Author Archives: Southface Institute

Georgia Power filed their 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Public Service Commission (PSC) on January 31, outlining how they plan to invest funds from their 2.8 million customers over the next two decades. Stakeholders and the public now have a valuable opportunity to engage in the process before the PSC votes on the […]

The High Museum of Art is a mainstay of culture and community in Atlanta. Their recent project with the sustainable building nonprofit Southface Institute showcases how the museum cares for the planet too. The High has taken several steps to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions over the years, including replacing gallery lighting with LED […]

As concerns about energy costs, carbon emissions, and airborne hazards grow, more homeowners and housing developers are focusing on building performance. Over the past several decades, Georgia has become a leader in two of the most important performance indicators: the tightness of a home’s duct system and its thermal envelope (the walls, doors, windows, roofs, […]

Many developers are facing financing challenges this year, reporting a growing number of projects that have been stalled or canceled because of a lack of funding. In most cases, high interest rates, falling demand for commercial office space, and continued high costs for materials and labor are to blame.  As a nonprofit that works with […]

A process is about to begin that will shape Georgia’s energy future and, in turn, impact how much millions of Georgians pay on their monthly electricity bill.  Southface Institute is partnering with Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) to host a series of trainings on the 2025 Georgia Power Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and 2025 […]

Today, those who own, lease, and operate buildings are increasingly exploring sustainability improvements that can be implemented at scale. The major drivers for this trend: an increase in data available for understanding building performance, the promise of lower utility bills, and a $1B federal investment to update energy codes and implement building performance standards through […]

Extreme weather, high utility costs, and limited access to clean energy impact Georgians across the state. However, many sustainability advocates argue that rural communities are not often considered in decision-making and opportunities to combat these challenges. To help bridge this gap, sustainable building nonprofit Southface Institute and the North Georgia Conservation Coalition (NGCC) began hosting […]

One of The Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta’s many facilities—a 324-bed emergency and transitional housing shelter called Red Shield Services—recently completed energy and water efficiency upgrades through Southface Institute’s GoodUse program. GoodUse provides financial and technical assistance to retrofit nonprofit buildings so that utility bill savings can be invested back into core services to the […]

Heat pumps are a hot topic in the world of home appliances and systems today—and for good reason. They are energy efficient and reduce utility costs, and new tax incentives are becoming available through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act that offset up-front costs. You will find heat pump technology in clothes dryers and water heaters, […]