Dayenu Circle Progress Update

Beth Am's Dayenu Circle has much to be proud of. Here are some of accomplishments from over the past year:
 
Energy Saving Heat Pump Technology Deployed in the Social Hall and Sanctuary
During Covid, the furnace providing heat for the Sanctuary and Social Hall stopped working. Repairing it was not an option. Rachel Tasch, Beth Am’s Executive Director at the time, and the Dayenu Circle team researched alternatives. One of the objectives was to transition away from fossil fuels. With advice from our local utility, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, we decided to go with a heat pump.

A heat pump uses technology like that of a refrigerator or air conditioner. It extracts heat from one source, such as outside air, and transfers the heat to where it is needed, inside a building. Our heat pump uses electricity, not natural gas, and is a much cleaner way to heat a room. In addition, it also provides air conditioning, which was very much appreciated during our 2023 High Holy Days. Learn more about this initiative.

After the installation, we wrote up a case study and submitted it to Silicon Valley Clean Energy. They were impressed and awarded Congregation Beth Am $10,000 and made a short video about our installation.

Peninsula-Wide Jewish Community Sustainability Fair
Last October, Beth Am Dayenu members brainstormed on how we could spread the word and educate our community on easy-to-use sustainability practices. In idea was born to co-host, with other Peninsula Jewish organizations, the first-ever Peninsula-Wide Jewish Community Sustainability Fair. Housed physically at Beth Am, the Fair attracted over 300 participants and 35 exhibitors. Other participating synagogues included Beth Jacob, Etz Chayim and Kol Emeth. Exhibits included New York Times cookbook author, Erin Gleeson, demonstrating cooking on an induction cooktop. Other demos included how to plant a low-water garden, how to reduce your energy bills, as well as many other related topics. Plans are underway to lead another fair in Spring of 2025.

Solar Contract Signed by Beth Am Board
In October, the Beth Am Board of Directors approved an agreement to install solar energy at Beth Am. This was based on the culmination of many months of work, including conversations with potential vendors, PG&E, financial modeling and economic analysis, and in-depth contract negotiations.
 
The Beth Am Green Team (predecessors of the current Dayenu Circle team) had worked on bringing solar energy to Beth Am for years; however, the price was prohibitive. This changed with the Biden Infrastructure Reduction Act. (IRA). For the first time, nonprofits could take advantage of the 30% tax credit for installing solar, previously only available to for-profit entities. This change, combined with seed funding from generous congregants, made the system immediately viable.
 
Working with solar vendor, Soleeva, Beth Am was able to secure a 100 KW system. The system will be installed at the bottom of the main parking lot parallel to Arastradero, and will use a carport structure. It will start generating electricity in about one year, and will fulfill 90% of Beth Am's electricity needs. It should generate electricity for the next 30-40 years.
 
Engaging Youth in Sustainability
This Dayenu Action Team taught a sustainability elective for high school students and engaged in other Beth Am education activities. Planning is currently underway for other further outreach.
 
Legislative and Policy Action Team
This Action Team helped to canvas Palo Alto neighborhoods to educate residents on the utility program for replacing gas water heaters with heat pumps. They also helped to lead a GOTV (Get Out the Vote) phone campaign in 2022 with the Environmental Voter group and helped to lead a rally in downtown Palo Alto against Big Banks' support of the fossil fuel industry. On the policy side, experts from the group provided input to local cities on sustainability policies and helped to drive responses to the Public Utility Commission on the change in the solar policy.

Other Dayenu Circle Accomplishments

• Led three webinars on sustainable investing best practices.
• Conducted over 10 webinars with featured speakers, including State Senator Josh Becker, State Representative Marc Berman, and representatives from Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Palo Alto Utilities. A webinar on home electrification inspired several congregants to install heat pump water heaters in their own homes.
• Led Yom Kippur Study Sessions for the last two years.
• Created a website featuring Dayenu Circle activities.
• As a result of our webinar, which included the LPDD group (Model Laws for Deep Decarbonization) from NY, Steve Feldstein's law firm took on LPDD as a pro bono client and completed several items of model legislation for consideration and adoption by state legislatures.

Join this committed group to find out how you can make a difference. Learn more at bethamdayenu.org or email dayenucircle@betham.org.​​​​​​