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Temple Beth El Takes on Climate Change

02/24/2023 10:22:18 AM

Feb24

by Marta Karlov

TBE will be installing and activating solar panels this summer, thanks to a generous grant from the Goodman Foundation and the tireless efforts of various committees, volunteers and staff. Not only is this effort consistent with our commitment to tikkun olam; it is also expected to result in an initial savings of $12,000 per year. This will allow us to continue our responsible stewardship of congregation resources. According to Dan Esser, “we feel strongly that we want to be good stewards of the earth and that there is no reason to waste money on things.”

 

This story starts with formation of the Capital Needs Assessment (CNA) Task Force in 2018 to determine priority improvements for our building and the resources required. This team determined that our sound system and sanctuary needed revamping, and that solar panels would be a worthy investment. The first two areas of work were completed during the pandemic years, when it became clear that our sanctuary layout was not conducive to safe distancing and that an updated sound system was required to offer high-quality hybrid services. Solar panels were put on hold, since there wasn’t enough money for everything. At the same time, our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system needed urgent maintenance—wear and tear were taking a toll and it had become inefficient, requiring substantial investment. 

Still, the CNA Task Force, the House Committee, the Environment and Climate Change Action Team, our executive director, and our building staff continued to pursue how we could install solar panels. In June 2022, Stefanie Kushner submitted a grant proposal to the Goodman Foundation for solar panel purchase and installation, using the cost information obtained by the CNA team. TBE was awarded a grant of up to $300,000 in October of that year. The grant stipulates that we apply for all other relevant rebates and incentives. So with assistance from Full Spectrum Solar, our solar panel provider, we will be requesting support from AB RENEW WI Solar, MadiSUN Backyard, and Focus on Energy Commercial. 

Installing something heavy on our roof turns out to not be a walk in the park; it requires coordination with a number of contractors. The TBE team, led by Dan Esser as project manager, includes Stefanie Kushner and Facilities Coordinator Steven Gregorius, in collaboration with the House Committee, the Environment and Climate Change Action Team, and the CNA Task Force. This team is (literally) laying the foundation for a successful project through a number of related upgrades. This means replacing parts of our aging roof, some of which is 27 years old, at a cost of approximately $100,000 starting this spring. Some HVAC rooftop units and duct work will have to be lifted and new rubber installed underneath. Space in the building will also be needed to house inverters that convert energy generated to usable energy (DC to AC). Thanks to the generous help of TBE Sisterhood, this space has already been secured. 

The end goal is for 189 solar panels to be online by fall 2023, after a net investment by TBE/Goodman Foundation of approximately $150,000 for solar panel installation and connection to the MG&E grid. Recoupment of this investment through energy savings is projected to take about 12 years. 

Our commitment to tikkun olam also includes an evaluation by Richard Peidelstein, congregation member and expert in building energy efficiency, to identify ways to optimize our HVAC system. From his home, Richard has been able to remotely diagnose our energy efficiency performance and identify actions we can take to improve. 

This is all good news—knowing the problem is a great start for addressing it. And our strong community of staff and volunteers is up to the challenge. As Dan says, “spending up to $300,000 is a big deal.” We have no doubt that with his commitment and strong support from the TBE staff and community every penny will be invested wisely, with big returns. 

April 30, 2025 2 Iyar 5785