February 9, 2006
Think Green Tips
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Ten ways to begin greening your synagogue from Barbara Lerman-Golomb, associate executive director of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life:
- Switch to cost-effective and energy-efficient compact fluorescent lightbulbs.
- Buy recycled paper products. Use both sides of the paper, then recycle it again.
- Precycle. Buy products that are in recycled packaging or that can be recycled, such as cans, glass, plastic, paper and cardboard.
- Minimize use of disposable plates, cups, paper towels, napkins, plastic and silverware for synagogue functions. Avoid using Styrofoam products.
- Turn thermostat down a few degrees in the winter and up a few degrees in the summer.
- Encourage congregants to carpool to religious school and to turn off engines while waiting to pick up children.
- Buy Energy Star (energy-efficient) appliances. Turn off lights and office equipment, such as copy machines, when not in use.
- Buy flow restrictors for sinks and water-saving toilet tank dams.
- Use nontoxic cleansers.
- Don't use pesticide on the lawn and use a nontoxic integrated pest management system.
