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
Groundswell-led Collaboration Begins Research to Expand Solar Access for Low-Income Communities, Funded by U.S. Department of Energy Blog Southface Staff | June 7, 2019 Groundswell, a non-profit organization that builds community power connecting solar power to economic empowerment, with its partner organizations has launched a three-year research and demonstration program. Groundswell’s “LIFT” program will conduct research and develop program designs to rapidly accelerate accessible, market-based, scalable community solar and energy efficiency programs for low-income households and communities in at least a dozen states. Read More Tags: PAYS
Climate Change: A Way Forward Climate ChangeRegenerative Design Southface Staff | June 4, 2019 From the United Nations’ international studies and accords to strategic planning efforts by the U.S. Department of Defense, impacts of a rapidly changing global climate are being recognized and addressed around the world. Scientific data shows not only intensifying severe weather events and changing weather patterns but also accelerating atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, dying coral reefs, rising seas and vanishing glaciers. The pace of change continues to sound alarm bells in the scientific community and with the common citizen, businesses … Continue reading “Climate Change: A Way Forward” Read More Tags: Project Drawdown
Community Plumbing Program Alerts Resident to Gas Peril Blog Southface Staff | May 18, 2019 On May 15, 2019, plumber Ramel Herring and a partner, both from Legwork Plumbing Solutions, visited Atlanta resident Paulette Harris to deliver free plumbing repairs as part of Southface Institute’s Care & Conserve Plumbing Repair Program (CCPRP) funded by the City of Atlanta, Department of Watershed Management. Read More Tags: CCPRP, Indoor Air Quality
