Southface Institute: Blog

The Pros of Electrification

Blog

Originally posted by Atlanta Building News. It’s Electric Electrification has become one of the popular buzzwords within the energy efficiency community. It is generally presented as a method to address climate change; by moving to all-electric buildings, cities and states will be able to reduce their carbon emissions and improve overall air quality. Additionally, electrification offers a variety of other benefits, both for homebuilders and buyers. Here are a few different ones to consider. CostThe path to housing affordability is …

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Cutting the Ribbon at Chattanooga’s Construction Career Center, a GoodUse Project

Blog

The construction industry is facing a dire workforce shortage. For every five retiring employees, there is only one person entering the workforce. As part of a highly collaborative public-private partnership, the Building and Construction Workforce Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is taking bold action to address this problem by launching the Construction Career Center.   The Career Center is envisioned to be an innovative vocational school and training center in the urban center of Chattanooga for teens and adults—and a 28,000-square-foot …

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The 2022 Rate Case: Georgia Power’s $2.9 Billion Ask

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What are “fair and reasonable” rates and charges for Georgia Power to collect from its ~2.7 million customers over the next three years? That is the question the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) is charged with answering in the 2022 rate case for the state’s largest electric utility. The PSC’s decision has far-reaching impacts on Georgians, especially those with fewer financial resources, and on the environment—and fortunately, this decision is not made in a vacuum. Anyone can submit comments, and …

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Southface Institute Announces Urban Planner, University Director, and Environmental Justice Advocate as Award Winners

Blog

Southface has presented the prestigious Argon Award every year of this century to recognize visionaries whose work offers innovative solutions to environmental challenges. In 2022, the organization introduced the Luminary Award and Rising Star Award to honor additional sustainability leaders for their exceptional impact. Southface President James Marlow presented all three awards to Ryan Gravel, Susan Kidd, and Chandra Farley respectively at the organization’s 2022 Visionary Dinner, held at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga. on the evening of October …

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Statement on Hurricane Ian

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Climate Change

I urge you to keep our Floridian friends and family, including Southface Sarasota staff, in your thoughts as they face the devastating onslaught of Hurricane Ian. We wish everyone in Florida safety and strength and offer our support in the aftermath of the storm. The destruction that so many people are experiencing because of this hurricane is another painful reminder of how urgently we need infrastructure and buildings that are resilient to extreme weather—and bold climate action to reduce the …

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This is Monumental! What the Biggest Climate Investment in US History Means for Georgia

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Uncategorized

Today is historic for the very best reason. The 2022 Budget Reconciliation Bill, also known as the Inflation Reduction Act, passed Congress with $369 billion included for energy security and climate solutions—the single biggest climate investment in US history! This puts our country on the path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 40% by 2030.    This is a time to celebrate significant progress. While investing in the social and economic transformations necessary to address the climate crisis benefits everyone …

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Georgia Power’s Long-Term Energy Plans Make Progress on Clean Energy, But Key Issues Deferred

Renewable Energy

On Thursday, July 21st, the Georgia Public Service Commission concluded the months-long process of deciding on Georgia Power’s 2022 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) or long-term resource plan. The results of the IRP will lead to progress on energy efficiency, more coal retirements, and more competition on where Georgia Power buys its power, but action on key issues has been deferred. This blog post was jointly prepared with contributions from Southface (Will Collier and Katie Southworth) and the Southern Alliance for …

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Southface Sarasota and New College of Florida Partner for Our Sustainable Future

Press Room

  The Caples Carriage House on New College campus is the new home of Southface Sarasota. Sustainability nonprofit Southface Sarasota lost its base of operations recently when the lease on the Florida House green demonstration home and gardens ended and was not renewed. But when that door closed, another opened at New College of Florida. Southface and New College just announced a powerful new partnership anchored at the school’s bayfront campus that will blend community engagement with cutting-edge learning opportunities. …

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Florida: Setting Energy Efficiency Goals Like It’s 1999

Blog

Back in 1980, the Florida legislature recognized that reducing energy consumption can benefit both ratepayers and utility companies that need to reliably meet customer demand for energy. State legislators enacted the Florida Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (FEECA) that year, which charged the Public Service Commission (PSC) with establishing energy efficiency and conservation goals for the state’s seven regulated electric utilities—Florida Power and Light, Duke Energy, Tampa Electric Company, Gulf Power Company, Florida Public Utilities Company, JEA, and Orlando Utilities …

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Solar Energy Leader Now President of Nonprofit that Inspired Him Since High School

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During his senior year at Lincoln County High School, James Marlow wrote to a newly established nonprofit of solar energy advocates in Atlanta, Ga., to learn how he could start his own career on the cutting edge of sustainability and clean energy. James never guessed that he would become the president of that organization decades later, but that’s exactly what he accomplished when he joined Southface Institute on May 16. After graduating from high school and then from Georgia Southern …

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