2002 ENERGY STAR for Congregations Awards

Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, Bethesda, MD
(Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb, COEJL Board Member)

The National Religious Partnership for the Environment (NRPE)

Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation The 28,000 square foot Adat Shalom synagogue in Bethesda, Maryland was built in 2001, with design emphasis on the spiritual and communal values of the congregation, including the importance of environmental stewardship. The physical expression of these values in the facility itself has attracted many new members, and reinforced the congregation's understanding of stewardship. The congregation has received enthusiastic media attention for its environmentally friendly building design, the building has become a major source of pride among congregants, and inspired community interest in efficiency. The facility has higher than average occupancy due to an active calendar of congregational functions, such as night and weekend meetings in offices, educational programs, and social events.

While designing the heating and air conditioning system, the building was divided into seven zones, all controlled by Energy Star® labeled programmable thermostats. The social hall uses passive solar design, with high windows facing southward and an outside overhang. The social hall's floor is concrete with dark tiles to absorb heat. All appliances in the building are Energy Star labeled appliances, and the construction materials used were often made from recycled materials, or wood harvested from certified sustainable forests. Additionally, while installing the drip irrigation system for the landscaping, a rain sensor was attached to the irrigation timer, so that the system does not come on if the soil is adequately moist.

Natural day lighting provides much of the necessary illumination, and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) were used in nearly every wing of the building. Light-emitting diode (LED) exit signs were installed in all necessary areas. Exterior and parking lot lights are on timers, and are fully shielded from above so that they project only downward. This directs all illumination where it is needed, and prevents "light pollution" into the night sky. In addition, the Eternal Light (Ner Tamid) is solar powered, and connected directly to a photovoltaic cell on the roof. These improvements have resulted savings of nearly $2000 annually for reductions of about 19,500 kWh of electricity and nearly 600 therms of natural gas, which total almost 48,000 pounds of CO2 emissions each year.

National Religious Partnership for the Environment

The National Religious Partnership for the Environment (NRPE) was founded in 1993 by four major religious communities (National Council of Churches of Christ, Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, U.S. Catholic Conference, and Evangelical Environmental Network) to integrate the mission of stewardship of creation throughout religious life across diverse faiths, and across cultural, racial, and ethnic boundaries. This award recognizes the NRPE's 18 state "Interfaith Global Climate Change Campaign." In each state, there is an interfaith planning committee, climate change training events, education and enabling of congregations and the public regarding energy and climate change. Over three years, NRPE's member faith groups have distributed over 400,000 resource kits (including energy efficiency and ENERGY STAR tips) to congregations including every Catholic parish, virtually every Jewish synagogue, plus 50,000 Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Churches, and 50,000 Evangelical congregations. The NRPE and member faith groups continue to educate the public regarding climate change and energy efficiency's impact, and have published individual denominational papers on climate change. The various states have also made use of information and materials provided by ENERGY STAR for congregations. The Interfaith Global Climate Change Campaign is ongoing.