Southface Institute: Blog

Bringing Sustainability to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Green Building

For most nonprofits, any opportunity to save money is a welcome one, as those savings can be invested in work which fulfills the organization’s mission. Utility bills represent one area where nonprofits can realize big savings, as inefficient buildings and fixtures can be a large portion of an organization’s operating expenses.

Tags: Gooduse

Avalon Catering to Bring Sustainable, Local Flavor to Summer Solstice

Events

Summer is here, and with it comes the chance to taste the best of what the season offers – juicy watermelon, golden ears of corn, ripe tomatoes, and more make for a delightful meal that can be sourced from our own backyards. As a state-of-the-art demonstration facility and industry leader throughout the Southeast, Southface hosts countless trainings, events, and community forums year round. For more than a decade, Southface has worked closely with Atlanta-based Avalon Catering, thanks in part to …

Tags: Solstice

High Performance Without the High Price Tag

Green Building

Most intown Atlantans know that housing prices are rising and some rents have risen by as much as 70 percent. This means less affordable housing across the city for those who need it most, including seniors. For seniors living in the heart of the city, affordability is especially critical. However, a redeveloped property in Midtown, called 10th & Juniper, demonstrates how affordability and sustainability can intersect, to the benefit of seniors, disabled residents, and low-income families. Over the past year …

Tags: Affordable Housing

Training the Next Generation of Green Building Professionals

Education

Over the past two years, Georgia’s construction industry has seen a 5.5 percent annual increase. As demand for green building grows in Atlanta and statewide, Southface teamed up with a west Atlanta high school to cultivate the next generation of green building professionals and prepare them for a successful, rewarding career in a growing market.

Tags: Workforce Development

5 Ways You Can Beat Plastic Pollution Today

Climate Change
Regenerative Design

Each year millions of tons of plastic waste pollutes our ecosystem and kills thousands of animals. Plastic pollution is our planet’s defining challenge and the focus of this year’s World Environment Day. On June 5, we join the UN and hundreds of countries in the effort to Beat Plastic Pollution. By 2050 an estimated 12 billion tons of plastic will go un-recycled, littering our environment and taking thousands of years to decompose, according to the UN. As consumers we can …

Tags: Waste

Sonnen Harnesses the Power of Georgia’s Solar Market

Renewable Energy

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, …

Tags: Solar

Build Some Buzz for World Bee Day

Communities

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. …

Tags: Honey Bees

EarthCraft Makes History with the Georgia Trust

Green Building

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 …

Tags: EarthCraft, Historic Preservation

Arbor Day Every Day: A Tree-Free Alternative for the Office

Regenerative Design

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 …

Tags: Carbon Footprint, Circular Economy, Corporate Social Responsibility

Weaving Sustainability Into What We Wear

Events
Regenerative Design

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 …

Tags: Carbon Footprint, SART