organizations are working on carbon-accounting tools that will help consumers be better informed about the carbon footprint of their purchases. Read More at GreenBiz.com Read More Tags: Electric Vehicle
Resilience Hubs: Equitable Resource Centers That Foster Community and Give Support During Emergencies CommunitiesRenewable Energy Southface Staff | August 8, 2019 During times of natural disaster, an entire network of resources and people must come together to repair and rebuild essential infrastructure that allows for provision of critical services—including medical care, clean water and fresh food—all of which require a reliable and steady source of electricity. Individual entities might provide for their own backup power with generators or microgrids that continue working when shared electrical infrastructure is down. But how can communities ensure more equitable access to electricity during emergencies? Resilience … Continue reading “Resilience Hubs: Equitable Resource Centers That Foster Community and Give Support During Emergencies” Read More Tags: Battery Energy Storage, Resilience Hubs, Solar
7 Ways to Make Business Operations More Sustainable Green Building Southface Staff | August 1, 2019 Thanks to environmental, social and business trends, sustainability is becoming much more of a priority for businesses. It not only affects companies’ cost structures, but it is increasingly a crucial differentiator for investors, consumers and B2B customers. What’s the best way to approach integrating sustainable practices in business operations? Read More Tags: Energy Code, Green Infrastructure
Atlanta’s Iconic Fox Theatre and Southface Institute Team Up to Make the Historic Arts Venue Even More Sustainable Blog Southface Staff | July 25, 2019 ATLANTA, GA – July 25, 2019 – July 1, Southface Institute and Atlanta’s historic Fox Theatre have partnered once again to further strengthen the Atlanta arts venue’s commitment to sustainability, save on its operating costs and make the theater an example of resource-efficiency for older buildings. Read More Tags: BIT Building
Georgians Saving Energy May Soon See Reduced Impact on Bills Policy Southface Curator | July 19, 2019 Georgia Power has asked state legislators to raise a fixed fee on its energy bills, a move that could reduce the cost impact of users’ everyday energy-saving measures. “It limits consumer control over how to manage their energy use and, therefore, it limits the impact of their choices on their energy bills,” said Lisa Bianchi-Fossati, Southface Institute’s Director of Policy. Read More Tags: Utilities
Are Bioplastics an Environmental Solution to Plastic? Regenerative Design Southface Curator | July 18, 2019 The term “bioplastics” sounds environmentally-friendly, right? But is it really better than conventional plastic? With so much confusion around plastic alternatives, and even with multiple definitions of bioplastic–one biodegradable and one not–it can be hard to make responsible purchases. We shouldn’t assume that all bioplastics can break down. Read More Tags: Bioplastics, Compost
Georgia Commission Recommits to Solar PolicyRenewable Energy Southface Curator | July 16, 2019 On July 16, 2019, the Georgia Public Service Commissioners approved recommendations by Vote Solar and Southface Institute and committed Georgia Power to invest in more than two gigawatts of clean energy over the next three years. Read More Tags: Solar
Battery Energy Storage Could Help Tip the Scales for Widespread Renewables Adoption Renewable Energy Southface Staff | July 3, 2019 Is more widespread adoption of renewable energy at scale just around the corner? Many people in the industry see it as inevitable, though projected timeframes vary widely. The intermittent nature of wind and solar energy is one often-cited factor constraining wider adoption. Solar and wind provide varied output depending on geography, climate, weather and time of day. This is one of many reasons why we are still seeing deployment of non-renewable resources in addition to renewable resources across the nation. Read More Tags: Battery Energy Storage, Solar, Wind Energy
TransFormation Alliance Grants $500,000 to Groups for Soccer Fields, Affordable Housing and Other Projects to Improve Climate, Health and Racial Equality Blog Southface Staff | June 25, 2019 ATLANTA – The TransFormation Alliance, a partnership of more than 30 government agencies, businesses and nonprofits, including the Strong, Prosperous, And Resilient Communities Challenge (SPARCC), announced today a series of innovative grants to help infrastructure in Atlanta heal where it once divided. Read More Tags: Affordable Housing, Equity
Southface Assists in First Water Efficiency Standards for U.S. Buildings Blog Southface Staff | June 14, 2019 May 31 saw the release of Water Audit Guidance for Commercial Buildings, a multiyear effort by City Energy Project, headed by the Institute for Market Transformation and the Natural Resources Defense Council, together with Southface Institute, H.W. (Bill) Hoffman & Associates, LLC, the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge (and partners) and 20 local governments, to create the first comprehensive guide to propose water efficiency measures for commercial buildings. Read More Tags: Better Buildings Challenge, Water Conservation
