Southface Institute: Blog

2021 is the year of hope, change and, most importantly, renewable energy. With clean energy companies outperforming fossil fuel heavyweights last year and eight out of ten of the world’s …

Continue reading "Happy ReNEWable Year"

Winter is right around the corner, and now is the perfect time to make sure your home is ready to take on the cold conditions. Did you know that solar …

Continue reading "Preparing Your Home for Winter"

On a hot, humid September day, dozens of students, teachers, well-wishers and project participants gathered outside The SAE School in Mableton. The occasion was to celebrate a ribbon-cutting of the …

Continue reading "100% Solar a Growing Reality for Nonprofits"

Rooftop solar is one clean-energy solution that can help address the energy burden in low-income areas and communities of color. Research shows that most solar panels are found in majority-white communities, so even as solar use increases, not all communities can reap the cost-saving benefits on their energy bills.

In April, for the first time, renewable energy from solar, wind and hydropower generated more electricity than coal every day for the entire month, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). In comparison, renewables beat coal only 38 days in all of 2019. This shift is tied to many reasons, including the economic slowdown from COVID-19.

A new study has found a beneficial relationship between solar arrays and agricultural areas. Many animals and vegetable crops can thrive with the partial shade from the solar arrays. In turn, farmers receive a financial benefit from switching to renewable energy. This symbiotic relationship is becoming known as an “agrivoltaic system."

Clean energy is becoming mainstream, with roughly 15% of the electricity generated in the U.S. coming from sources like solar and wind. As renewable energy challenges the traditional methods of electricity generation, grid infrastructure is being updated so renewables can prosper—no easy task.

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 hubs are one way.