Dayenu Circle Progress Update

 Judaism values environmental sustainability as a core of tzedek, and our Dayenu Circle is doing amazing work in addressing it. There are many opportunities to get involved, learn how to lower your own carbon footprint, and apply our informal motto — to always consider how we can be “MORE SUSTAINABLE!” Dayenu, a national non-profit organization that focuses on “a Jewish Call to Climate Action,” has partnered with Beth Am to create an active Dayenu Circle with multiple initiatives. Our former “Green Team” rolled into this effort, and we have been working diligently to help Beth Am become “MORE SUSTAINABLE.” Join us in learning about how both big and small steps can add up to large impacts. Read on to learn about our recent activities and how you can get involved.

Beth Am’s Dayenu Circle has been very active over recent years. Our Green Team assisted in moving Beth Am’s funds to more sustainable investments and financial institutions. We teach our teens about sustainability in our Youth Education Program and lead congregational workshops, including speakers advising on how we can be “MORE SUSTAINABLE!” through a Jewish Lens. With the support of Clergy and staff, we have participated in civic actions, worked on legislative initiatives, educated neighbors through canvassing, led sessions at High Holy Days, helped draft model legislation, and hosted a very successful community wide Sustainability Fair at Beth Am last Fall. We are proud of the work we have done and wanted to share a few highlights and provide the opportunity to get involved. 

Beth Am Heat Pump Project Wins SVCE Electric Showcase Award
 
Last year, when we needed to upgrade the heating system in our Sanctuary and Social Hall, our Dayenu Team worked with staff and researched “MORE SUSTAINABLE!” alternatives that would be cost effective and help us to transition away from fossil fuels. With input and advice from our local utility, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Beth Am installed energy efficient heat pumps and won a local Clean Energy Award in the process! Our new system uses electricity instead of natural gas and is much more sustainable. We also get the benefit of air conditioning for these spaces. The Dayenu Team documented a case study which is featured in a short video (see below), and we received a $10,000 Showcase award and certificate at the Los Altos City Council and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors meetings. Every step towards sustainability counts! Learn more about this initiative.

Bright News – Solar Power Is Coming to Beth Am!

With help from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), solar power is coming to Beth Am this fall. The 100.8 KW system will provide more than 90% of Beth Am’s power needs, reduce Beth Am’s dependence on fossil fuels and reduce costs.
 
Building on the foundation of the ground work done by the Green Team in the past, our Dayenu team did research and worked diligently to complete the financial analysis, that led to approval of this major project for our community. Leveraging rebates from the IRA that make solar installations more affordable for non-profits like us, the solar project will be one of the most significant improvements to our campus in years, and it will create long-term benefits instead of the growing cost of purchasing power from the local utility. Once the initial investment is paid back, the system will return revenue that can be applied directly to Beth Am programs.
 
Beth Am’s roof structure excludes rooftop solar, so our system will be installed in the parking lot along Arastradero, and the wiring will be buried underground. Congregants and visitors on the Beth Am campus will benefit from the added bonus of shady parking spaces! Thank you for your ongoing patience with some disruptions in the parking lot while installation is happening. We will ensure that parking will not be impacted during the busy High Holy Days season.
 
This is a wonderful green tzedek moment for our community. Over time, we are hoping to raise funds to add batteries to the system. If you are interested in helping financially support solar power at Beth Am, please consider making a contribution to the Beth Am Dayenu Fund for Sustainability. If you want to learn more about sustainability efforts at Beth Am, please contact our Dayenu Circle leaders at dayenu@betham.org. We look forward to celebrating this new addition to our community sometime this fall.
 
Get Involved
We can all play a part in saving our planet. What is your climate footprint? Are you interested in learning more or getting involved? For information about our initiatives and ways to plug in, visit our Beth Am Dayenu website or contact us via email at dayenu@betham.org. Earth Day and Earth Month may be over, but we still have work to do — please join us!​​​​​​