1. Our Synagogue Board/Council has an environmental policy in place.
Synagogue Environment Policy – Example by West London Synagogue
Synagogue Environmental Policy – Example by Chigwell & Hainault Synagogue
3. Special Sermonds about environmental issues are delivered in our Synagogue
Noah for the 21st Century by Rabbi Wollenberg, Woodford Forest United Synagogue
A MULTI-FACETED ENVIRONMENTALISM, inspired by the words of Rabbi Lord Sacks z”l
3. Our Synagogue encourages members to limit their waste by adhering to the
principles of reduce, re-use, refill, recycle.
Learn about refilling, reusing and bulk buying from Wefil
Recycling guide (with permission from Which?)
6. Our Synagogue encourages the ethical investment of personal savings and
pensions. (e.g., current account and/or investments).
How can we invest our money ethically?
11. Our Synagogue encourages members to reduce their personal energy
consumption in the way they heat and light their homes and places of worship.
Encouraging members to reduce personal energy consumption
12. Our Synagogue encourages members to reduce their personal energy
consumption in the way they insulate their homes and places of work.
Encouraging members to reduce personal energy consumption
13. Our Synagogue takes part in food cooperatives and encourages members to
join in bulk buying ethically sourced produce at wholesale prices.
Learn about refilling, reusing and bulk buying from Wefil
14. Our Synagogue invests its funds ethically, and rates the ESG (Environmental,
Social and Governance) sustainability of its portfolio (e.g., with MSCI or another
rating organisation)
5. We have measured our energy use and calculated the carbon footprint of our
Synagogue building(s) within the past three to five years.
Carbon Footprint Calculation for Synagogues
6. We have set targets for reducing the carbon footprint of our Synagogue
building(s) in order to achieve year on year improvements in energy efficiency.
Carbon Footprint Calculation for Synagogues
7. We offset the carbon footprint of our Synagogue building(s) through
ecologically sound channels in those areas in which we cannot reduce it.
Carbon Footprint Calculation for Synagogues
Carbon Storage and Conservation with JTree
8. The energy (e.g., electricity) supplied to our Synagogue building(s) is generated
from renewable resources and/or charged according to our supplier’s ‘green
tariff’.
Energy from renewable resources & synagogue insulation
9. In terms of energy efficiency, the boiler on our Synagogue premises is rated…
(an engineer should be able to determine this as part of the annual service).
How to determine your boiler’s rating
10. Our Synagogue premises are insulated wherever possible in our: a) main
sanctuary; b) our halls; c) our offices and classrooms.
Energy from renewable resources & synagogue insulation
12. The lighting in our Synagogue building(s) uses energy-efficient light bulbs in
our: a) main sanctuary; b) our halls; c) our offices and classrooms.
23. Any disposable catering products (e.g., paper cups and plates etc.) provided by
our community administration are…
Compostable or biodegradable – What is the difference?
25. Recycled toilet paper is provided by our community administration.
An ethical toilet paper company you may wish to investigate
26. Recycling facilities are available through our community administration, for
paper, glass, cans, plastics, fabrics, TerraCycle or similar
3. Our Synagogue is committed to raising awareness for a specific environmental
issue and financially supports an environmental charity/organisation working on
this issue.
6. Vegetarian and/or vegan options are provided by the Synagogue at meals /
catered events.
Lara Balsam, Director, Jewish Vegetarian Society writes for EcoSynagogue, “Your diet could change the world!”
12. Our Synagogue is involved with local conservation work.
Carbon Storage and Conservation with JTree
20. Our Synagogue participates in campaigns concerning national environmental
issues.