Celebrating 30 Years of Energy and Enthusiasm: Mike Barcik’s Southface Legacy
It’s often said that Mike Barcik started working at Southface before most of us were born. Okay, that might not technically be true for everyone in the Southface community—but it’s not far off. This year marks 30 years since Mike joined Southface, and in that time, he’s done far more than advance energy efficiency across the Southeast—he’s made the work fun.
Throughout his three decades with Southface, Mike has played a pivotal role in helping Georgia navigate multiple energy code adoption cycles. Thanks to his leadership in 2006, Georgia homeowners were spared from relying on electric strip furnaces as the primary heating method. Instead, Mike championed the use of heat pumps—paving the way for widespread adoption across the state and saving residents countless dollars on their utility bills.
Just a few years later, in 2009, Mike helped guide Georgia through one of its most significant statewide energy code updates. That effort not only raised the bar for energy efficiency requirements but also introduced the Duct and Envelope Tightness (DET) Verifier program—an innovation that allows homeowners to understand how their new homes perform, backed by evaluations from trained, qualified professionals. The DET Verifier credential has been so successful, it has since been replicated in multiple states.
Beyond his energy code expertise, Mike is the face and personality of Southface’s training programs. Over the past 30 years, Southface—through Mike—has trained thousands of professionals, many of whom have come back for more than one course. Mike has played a key role in delivering a wide range of trainings, including the RESNET HERS Rater course, a ten-day intensive that teaches participants how to perform energy modeling; Weatherization courses that focus on improving existing homes; commercial building trainings that show energy efficiency isn’t just for residences; and building science classes that make complex concepts accessible—even to beginners. It’s hard to find someone who has taken a Southface course and hasn’t met Mike. His infectious curiosity about how buildings work—and how to make them perform better—combined with his unique PowerPoint style and legendary love of dad jokes, has made Southface education not only impactful but genuinely enjoyable.
Mike doesn’t just talk about energy efficiency—he lives it. He has weatherized his own home, helped fellow Southfacers do the same, and meticulously tracks his own utility usage—a dataset that goes back to when he purchased his home in 2000. For the past decade, he’s also led weatherization efforts during the City of Decatur’s MLK Day of Service, putting his passion for efficiency and community into action.
Mike is an inspiration to many and a friend to all. His career has not only shaped Southface’s impact on energy efficiency but also fostered a culture of curiosity, humor, and heart.
We’re deeply grateful that Mike has chosen to spend his career with Southface—bringing brilliance, enthusiasm, and a few dad jokes to every project, class, and conversation. Here’s to 30 years of energy, excellence, and the one and only Mike Barcik.
(Image – Mike insulating his own home)