Southface Institute: Blog

Affordable Housing Community Unveils Rooftop Solar Array

Blog

Atlanta, GA—February 25, 2020— Today at 3:30 p.m., Solarize Atlanta will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Quest Communities, unveiling a donated solar array. Members of the Atlanta City Council will speak at the community gathering, as well as Nathaniel Smith, Chief Equity Officer of Partnership for Southern Equity. Quest Communities, a West Atlanta affordable housing development, is located at 878 Rock St NW, Atlanta GA, 30314.

Tags: Affordable Housing, Solar

New Report Provides Pathway to Cut Carbon by 60%

Policy

A new report, Sector Coupling in Europe: Powering Decarbonization, reveals that if the transportation, building and industry sectors all electrified at the same time, they could cut their carbon emissions by 60% over the next three decades. The report recommends different approaches to electrification, while considering the extent of clean energy policies implemented by the government.

Tags: Carbon Footprint, Electric Vehicle

More Sustainable Business Models: What Are B Corporations?

There is a growing trend among businesses seeking to underscore their support of sustainable practices to become B-Corps, a designation that emphasizes a balance of profit and purpose. Certified B-corporations are required to include their employees, customers, suppliers, community and the environment in their actions. The certification is not easy to achieve, but consumers are influencing how companies think about their larger impact, not just their earnings.

Tags: Corporate Social Responsibility

Increasing the Conversation Around Climate Change

Climate Change

The majority of Americans agree that global warming is happening and climate change is a pressing issue, yet few people are talking about it. An effective way to approach these conversations is sharing what we know, how we feel and why we care. How can we continue the conversation and create the trust on which common ground is formed?

Tags: sustainability talk

Speak (Sustainability) From Your Heart

Climate Change

Whether it’s at a family dinner or during a presidential debate, talking about climate challenges with others can be very difficult. Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech University, knows just the trick when it comes to speaking to people from different backgrounds and belief systems about the climate crisis.

Tags: sustainability talk

Building Science Helping At-Risk Seniors Stay in Their Homes

Events
Green Building

Southface Institute is honored to share the hometown of Atlanta with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and every year on the weekend that commemorates his life and work, Southface staff and others participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Project for nearby Decatur, Georgia.

Tags: Martin Luther King Service Project, Volunteering in Atlanta

Deciphering the Language of Sustainable Design

Architects, engineers, designers and others in the sustainability sector often speak and write in jargon that their clients and audiences don’t completely understand. Using these words frequently without explanation can render them meaningless and makes it harder for newcomers to connect with sustainable activity. This article dives back into their original meanings.

Tags: sustainability talk

Is Your Campus Focused on Sustainability?

Green Building

Having a hard time finding recycling bins on campus? Looking for a smarter way to get rid of food waste? If you’d like to see your school go green, you can make more of an impact than you might think. From community service opportunities to campus recycling programs, there are plenty of ways your college can promote sustainability on campus.

Tags: School

The Changing Technological Landscape of LED Lighting

Green Technology

You may be using LED bulbs, but are you aware of how they’re evolving? LEDs are becoming a common replacement for incandescent and fluorescent lamps as a result of advancements in technology. Through smaller diodes, a more compact design and color tuning systems, LEDs not only maintain a standard of efficiency but have also seen environmental improvements. Developers are taking new steps to continue to ensure this technology remains sustainable throughout its lifecycle.

Tags: LED

Decarbonizing the Building Industry Through Design

Green Building

There are many ways to measure the emissions of a buildings’ operations, but emissions associated with the materials and construction process, or embodied carbon, are often left unchecked. Construction requires the usage of many carbon-intensive materials, including concrete, steel, aluminum and glass. Assessing the building’s overall life cycle will aid architects in decarbonizing the building sector.

Tags: Carbon Footprint