The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago has been at the forefront in the Jewish community advocating for greater personal and institutional awareness of the many benefits of climate change awareness and energy efficiency.
Individuals consume their largest amount of energy in their homes and workplaces. If we all think about how we use that energy and then find ways to consume it more efficiently, we can make a positive impact on both the environment and our bottom line.
We are indeed “caretakers” of God’s creation. Recognizing that stewardship, the Jewish Federation and its affiliate agencies have been making their buildings energy-efficient and environmentally friendly for decades.
Leading this effort is the executive director of the Federation’s Facilities Corporation, Richard Katz. I sat down with him recently to get a better idea of how he greens our community’s buildings and what recommendations he has for others as well.
Jesse Greenberg: What’s the role of the JFMC Facilities Corp.?
Rick Katz: We play a large role in the Federation and its affiliate agencies’ building design and structure. We’ve had a policy since 1986 to use the best quality and energy-efficient materials possible based on a cost lifecycle analysis. Many times that means upfront costs can be more. But over the lifetime of the appliances it will save more money due to the lower energy bills and longer life of the appliances themselves.
Why have energy-efficient building practices become a Facilities Corp. and Federation priority?
First, we can reduce costs without adversely affecting a building. Second, it’s always good to be energy efficient and to conserve natural resources. After the gas crunch in the 1970s, America stated its intention to find better energy practices. Today, we are still so energy dependent that we need to reduce that need.
How does Facilities Corp. ensure that Federation and affiliate agencies buildings are energy efficient?
We focus on lighting first because that is the most expensive and ongoing facility cost. For years now we’ve been using fluorescent bulbs and have eliminated less-efficient incandescent bulbs. We have upgraded the fixtures and lamps at least twice since 1986, the year Facilities Corp. began, so that we are relatively current with the state of technology. This equates to continued lower costs of operation.
Since fluorescents contain mercury—albeit
.a tiny amount—it is vital that we dispose of fluorescents properly. That means taking them to a hazardous-waste recycling facility. But, since these bulbs last so long, the Facilities Corp. hasn’t had the need to collect fluorescents in a major way yet.
Next, we focus on roofing. The old way of taking care of a roof was to put a black coating on it. Now, we go with a lighter color roof covering to be more reflective and lower the roof’s temperature in the summer and keep a building warmer in the winter.
Third, we use windows that minimize
energyWindows can be major sources of heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. It costs a lot to offset heat losses and gains. Nearly all our buildings have thermal pane windows. With two pieces of glass, the windows are much better at saving HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) costs.
Fourth, we use efficient heavy equipment, such as air-conditioning units, boilers and motors. This also can be expensive. So, when it’s time to replace an air conditioning unit or a boiler, we upgrade to more energy-efficient products.
For boilers, oftentimes we’ll use two small boilers instead of one large one, because a boiler will operate more efficiently when it’s operating nearer its capacity. For example, a synagogue that is heavily utilized a few times a week or less is likely not efficient, when using one larger boiler. With two small boilers, though, each able to operate at 80%-90% capacity, a synagogue can drastically cut their energy costs. The same methodology can be applied to a building’s air-conditioning system.
Fifth, use landscaping to a building’s advantage. Leaf-dropping trees should be planted on the east and west sides of a building to shade from direct sun in the warm months. And, when the leaves fall off in the cold months, direct sun can help warm a building. Evergreens are best to plant on the north side of a building, in order to block winds.
Be sure, though, to plant trees and shrubs far enough away from the building so as not to cause a security risk. In the end, building design is more an art than a science and one needs to holistically look at the totality of a building to determine how it can work with nature to its advantage.
What advice could you give individuals to live more environmentally responsible at home?
- Start with replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, noting the fluorescents’ low energy use and long life.
- Use high-capacity air filters in heat and air-conditioning units. Be sure to change the filters in the spring and fall when people are most sensitive to allergies.
- Program your thermostat so that your home’s temperature is comfortable when people are home and raises the air conditioning temperature and lowers the heating temperature when nobody is home.
- Use water wisely when landscaping. Water is a critical resource and there are plenty of places in the U.S. where it isn’t abundant. Use your sprinkler twice a week and use it in the early morning when the air is cooler and greater sunlight will help plants draw the water into their system.
- Use your window shades to your home’s advantage. Lowering them in the summer keeps out the heat and raising them in the winter lets sunlight warm your home.
- Next time your have to replace a toilet, buy a low-flow model.
- Be sure that you recycle. Almost all areas around Chicago do recycle and it can help to drastically cut down on waste products that can damage our environment.
How committed are you in using energy-efficient practices in your home?
I do all the things I mentioned just now. Plus, I drive a 2005 VW Passat diesel. I converted the engine to run on vegetable oil. In a recent trip to Champaign, Ill., I used a pint of diesel gasoline and eight gallons of cooking oil. The cooking oil I get is used and filtered from a restaurant near my home in Lincolnwood. We also recently purchased a Toyota Camry Hybrid for our use.
Jesse Greenberg is the JCRC’s Domestic Affairs Associate. Read more about JCRC environmental efforts.
