Dear Reader,

As I bring to a close my second year as Chairman of the Board for Southface, I am extremely proud of the innovative way the organization responds to the needs of the design and construction community as we work to conduct our business in a more environmentally responsible way.

At Hardin, we have always valued our employees and our clients, but the new value we bring to our work is our understanding that sound environmental practices positively influence all facets of our business. The commitment of our company is not only present in our role with the Eco Office construction team, but in our LEED work around the region.

We also see a commitment among our staff to bring new ideas to old challenges in order to transform the market toward sustainable construction practices. As Senior Vice President for Hardin's retail division, I have witnessed growing interest within this market segment to understand and adopt the green building principles promoted by Southface. I feel certain that the day is coming when sustainable development is business as usual.

In this issue of the Southface Journal, you'll learn how to "green" your workplace and influence the market for sustainable consumer goods. We've also included a list of the LEED and ENERGY STAR registered buildings in Georgia. It is quite impressive and demonstrative of our region's position as a leader in high performance buildings. Regardless of the industry within which you may be charting your career path, we all play a role in the environmental course our region will take. The educational programs and informational resources Southface provides help arm average citizens, business leaders and policy makers with sound information for taking positive steps toward a sustainable future. Remember that your membership is fundamental for the organization's continued success.

Thank you for taking the time to enjoy this issue of the Journal, and for your interest in Southface's work.

Jeff George

Southface Board Chairman

Senior Vice President, Hardin Construction Co., LLC