Hoosier Jews Till & Tend the Earth: Conserving Energy in Our Homes and Synagogues

1. Hoosier Jews Till & Tend the Earth: Conserving Energy in Our Homes and Synagogues A Statewide Initiative

2. What Kehillot across Indiana Will Do • Reduce energy use in synagogue by at least 25% from their base year usage • Engage a third of their households to reduce use by a seventhrelative to an average Hoosier household

3. Achievable? Quite!

4. How do we reduce use by 25% to 40%?Cut out waste. • Heat, cool , & light people - not empty spaces • Plug holes in exterior of building & insulate • Invest in technologies that use less energy: • Automatic controls: turn items off when not in use • Cost-effective lighting • When replacing HVAC units, boilers, & fridges

5. For example, Monroe County Schools reduced their energy use by 35% almost solely by setting back their thermostats!

6. Achieving the Household Goal is Easy • Quick simple survey to document achievement • Sample household energy conservation pledge • Info sheets & posters provide guidance • Many households will already have met the goal • Builds kehilla Synagogue youth weatherizing a retiree’s home

7. How will the Hoosier Jews Till & Tend teamhelp us succeed? • Energy conservation tools & technical support • Guidance to mobilize our kehillot • Individual support from a team member • Peer support from other synagogue teams • Simple accessible tools to measure progress

8. Hoosier Jews Till & Tend Tools

9. The benefits are many... • Lower utility bills for synagogue & households • Caring for creation together builds kehilla • Serve as a model for Jews nationally & for Hoosiers • Fun and joyful • Will attract major media attention

10. Hamish Chanuka Kick-Off Selling CFLs Till & Tend bulletin board What it can look like... building kehilla Training youth energy team “We’ll heal our Earth as worship of the Lord!” (a playful rendition of Adon Olam) Board weatherizing each other’s homes Youth caulking retirees’ homes Dedication of solar panels