Southface Releases Guides to Updated 2020 Energy Code Uncategorized Southface Staff | August 20, 2019 ATLANTA, GA—August 20, 2019—Southface Institute released Georgia 2020 Energy Code Field Guides for both residential and commercial buildings, providing vital guidance for the dramatically updated code. Developed in partnership with the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), these resources will be used on jobsites by inspectors and subcontractors to support implementation of Georgia’s 2020 Residential and Commercial Building Energy Codes, which are set to go into effect on January 1, 2020. Read More Tags: Energy Code
What You’ll Find at Greenbuild 2019 Blog Southface Staff | August 20, 2019 WHAT TO EXPECT — This year at Greenbuild, there’s plenty to see and do. Four days of networking, education and new technology focused on sustainability in the built environment. Participate with Greenbuild and return to the field armed with the education and discoveries that will empower your decisions, influence your actions and inspire your dialogue—prompting you to share sustainability with others. Read More Tags: Greenbuild
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
