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Environmental Responsibility

Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel seeks to be a model urban institution and to promote good citizenship among its members. The community seeks to comply with the Biblical law of בל תשחית bal tashḥit, which prohibits destruction of the natural environment and wasting of resources. The congregation aims to put the conserve into Conservative Judaism.

Building Renovations

Increasing energy efficiency is a major goal of the ongoing building renovations at BEKI. Phase I renovations (2003-2004) included replacing the main HVAC plant which dated from 1959. Phase II renovations (2005-2006) included replacing incandescent lighting with fluorescent lighting in the lobby and hallway areas, replacing incandescent exit signs with LED signs, insulating the lobby ceiling, replacing single-pane windows, adding window treatments, replacing fan coil "blower" units, installing zoned thermostatic controls, and adding bypass valves to eight major blower units in the sanctuary, social hall and lower social hall.

Photovoltaic Installation

In the autumn of 2005, Tsvi Benson-Tilsen, then a seventh-grade student, began the process of planning and installing a grid-tied photovoltaic array on the BEKI roof as a bar mitzva project.

A 10,500 watt grid-tied array was installed in August-September 2006 (see image, right, by Allan Appel, courtesy of newhavenindependent.org) and became fully operational on 03 February 2007, coinciding with Tu BeShevat. SunlightSolar Energy, Inc., provided technical and installation services.

The electricity produced by the array reduces the wattage that the synagogue draws from the power grid. When the array is producing more than the synagogue's demand, it will pump electricity into the grid.

Benefits of the solar array include reducing pollution and the detrimental effects on public health which are associated with the burning of fossil fuels. Production of greenhouse gasses, which contribute to global warming, is reduced. The array reduces the need for new centralized fossil-fuel based power plants, new power transmission lines, and the potential for service interruptions. Most significantly, on hot or cold sunny days, when the demand on the power grid is highest, when power companies turn on the dirtiest and least efficient backup generators, the array is busily and quietly producing pollution-free electricity for the grid. Photovoltaic generation can be a direct replacement for the most expensive and dirtiest power plants.

Major funding for the array was provided by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, and funding for the associated educational activities by the Legacy Heritage Innovation Project of the Legacy Heritage Fund. Additional funding was provided by over 150 individual donors.

Technical Specifications & Efficiency

The array comprises 48 panels manufactured by Sunpower Corporation (model 220). An inverter manufactured by Solectria Renewables (model PVI 13kW) converts the power to AC output to match the common power grid's voltage. The efficiency of the inverters is about 94%. The loss from wiring is 5%. The array is oriented 100% optimally toward True South, and the tilt toward the sun is 91% of optimal. The roof is virtually unobstructed allowing more than 95% of the sunlight to reach the panels; the adjusted solar exposure (ASE) is 97%.

The rate of return on the investment (excluding the CCEF's support) is expected to be about 5% to 6%, or a payback period of about 15 to 20 years. However, factors such as electric rates, hurricanes, major earthquakes, and rapid catastrophic climate change could affect the rate of return. Since the array was a gift to the synagogue, it was "free" from the perspective of the Congregation's operating or capital budget. Maintenance costs are expected to be zero in the first fifteen years.

Press coverage of the project

Other Measures

Three electrically cooled water fountains were replaced by one. An old refrigerator in the serving kitchen (upstairs) was replaced by a modern unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR®. Leaking heating and cooling pipes were repaired in the lower social hall. Broken window panes were replaced. Parking lot security lights were put under control of timers or photocells. Most CRT computer monitors were replaced with LCD monitors that have earned the ENERGY STAR. Incandescent bulbs were replaced with LED bulbs in remaining old illuminated exit signs, saving over 1,000 kWh per year (and an hour a year in labor due to the longer life of the LEDs). Incandescent bulbs were replaced with LED bulbs in the sanctuary's ornamental menora, saving 40 kWh per year (and an hour a year in labor due to the difficulty in reaching these bulbs). Staff and volunteers are continually reminded to "turn off the lights" and to avoid wasteful consumption. By leaving off selected incandescent bulbs in the sanctuary on sunny days, 672 kWh per year were saved, with no noticeable reduction in illumination.

An initiative to promote Conservation and Alternative and Renewable Energy as Jewish values was begun in 2006 as a Legacy Heritage Innovation Project funded by the Legacy Heritage Fund. This initiative uses the existing education structures of the Congregation as vehicles to further awareness and action. The initiative also aims to improve the way groups and individuals in the Congregation work together. The initiative is being incorporated in all existing programs, and many of the specific conservation and alternative energy measures discussed here were implemented through these programs. A midyear (December 2006) progress report is available.

The theme of renewable energy was incorporated in the design of the Men's and Women's basketball jerseys:

Awards

Rabbi Tilsen's Writings on this Theme

Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel
85 Harrison Street
New Haven, CT USA 06515-1724
(203) 389-2108
Fax (24-hour) (203) 389-5899
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Email to the BEKI office: office@beki.org
Email to Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen: jjtilsen@beki.org