The synagogues offer a chance to set standards with models for sustainable, low-carbon living. By showing people what is feasible, they can act as spaces that promote the development of sustainable communities and serve as a voice in the neighborhood.
To create a lasting change that doesn’t make people unpleasant and can also be financially advantageous, you need to consider what you can control or influence as well as who wants to be involved. Read this article to find out how to reduce energy prices in synagogues.
Synagogue Energy Use And Carbon Footprint: Efforts To Lessen Carbon Footprint And Increase Energy Efficiency
Burning fossil fuels provides the majority of the energy that is used in your buildings for things like heating, hot water, lighting, devices, as well as cooking (coal, gas, or oil). Sometimes directly or with the help of electricity, you burn them.
The much more notable trend under the corporate influence for the majority of synagogue structures will be energy utilization for heating. Four key elements affect how much CO2 is released when energy is used in buildings:
- The amount of heating and lighting the facility needs, the amount of hot water needed to wash dishes or make drinks, the use of computers, photocopiers, as well as freezers, and so on.
- The consideration with which you control your energy use—turning off the heat as well as lights when no one is in the room, only boiling what you need, and so on.
- The effectiveness of the structure and the equipment.
- Are you using “green” sources of power or suppliers who are developing renewable energy sources as your energy source?
Monitoring Energy Consumption
The beginning of any undertaking might be the most difficult. Reduce your synagogue’s energy consumption and carbon footprint in three ways:
- Research the facts surrounding climate change and its connections to Judaism, as well as other synagogues’ programs. Share the knowledge with your neighborhood.
- Form a task force to take the initiative on these important topics. Both the curious and the responsible should be included. Discuss only events that took place both in and out of the synagogue.
- Begin minimizing your carbon footprint. To establish your baseline as well as develop your synagogue’s energy policy, it is crucial to first evaluate your energy use.
Energy-saving strategies
- Consider the possibility of an outside auditor visiting the building, evaluating the synagogues energy prices as well as its energy use, and offering recommendations for reducing it.
- Utilize the carbon footprint calculator for small and medium-sized enterprises provided by the Carbon Trust to determine your synagogue’s carbon impact.
- Especially for companies, but also for houses of worship, The Utility Bidder has a highly helpful and simple-to-use website that offers practical energy-saving suggestions.
Heat Your Synagogue Less
- Just heat the spaces that are being used.
- Close all inside doors, and after sundown, pull the drapes.
- Take up the least amount of space necessary for the task at hand.
- Reduce the amount of time the facility will require to be heated by planning its use.
- While turning down the thermostat, keep in mind that older and sicker attendees may find it uncomfortable and hazardous to their health to be cold.
- Incorporate thermostats for the heat and hot water or, if your building’s use fluctuates much from day to day making ensure the heating is turned off remotely when it is not required.
- Post notices requesting that people keep their thermostats low.
- Make sure to use less hot water and try your best never to let the tap water run for too long while you perform a task.
Observe Your Meters
Monitoring your gas and electricity meters once a month will assist you in becoming more conscious of the amount of energy you are consuming, as well as spot any problems.
Reduce your use of artificial lighting
- To make the most of natural light, keep windows clear of debris as well as clean regularly.
- While attending a worship service, possibly turn off the lights when not being used.
- In front of light switches, post “switch off” signage.
Utilization of appliances
- Freezers, refrigerators, washing machines, tumble dryers, as well as dishwashers typically use the most electricity. TVs can also use a lot of electricity, specifically those with big plasma panels.
- When changing appliances, choose models with the best energy efficiency ratings. For refrigerators and freezers, the best grades are A+ or A++. You can also take a gander at the Energy Saving Trust’s blue “Recommended” sticker.
- Although generally more expensive, the most energy-efficient appliances can compensate for themselves through energy savings.
Facilities For Recycling
Even if recycling is offered by your town or even the council, your neighborhood might still require some reminders about where to place bottles, cans, as well as paper.
Ensure that recycle bins are almost always located next to garbage bins and that they are well marked; this could be a worthwhile effort for your Jewish community.
Other than that, if your place of worship doesn’t recycle, check out if there are businesses that will accept your recyclables, or you can even plan a community drive.
Ensure that your supplies are recycled, and urge your organization to buy products manufactured from recycled materials.
Recycled materials are frequently found in products like newspapers, paper towels, aluminum, plastic, and soft drink containers made of glass, steel cans, as well as bottles of laundry detergent.
Ideas For Increasing Recycling In Your Organization
- Discover the recycling regulations in your area, then assess your organization to see if it complies.
- Encourage recycling by placing bins near areas where people eat, such as in classrooms, offices, social halls, outdoors, and so on.
- Participate in a poster campaign with your neighborhood; the overall winner will be placed throughout your facility to promote recycling.
- Organize collection drives for specialized recyclables like batteries as well as electronics, and deliver them in large quantities to a facility. Make sure to highlight your efforts in the institution’s newsletter.
- Purchase recycled plates, paper, as well as napkins. Reducing waste and extending the shelf-life of the things you use now need to become as commonplace as recycling, even though recycling receives much more attention than the other two “3 Rs.” To Reduce and Reuse, consider the following:
- Bulk purchases
- Instead of using individual-sized water bottles, choose a water cooler, pitchers, as well as glasses for drinking.
Conclusion
To conclude, there are countless ways you can help your community be more sustainable and cost-effective, as well as reduce your carbon footprint.
I made sure to highlight some of the easiest ways you can achieve the most. Plus, with these measures, you can also inspire other people to follow these steps and make a big difference.
