Think Green Tips

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.