Southface Institute: Blog

Building a Resilient and Sustainable Community

Climate Change

Resiliency planning helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters and emergencies of all kinds. It is especially important in vulnerable communities, as 2020 has shown with its many unexpected challenges, including the pandemic, racial unrest and a variety of climate-related disasters. How can cities build resiliency to include all members of the community? Learn from California’s plan as rural and urban areas transition to a more holistic and sustainable economy. Read more at greenbiz.com

Tags: COVID-19, Natural Disaster, Resilience

Southface Partners With Local Boy Scout to Upgrade Nonprofit’s Composting Bin

About Us

As a demonstration facility of all things sustainable, Southface Institute showcases many operational features, including methods to process food and gardening waste. Due to its age and exposure to the elements, Southface’s outdoor composting system had started to rot, making it difficult to properly maintain the right nutrient balance for successful composting. Fortunately, in the summer of 2020, Southface became the beneficiary of a new outdoor compost bin system—thanks to the hands-on commitment of a group of dedicated young people …

Tags: Compost, Sustainable Facility Management, Zero Waste

The Green Building Registry Partners With Southface Institute to Provide EarthCraft House Data

Blog

PORTLAND, Ore., October 29, 2020 (Newswire.com) – Earth Advantage®, Inc. and Southface Institute announced today a partnership to help deliver green and energy-efficient home data through the Green Building Registry® (GBR). Historically, important information on a home such as the energy use, third-party building certifications or power production (solar panels) has not made it into the real estate transaction process. Thousands of dollars of value could be lost because trustworthy data was not available for a listing agent, the appraiser and …

Tags: EarthCraft

How Innovative Technology Can Create Affordable Water

Green Technology

For many, accessing clean and affordable water is an everyday challenge. For others, the economic downturn caused by the pandemic has made it difficult to keep the water turned on.

Tags: COVID-19, Utilities

Why Net-Zero Homes Embrace Smart Home Technology

Green Technology

Residential housing is one of the biggest contributors to carbon emissions, yet most homeowners do not even realize it. More time spent indoors results in higher energy bills, but what does this increase really tell us about how much energy a home consumes?

Tags: Energy Efficiency, Net Zero

The Untapped Power of Ocean Energy

Green Technology
Renewable Energy

In the quest for renewable energy sources, ocean currents have remained in the shadows of wind and solar power. But with global temperatures rising and innovative technology getting released, ocean power is making its way to center stage. Water flows at a slower speed than wind, but it has a more regular pattern and actually provides more energy. As interest in cleaner energy sources continues to increase, read how ocean power offers an untapped opportunity to reduce carbon and meet …

Tags: Ocean Power, Wind Energy

Solve Stormwater Infrastructure With Community Financing

Increased flooding and severe weather are bringing water management problems to the top of the civic priority list. In 2015, the EPA created a model focused on community-based public-private partnerships to finance stormwater infrastructure.

Tags: Green Infrastructure, Natural Disaster, Resilience

100% Solar a Growing Reality for Nonprofits

Blog
Green Building

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 school’s new solar array, an installation that puts The SAE School on its way to becoming the first 100% solar-powered school in Georgia. Its path to get there is unique, but it’s one that could soon be adopted by more schools and nonprofits in other states. The SAE School’s newly …

Tags: Gooduse, Solar

Creating a Virtual Space for Southface’s Biggest Night of the Year

Blog
Events

The 2020 Visionary Dinner gathered the nonprofit’s community of supporters with an exquisite online cooking demonstration, an inspiring message on regenerative and just placemaking and a chance to meet up with old and new friends. Every year, Southface’ Visionary Dinner brings together people who are passionate about sustainability to be inspired by innovative thought-leaders, to connect with others wanting to impact the future of the industry and enjoy exquisite meals made by top chefs. But what does all that look …

Tags: AEC inspiration, Asha Gomez, Liz Ogbu, Regenerative placemaking, Spatial Justice, Urbanism, Veronica Wandui, Visionary Dinner