Worldwide, building operations contribute 28% of global annual emissions.  The Environmental Sustainability Task Force convened in early 2024 to investigate and implement opportunities to minimize the footprint of our nearly 21,000 square foot  building and to make Rodeph Shalom more sustainable so that we can help preserve our planet for future generations.

Our mission is two-fold:

• Reducing energy and water usage, using renewable sources for our on-going energy needs, and making our operations more sustainable, based on measurable annual goals.
• Educating and engaging the entire congregation and regular users of our building about climate change, waste reduction and what Rodeph Shalom is doing to become more sustainable, and how we as individuals, families and a community can take action.

In the next several years we will be introducing several to achieve our goals. Look for these upcoming initiatives to name a few:

• Installing on demand faucets to reduce water usage
• Converting to LED lights 
• Introducing more energy efficient A/C units in classrooms as the current ones reach their useful life
• Implementing a composting program to reduce waste
• And, in 2024 and 2025 an educational program including an eco-Judaism course for our students, seminars, a Tu B’Shevat Shabbat, and Berkman Merkaz Limud programming targeted to our younger learners

If you’d like to learn more or become involved, please contact Michelle Brancheau-Fogg at mbfogg@gmail.com.