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One for Each Night
Congregation
Bet Haverim, Atlanta, Georgia
Jewish, Reconstructionist Movement
 Congregation
Bet Haverim’s “One
for Each Night” program very effectively
ties a CFL distribution & energy awareness
campaign to the imagery of the Hanukkah lights
and the scarcity of oil that they commemorate. 100 out of 130 households
participated in the campaign, averting over 321
tons of carbon dioxide, 772 pounds of nitrogen oxides, two
tons of sulfur dioxide, 60 megawatt-hours of nuclear
electricity, and $33,000 in electric bills, while
raising about $550 for the congregation.
The congregation promoted kits containing eight compact
fluorescent lights and an accompanying study
guide (PDF). Each night of Hanukah, after lighting
the traditional candles, families were encouraged
to install one of the CFLs and read from the study
guide. The family-friendly guide (written by
two scientists on the committee) contains a light
bulb joke, facts on energy & pollution as
well as nightly readings about the importance
of energy conservation and its relevance to the
spirit of Hanukah.
With the slogan, “It doesn’t cost; it saves,” the congregation showed that for the $36 cost of the guide, a household would save $360 in electricity, creating a win-win-win situation for congregants by supporting their congregation, saving on their electric bills and cleaning the air. |
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According to an article in the Southface
Journal of Sustainable Building, “...the biggest sales boost came by presenting the
campaign at a Bet Haverim ‘intergenerational
opening,’ when parents join their children
for the initial half hour of religious school.”
Children were asked to come up with their own
light bulb jokes for the study guide: “How
is replacing an old fashioned, energy wasting
light bulb with a miraculous CFL like making challah? -- It’s done with a twist!” Bulbs
were demonstrated at the Sunday school and order
forms were placed outside of services and included
in the monthly bulletin.
The success of the program drew attention from
Jewish, secular and environmental publications,
and prompted the congregation to develop a program
guide for other congregations to use, with program
materials, newspaper clippings, and the study
guide. Not only have other Jewish congregations
utilized these materials, but the congregation
has worked with Georgia
Interfaith Power & Light to modify the
material (PDF)
for Christian use at Advent.
Culminating on the eighth night, the guide’s final blessing is, “Blessed are You, Sustainer of Generations, who brings together parents and children. May we recognize that this earth will belong to those who will come after us, so that we may keep the earth as a vital gift that is eternal.”
Contact: Bill Witherspoon at billspoon@earthlink.net
Congregational website: http://congregationbethaverim.org |