How Do We Build a More Regenerative Southeast? Events Sarah Mundell | March 6, 2020 In a quickly urbanizing world, our cities are increasingly the center of all things—economic development, housing and jobs. Within these cities, our existing buildings are aging fast, and sustainable and high-performance practices for new construction are struggling to proliferate fast enough to keep pace with the degrading building inventory that is producing more than 40% of all carbon emissions, causing direct health problems for many, while contributing to a warming planet for all. Read More Tags: Greenprints
Linear to Circular Economy: Who’s Responsible? Regenerative Design Southface Curator | March 4, 2020 When consumers choose products and services that aim to eliminate waste and encourage the continual use and reuse of resources, they are encouraging a more circular economy. In fact, consumer choices are the biggest driving force behind growing industry shifts from linear to circular models. To appeal to customers, the government and employee demands, most industries are evolving to incorporate circularity in the product itself, its production and consumption. Read More Tags: Circular Economy, Waste, Zero Waste
W&A Engineering’s Historic Athens HQ Achieves EarthCraft Certification Office’s EarthCraft Light Commercial FitOut status is the first in Athens Blog Southface Staff | February 26, 2020 ATLANTA, GA – February 26, 2020 – W&A Engineering has completed the rehabilitation of a 10,000 square foot, 118-year-old mill building for use as its new headquarters. As part of that project, the company pursued EarthCraft Light Commercial (ECLC) FitOut, a green building certification developed by Southface Institute as part of its EarthCraft program. W&A’s certification is the first in Athens and only the second in the Southeast under this category. Read More Tags:
Affordable Housing Community Unveils Rooftop Solar Array Blog Southface Staff | February 25, 2020 Atlanta, GA—February 25, 2020— Today at 3:30 p.m., Solarize Atlanta will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Quest Communities, unveiling a donated solar array. Members of the Atlanta City Council will speak at the community gathering, as well as Nathaniel Smith, Chief Equity Officer of Partnership for Southern Equity. Quest Communities, a West Atlanta affordable housing development, is located at 878 Rock St NW, Atlanta GA, 30314. Read More Tags: Affordable Housing, Solar
New Report Provides Pathway to Cut Carbon by 60% Policy Southface Curator | February 25, 2020 A new report, Sector Coupling in Europe: Powering Decarbonization, reveals that if the transportation, building and industry sectors all electrified at the same time, they could cut their carbon emissions by 60% over the next three decades. The report recommends different approaches to electrification, while considering the extent of clean energy policies implemented by the government. Read More Tags: Carbon Footprint, Electric Vehicle
More Sustainable Business Models: What Are B Corporations? Southface Curator | February 20, 2020 There is a growing trend among businesses seeking to underscore their support of sustainable practices to become B-Corps, a designation that emphasizes a balance of profit and purpose. Certified B-corporations are required to include their employees, customers, suppliers, community and the environment in their actions. The certification is not easy to achieve, but consumers are influencing how companies think about their larger impact, not just their earnings. Read More Tags: Corporate Social Responsibility
Increasing the Conversation Around Climate Change Climate Change Southface Curator | February 12, 2020 The majority of Americans agree that global warming is happening and climate change is a pressing issue, yet few people are talking about it. An effective way to approach these conversations is sharing what we know, how we feel and why we care. How can we continue the conversation and create the trust on which common ground is formed? Read More Tags: sustainability talk
Speak (Sustainability) From Your Heart Climate Change Southface Curator | February 5, 2020 Whether it’s at a family dinner or during a presidential debate, talking about climate challenges with others can be very difficult. Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech University, knows just the trick when it comes to speaking to people from different backgrounds and belief systems about the climate crisis. Read More Tags: sustainability talk
Building Science Helping At-Risk Seniors Stay in Their Homes EventsGreen Building Sarah Mundell | January 29, 2020 Southface Institute is honored to share the hometown of Atlanta with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and every year on the weekend that commemorates his life and work, Southface staff and others participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Project for nearby Decatur, Georgia. Read More Tags: Martin Luther King Service Project, Volunteering in Atlanta
Deciphering the Language of Sustainable Design Southface Curator | January 29, 2020 Architects, engineers, designers and others in the sustainability sector often speak and write in jargon that their clients and audiences don’t completely understand. Using these words frequently without explanation can render them meaningless and makes it harder for newcomers to connect with sustainable activity. This article dives back into their original meanings. Read More Tags: sustainability talk