Southface Institute: Blog

Southface Institute’s Visionary Dinner to Gather Leaders in Sustainability and Present 2019 Argon Award

Blog

Southface Institute, the Atlanta-based national leader in sustainable advocacy, building, planning and operations, is hosting its annual Visionary Dinner that convenes forward-thinking innovators who are committed to building an equitable and sustainable future, uniting them for an evening of thought leadership, friendship, exquisite food and fine wine pairings.

Tags: Visionary Dinner

Southface Releases Guides to Updated 2020 Energy Code

Blog

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.

Tags: Energy Code

Southface Releases Guides to Updated 2020 Energy Code

Uncategorized

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.

Tags: Energy Code

What You’ll Find at Greenbuild 2019

Blog

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.

Tags: Greenbuild

Calculating the Real Carbon Footprint of Our Purchases

Climate Change
Green Technology

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      

Tags: Electric Vehicle

Resilience Hubs: Equitable Resource Centers That Foster Community and Give Support During Emergencies

Communities
Renewable Energy

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 …

Tags: Battery Energy Storage, Resilience Hubs, Solar

7 Ways to Make Business Operations More Sustainable

Green Building

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?

Tags: Energy Code, Green Infrastructure

Georgians Saving Energy May Soon See Reduced Impact on Bills

Policy

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.

Tags: Utilities

Are Bioplastics an Environmental Solution to Plastic?

Regenerative Design

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.

Tags: Bioplastics, Compost