Providing Community Access to Fresh Food Communities Southface Curator | July 10, 2020 Backyard and community gardening have become popular again, especially as people try to ensure a secure a source of food. The key to growing healthy food is having healthy soil, and “black gold” or compost is a great way of providing nutrients to help a garden grow. Read More Tags: Compost
How Some Local Businesses Face Operations Amid COVID-19 Events Sarah Mundell | July 8, 2020 Innovation, creativity, connection and flexibility are part of a successful entrepreneur’s lifeblood at any time, and they are especially necessary during times of crisis, said panelists at Southface Institute’s June Sustainable Atlanta Roundtable. Read More Tags: COVID-19, SART
Increase in Home Energy Bills This Summer Southface Curator | July 2, 2020 While the spread of COVID-19 remains uncertain, working from home is quickly becoming the new normal, leading to more at-home energy costs. A predicted one-third of Americans will see a 10-15% increase in their energy bills this summer because of virus-related changes at work, which means spending between $2 and $37 more, according to Arcadia, an energy and analytic company. Read More Tags: COVID-19, Energy Efficiency, Utilities
Atlanta History Center Documents the City’s Pandemic Experience Communities Southface Staff | June 30, 2020 As we slog through the trenches of 2020, which is leaving one of the most cataclysmic wakes in contemporary memory, it’s sometimes easy to lose sight of the fact that this is some amazing history we’re living through. With the coronavirus pandemic and the social transformation carried by the protests against racism, the coming years will look and feel different in many ways. On the COVID-19 front, there’s one Atlanta institution that didn’t miss a beat in recording its significance … Continue reading “Atlanta History Center Documents the City’s Pandemic Experience” Read More Tags: COVID-19, Gooduse
Chicago Housing Authority Achieves First-Ever BIT Building™ Certification Blog Southface Staff | June 26, 2020 ATLANTA, GA—JUNE 24, 2020— Southface Institute announced today that the Chicago Housing Authority has completed the BIT Building certification for the Dearborn Homes development, making them the first organization with buildings whose maintenance and operations include the program’s 16 Best Practices for resource efficiency and sustainability. The achievement represents the increasing adoption of green building practices by all kinds of organizations and businesses and is a first for a public housing authority. Read More Tags: BIT Building
The Effect of COVID-19 on Indoor Air Quality Building Health Southface Curator | June 25, 2020 Research shows that coronavirus infections spread more easily indoors because of dense areas and shared airspace. With office spaces moving toward a more open concept, we are seeing more occupants, new ventilation improvements that allow for filtered air over fresh air and more energy-efficient offices. Indoor air quality is becoming the main focus as businesses reopen, and sustainability experts are hopeful that it presents an opportunity to create more sustainable ventilation systems. Read More Tags: COVID-19, Indoor Air Quality
A Tool for More Equitable Development in Atlanta Communities Alex Trachtenberg | June 19, 2020 In this moment of social transformation, with the country and Atlanta in protest against police brutality, racially driven murder and the structural racism that has impacted the Black community for centuries, the need for development in our cities that recognizes potential displacement and needs of existing residents is more vital than ever. Read More Tags: Affordable Housing, COVID-19, Equity, Gentrification
Financial Benefits of Energy Efficiency Green Building Southface Curator | June 18, 2020 The new statewide energy code went into effect at the beginning of this year, making it easier to receive financial incentives for a high-performing home. Amelia Godfrey, program manager of EarthCraft, shares the incentives available for homes that are built or renovated to meet the minimum standard. While there are several ways to build a high-performance home, many can be accompanied by low additional costs. Read More Tags: EarthCraft, Energy Code, Energy Efficiency
Georgia’s Mass Timber and the Triple Bottom Line Climate ChangeGreen Building Shane Totten, AIA, BIT Pro | June 12, 2020 In the weeks before COVID-19 disrupted daily life, the Georgia General Assembly was considering two bills which Southface believes may be able to accelerate the transition to a regenerative economy. House Bill 1015 (HB 1015) could update Georgia’s carbon sequestration registry to include building products that sequester carbon. (Did you even know Georgia already has a carbon sequestration registry? Me neither.). House Bill 7773 (HB 777) could instruct the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to investigate amending the state’s building … Continue reading “Georgia’s Mass Timber and the Triple Bottom Line” Read More Tags: Carbon Sequestration, Mass Timber
San Francisco’s Future Low-Carbon Community Communities Southface Curator | June 10, 2020 A 29-acre industrial site is being redeveloped in San Francisco to serve as a sustainable community. The Potrero Power Station Mixed-Use Project will reduce carbon levels by focusing on walkability and efficient transportation, emphasizing open spaces and requiring all buildings to be LEED Gold-certified or better. This project will be a model for how future cities can create a complete community. Read More Tags: Urbanism
