Past Successes
We pride ourselves in producing definitive results from our programs, initiatives/campaigns, and advocacy work. We have summarized some of our major accomplishments below:
•We have been able to implement a reduction in energy use and costs of 25% at 2,000 religious institutions will save a total of $3,257,328 and reduce CO2 emissions by 32,573 tons, this is the equivalent of planting 9,121 acres of trees. Through the creation of Green Teams, we have helped our member organizations employ green practices in their respective institutions, homes, and businesses.
• The Green Sanctuaries Program has been a continual success, as it continues so will the environmental profiles of religious institutions and their members. For instance, institutions can increase their use of renewable energy to protect the environment and improve their bottom line.
• We are working toward implementation of our Green Bulk Purchasing Program to help our member institutions purchase environmentally friendly products and services at reduced cost.
• Our success with the California/Israel Eco-Technology Program has secured over $3 billion in hard contracts and has helped create hundreds of jobs in the Israeli technology sector. It has also allowed us to support environmental technology companies as they do business in California and the U.S. An example of our program success was our work with Solel Inc., one of the premier solar thermal companies in the world at the time, who signed a contract with PG&E to deliver 553 MW of electricity.
• With California Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield, we are sponsoring a California solar stimulus package. AB 1028 will suspend sales tax on solar energy sales in the state of California for one year after purchase. AB 1029 will suspend the manufacturing tax on solar energy. AB 1027 will allow for schools and other non-profit organizations to receive additional rebate money to install solar on their facilities.
•We have been able to implement a reduction in energy use and costs of 25% at 2,000 religious institutions will save a total of $3,257,328 and reduce CO2 emissions by 32,573 tons, this is the equivalent of planting 9,121 acres of trees. Through the creation of Green Teams, we have helped our member organizations employ green practices in their respective institutions, homes, and businesses.
• The Green Sanctuaries Program has been a continual success, as it continues so will the environmental profiles of religious institutions and their members. For instance, institutions can increase their use of renewable energy to protect the environment and improve their bottom line.
• We are working toward implementation of our Green Bulk Purchasing Program to help our member institutions purchase environmentally friendly products and services at reduced cost.
• Our success with the California/Israel Eco-Technology Program has secured over $3 billion in hard contracts and has helped create hundreds of jobs in the Israeli technology sector. It has also allowed us to support environmental technology companies as they do business in California and the U.S. An example of our program success was our work with Solel Inc., one of the premier solar thermal companies in the world at the time, who signed a contract with PG&E to deliver 553 MW of electricity.
• With California Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield, we are sponsoring a California solar stimulus package. AB 1028 will suspend sales tax on solar energy sales in the state of California for one year after purchase. AB 1029 will suspend the manufacturing tax on solar energy. AB 1027 will allow for schools and other non-profit organizations to receive additional rebate money to install solar on their facilities.
• Our work with the Los Angeles Business Council led to the development of green building codes and incentives for sustainable construction in the city of Los Angeles.
• We have facilitated many social action programs, such as Tu B’Shvat activities and major tree plantings in conjunction with organizations such as Northeast Trees. We are have proudly lead hundreds in Havdalah Hikes, cleaning the beach with Heal the Bay, and removing poisonous, non-native plants with the Friends of Ballona Wetlands. |
• In partnership with Verdex change, we hosted a conference on California's ability to combat global warming and dramatically expand the green and cleantech economies. Green power players from all over the nation gathered in Los Angeles to listen to and participate in expert panels, do business and share information.
- We have helped to sustain and involve the community in many various projects:
- In Santa Monica, we encouraged bags made of cloth by charging ten cents per plastic bag.