What role should a synagogue play in helping its members live a more sustainable existence? Should a synagogue lead by example or just respond to the requirements of their boards and their members. Are we dealing with a business decision or a spiritual imperative?
Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman of Temple B’nai Tikvah in Calgary was one of the first in the Canadian Reform movement to dedicate one of his Shabbat talks to putting a green spin on parshat Noach. His talk focused on the responsibility mankind has for stewardship of the Earth and taking care of the planet. The Reform movement has even dedicated time and resources to helping its congregations become more sustainable. [http://bit.ly/tsj1102-01]
The rabbi brought an interesting proposition to his congregation in 2007, after visiting the local Ikea store and finding out that it was powered by renewable energy from southern Alberta wind farms. The synagogue board agreed about the spiritual value of renewable energy and decided to pay the premium for this power once the rabbi secured a synagogue member willing to sponsor the effort. The rabbi succeeded in finding a member connected with the oil industry willing to be that sponsor. Today, the temple uses Bullfrog Power, a green electricity provider, and draws renewable energy from Alberta’s power grid. [http://bit.ly/tsj1102-02]
Alan Levine and Michael Charendoff, of the Reconstructionist Congregation Darchei Noam, recently took me on a tour of their building in Toronto. The former Adath Shalom Congregation building, it was bought by Darchei Noam in 2004 and was “re-skinned” with a new exterior. A third-floor addition was built, too. The synagogue reopened in January 2008.
Various congregational committees were involved in the selection of heating, cooling and water systems, ensuring the building could operate in an environmentally respectful way. Sustainable materials were chosen to create a comfortable and inviting interior, minimizing environment impact.
Today, the congregation reduces its energy costs by selling electricity from 22 roof-mounted solar panels to the Ontario power grid. The energy consumption of the building is significantly less than other similar institutional buildings. [http://bit.ly/tsj1102-03]
Ontario’s electricity rates are expected to increase by 46 per cent in the next five years, independent of pre-election 10 per cent rebates. Shortly, time-of-use charging will extend from residential homes to institutional buildings such as synagogues and communal organizations funded by the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
Are the lower five-year fixed electricity rates being offered to these institutions so attractive once you map energy consumption to the time it is consumed? Once you add the global adjustment cost into proposals currently in front of these institutions, do the expected savings still remain? [http://bit.ly/tsj1102-04]
“Communal organizations should focus their budgets on providing services to their constituents. More funds are available for the Jewish mission when operational cost savings around energy consumption are put in place,” said Gary Siepser, federation’s senior vice-president.
“We are aware of energy efficiency efforts currently underway and will be calling together representatives of our stakeholder community to share best practices, identify programs and methodologies they can leverage and help them avoid known pitfalls.”