Solar Contract Signed by Beth Am Board
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.

With the help of the Biden Infrastructure Reduction Act (IRA), Beth Am was able to secure a 100 KW system, which 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.

Energy Saving Heat Pump Technology Deployed in the Social Hall and Sanctuary

Silicon Valley Clean Energy - 2023 Electric Showcase Award Winner

Last year Beth Am, with the assistance of consultants funded by Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), completed a major electrification project to replace our gas-powered heating system for the Sanctuary and Social Hall with an efficient electric heat pump. As an added benefit, our new system provides both heating and cooling. 

Read all about it here 

Peninsula-Wide Jewish Community Sustainability Fair

Last October, Beth Am Dayenu members co-hosted, 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 Erin Gleeson, New York Times best-selling author of Forest Feast, 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.

Engaging Youth in Sustainability

This Dayenu Action Team taught a sustainability elective for high school students and engaged in other Beth Am education activities.  And we're doing it again this year!

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, and are focusing on additional GOTV contacts this election cycle.  With the Environmental Voter group, the team 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 Activities and 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.  (Some of the recordings are posted below.)

• Presented a webinar on home electrification which inspired several congregants to install heat pump water heaters in their own homes.  

• Led Yom Kippur Study Sessions for the last two years, and will do so again this year.