Your green promises:

Walk to school twice a week, Katie Doben, Winchester >> Buy food locally to cut down on carbon emissions, Ali Baylis >> Walk home from school, Rachel Carver, Winchester >> Start growing my own herbs and vegetable, Georgie Cave >> Turn lights off when I leave a room, Poppy De Groot >> Recycle everything that should go in the recycle bin, Catriona Brown, Hampshire >> Start growing my own herbs and vegetable, Alice C >> Cycle to work once a week, Jessie Baker >> Turn lights off when I leave a room, Mona Freidin, New York >> Recycle my household waste, Madeleine, Winchester >> Start growing my own herbs and vegetable, Johnny >> Take showers instead of baths. Nevet Basker, Bellevue, WA, USA >> Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Sharon Goldstein, Northwood >> Signed up to a renewable energy provider (Good Energy) and encouraging our visitors and members to do likewise, Moishe House London >> Reject opportunities to see the world, when that means taking a plane, Jeremy, London >> Dedicated to leading the way in environmental efforts through local & vegetarian catering, zero waste & reducing carbon emissions by 10% in 2010, Tzedek, London >> Re-use plastic bags when shopping, Lisa, London >> Find something to make with every item in my organic vegetable box, Penny Kustow, Rickmansworth >> Not use the car for short journeys, Jon, Damascus >> I will not leave the tap running while brushing my teeth, Lucy Freeman, 7 >> I will buy more vegetables from the farmers market, Ben, Stanmore >> I will join the 10:10 Campaign, Naomi, 28 >> I will turn off my laptop when I am not using it, Dave, 25, Golders Green >> I will recycle my paper and plastics, Jo, 46 >> I will reduce the temperature of my washing machine cycles, Evelyn, 35 >>

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Funding Energy Saving in your Building

Information about grants available for installing low carbon technology can be found on the following sites:

http://www.communitysustainable.org.uk

http://www.lowcarbonbuildingsphase2.org.uk

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Energy Saving

Many synagogues are old buildings that have not been refurbished for a number of years. In general, the newer the building, the more energy efficient it will be. However there are subsidies available for installing green energy initiatives such as insulation and solar panels, the details of which are below. The Big Green Jewish Website and the Board of Deputies recommend the following tips for energy saving in your synagogue:

- Monitor energy consumption (monthly/quarterly) to check trends.

- Regularly service boiler or heating appliances. Check the heating system has adequate timer and thermostatic controls. If you are reinstalling a boiler please use an Energy Efficient Boiler. Details of these can be found online at the Energy Saving Trust where you can also conduct a search for available funding.

- Commission an energy/environmental consultation. The Energy Saving Trust can provide consultants.

- Install sufficient levels of insulation where appropriate, including windows, doors and lofts. There are grants available for this, see below for more information.

- Monitor the heating level regularly. Overheating by 1°c increases fuel use by 6 – 10%.

- Encourage building users to turn down radiator thermostats (which should be fitted) and turn off all lights in empty rooms and not leave electrical items on stand-by (e.g. photocopiers).

- Ensure general use hot water no warmer than 43°c.

- Check water outlets - fix drips and leaks.

- Install water saving devices – e.g. in toilet systems.

- Examine the energy rating of all new electrical products.

- Make economic use of machines e.g. dishwashers should not be turned on if only half filled.

- Measure and monitor your Synagogue carbon footprint, click here for more information (link to carbon footprint section).

- Consider the use of renewable energy schemes solar panels and ground heat systems etc (see for example www.groundheat.com).

For more information on energy saving click here.

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