Welcome to Southface Sarasota

Southface Institute deepened its investment in Florida’s Gulf Coast communities in 2021 by establishing Southface Sarasota as the national nonprofit’s first satellite location. Southface Sarasota leads Southface’s sustainability programs, like GoodUse and clean energy advocacy, locally. Our team also equips students and community members with a working knowledge of energy and water efficiency, conservation, stormwater management, and climate resiliency in Florida’s unique environment. Together, we are transforming the built environment to achieve a more sustainable future in Florida and a healthier planet for all.

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Harnessing solar energy in the Sunshine State. Keeping your cool with utility planning. Equipping youth in Florida for green jobs. You can learn about it all on Southface Sarasota’s new sustainability podcast, The Peel!

New College of Florida Partnership

After moving out of the Florida House in 2022, Southface Sarasota and New College of Florida forged a powerful new partnership anchored at New College’s Caples Carriage House and Pritzker Marine Biology Research Center. The partnership seamlessly connects the next generation of building industry professionals and environmental scientists to job training and a robust, active network of community-serving organizations and businesses.

Southface Sarasota Executive Director Amber Whittle, PhD serves part-time as a New College Director, liaison, and student mentor as well as a Research Scholar in Environmental Studies and Natural Sciences. Southface Sarasota is also contributing technical expertise to the New College Challenge, a long-term revitalization of the campus that addresses the school’s buildings and relationship to the surrounding environment.

 

Our Impact at Southface Sarasota’s First Home, the Florida House

Though Southface Sarasota only operated the Florida House for a fraction of the green demonstration home’s history, we made a significant, lasting impact. In 2021, Suncoast Technical College students logged 2,500 hours learning green trade skills with us. We hosted thousands of community volunteer hours, hundreds of educational tours, a lecture series, a new podcast, and multiple partner showcase events. In partnership with Transition Sarasota, Southface Sarasota donated more than 500 pounds of organic produce from our garden to the Church of the Palms food pantry too!

 

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