GEFA has been proud to partner with Southface in a variety of ways to educate design and construction professionals, policy makers, building owners and concerned citizens on energy efficient design and construction practices, and their positive impacts on our quality of life. Our flagship collaborative effort is Greenprints: Sustainable Communities by Design. This annual conference, convened in Atlanta since 1998, is a leading reason that Georgia is now a national leader in the green building movement.

While paving the way for other green building conferences nationwide, Greenprints remains dedicated to being the Southeast’s most affordable, hands-on learning experience. Our success has been made possible by the support and involvement of our participants from the commercial and residential design and construction communities, leaders in energy and land use policy and our sponsors and exhibitors.

Southface and GEFA are once again partnering with the Urban Land Institute Atlanta District Council, EarthCraft House and the U.S. Green Building Council to develop an in-depth agenda, including off-site workshops at some of the world’s greenest buildings – right in the heart of Atlanta. Every stakeholder in sustainability will find resources and tools that will enable them to make a difference.

In this issue of the Southface Journal, learn more about what Greenprints has in store for you. You’ll also learn how EarthCraft House is influencing the LEED for Homes program, what consumer advocate Clark Howard learned from Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, and other ways Southface is leading the effort to transform the market toward energy and resource efficient practices. Enjoy this publication, and mark your calendar to join us at Greenprints 2006, March 23 and 24, in Atlanta!

Elizabeth Sparrow Robertson
Director, State Energy Office Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority