Sonnen Harnesses the Power of Georgia’s Solar Market Renewable Energy Pamela Henman | May 21, 2018 In 2017, the City of Atlanta enacted legislation to power municipal buildings and facilities using 100 percent clean electricity by 2025, and over the next decade the entire city is expected to run on clean energy. This commitment presents a boon for one of the state’s leading clean energy sources — solar power. With a veritable unlimited supply, solar is one of the cleanest energy sources available and unlike fossil fuels, is renewable. During the mid-day, solar energy production peaks, … Continue reading “Sonnen Harnesses the Power of Georgia’s Solar Market” Read More Tags: Solar
Build Some Buzz for World Bee Day Communities Pamela Henman | May 16, 2018 Honey bees are perhaps one of the most crucial critters in our ecosystem, and its our responsibility to ensure their health and protection. May 20 is the first ever World Bee Day, and August 18 is National Honey Bee Day. Recognized by 115 member states of the United Nations, including the United States, Canada, China, India, and the European Union, World Bee Day raises awareness of bees’ role in supporting global biodiversity and sustainable food production. According to the U.S. … Continue reading “Build Some Buzz for World Bee Day” Read More Tags: Honey Bees
EarthCraft Makes History with the Georgia Trust Green Building Pamela Henman | May 11, 2018 By David Bailey and Pamela Henman A single-family home has never before achieved EarthCraft Sustainable Preservation certification, but thanks to The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and a longtime resident of Atlanta’s Westside community, that might change. Neale Nickels In March, The Georgia Trust acquired three single-family properties along the Atlanta BeltLine’s Westside Trail – two historic homes and an undeveloped lot. Working with EarthCraft, the Trust will rehabilitate the two existing homes and build a third one on the … Continue reading “EarthCraft Makes History with the Georgia Trust” Read More Tags: EarthCraft, Historic Preservation
Arbor Day Every Day: A Tree-Free Alternative for the Office Regenerative Design Pamela Henman | April 27, 2018 From memos to contracts, to-do-lists and reports, paper is a part of office life. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 90 percent of all office waste is paper, but this presents a ripe opportunity for us to reduce paper use and take advantage of tree-free alternatives that contribute to a circular economy. Jeffrey Foote Tree Zero is North America’s only 100% tree-free, carbon neutral paper brand. TreeZero Executive Vice President of Sustainability Jeffrey Foote spoke with Southface on how offices … Continue reading “Arbor Day Every Day: A Tree-Free Alternative for the Office” Read More Tags: Carbon Footprint, Circular Economy, Corporate Social Responsibility
Weaving Sustainability Into What We Wear EventsRegenerative Design Pamela Henman | April 25, 2018 Textile production is a global, resource-intensive process that takes immense amounts of water, fossil fuels, and chemicals to produce just one piece of clothing. There’s an 85% chance that single item of clothing will end up in a landfill. On May 4, Southface’s Sustainable Atlanta Roundtable (SART) explores the environmental and social impact of what we wear, and features companies who are taking a sustainable approach to apparel design and manufacturing. Be sure to join us for an interactive … Continue reading “Weaving Sustainability Into What We Wear” Read More Tags: Carbon Footprint, SART
Here’s Why We Feel Optimistic This Earth Day (And You Should Too) Climate Change David Bailey | April 22, 2018 So far, 2018 has been a pretty tough year for the planet. So was 2017. And 2016. In fact, the past 16 years have been the warmest years on record, according to NASA. The rate at which the average global surface temperatures has increased has been 233% since 1980. Yet we remain optimistic. In Atlanta alone, countless organizations and individuals are working tirelessly to build a resilient future and a more regenerative economy that future generations can enjoy. Every day … Continue reading “Here’s Why We Feel Optimistic This Earth Day (And You Should Too)” Read More Tags: Conservation
3 Things You Should Know About Your House But You Probably Don’t Green Building David Bailey | April 17, 2018 No matter the size, homes are highly-complex structures with a foundation built on science. From air conditioning and water heaters to insulation and air sealing, the mechanical systems in our buildings are deeply interconnected, and interior and exterior components must work in harmony to ensure your home is comfortable, secure, and energy efficient. Read More Tags: Building Science
4 Energy Efficiency Myths and What You Can Do About it Green Building David Bailey | April 9, 2018 Spring and summer are the perfect time of year for homeowners to boost their home’s energy efficiency. Common outdoor allergens from pollen in early spring to ragweed in late summer affect many, but indoor pollutants like mold also play a role in your overall health. Additionally, higher temperatures lead to higher energy bills, so improvements to residential energy efficiency can drastically improve indoor environmental conditions and, thus, create a healthier home when you need it most. However, there are … Continue reading “4 Energy Efficiency Myths and What You Can Do About it” Read More Tags: Building Science
Advancing the Case for an Energy-Efficient Georgia: The Water-Energy Nexus PolicyRenewable Energy Pamela Henman | April 3, 2018 Southface and the Southern Environmental Law Center are pleased to present “The Water-Energy Nexus in Georgia: A Detailed Examination of Consumptive Water Use in the Power Sector.” Our goals in commissioning this analysis were to clarify the scale and nature of water use by the electric power sector in Georgia and to enrich the ongoing discussions about energy and water regulation and policy in Georgia and the Southeast. While the study looks both backward and forward in time, the real … Continue reading “Advancing the Case for an Energy-Efficient Georgia: The Water-Energy Nexus” Read More Tags: Utilities
Transforming Transit: Catching Up With TransFormation Alliance’s Odetta MacLeish-White Communities Pamela Henman | March 29, 2018 In October 2017, Odetta MacLeish-White was appointed the first managing director of The TransFormation Alliance (TFA), a collaboration of metro Atlanta organizations that promotes the development of thriving, mixed-income communities anchored by transit. On April 6, she will moderate Southface’s monthly policy forum, the Sustainable Atlanta Roundtable (SART). April’s SART focuses on building equity in transit-oriented development, and joining MacLeish-White are panelists Amanda Rhein, Senior Director, TOD & Real Estate at MARTA; Edrick Harris, Vice President, Development at Prestwick Companies; and Robert … Continue reading “Transforming Transit: Catching Up With TransFormation Alliance’s Odetta MacLeish-White” Read More Tags: Transit