Hanuakkah 2004 may be finished, but you can still take the Eight Days – Eight Actions Pledge for the rest of the year!

This Hanukkah, rededicate yourself and your family to tikkun olam (repairing the world).  As a Jewish community this Hanukkah, let's reduce our daily contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on non-renewable energy by starting small.  Changing your habits with energy use, multiplied by the thousands of Jewish homes in British Columbia alone, quickly becomes significant.  All you need to do to help with this energy conservation project, is to take the Eight Days - Eight Actions Pledge.  To find out more about why you should take the pledge, Click Here.

 

Each action corresponds to one of the eight days of Hanukkah. Review the actions, and then choose 3 out of the 8 that you feel is possible to achieve during 8 days of this holiday, and then for the rest of the year. (Email us to let us know how you are doing, both the good and the bad.) During Hanukkah, when you light the menorah each night, read the corresponding description of the energy saving action, and observe it the next day.

If you are an educator and would like more information about this program, please see our Facilitator's Guide to "Eight Days, Eight Actions". (PDF)


Come, take the pledge! 

To take the pledge, please fill in your email address and select atleast 3 of the 8 actions listed below:
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Day 1 (December 7): Let there be sustainable light. Change one regular bulb in your home to a CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light). Don't be fooled by the higher price! CFLs use a quarter of the energy of a standard incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of light and last 10 times as long! BC Hydro is running current promotions through local hardware stores. For the most savings, use these light bulbs where you use the most light.



Day 2 (December 8): Get out of hot water. Make sure the temperature of your water heater is not hotter than the warm setting (49ºC/120ºF for a natural gas tank or 60ºC/140ºF for an electric tank). Water heaters are the second largest energy users in the home, averaging about 20% of all household energy use.
Day 3 (December 9): Put on a sweater instead of reaching for the heat. Lower your thermostat 1.5ºC/3ºF. Aim for 20ºC/68ºF while you are awake and at home and 17ºC/62ºF while away or asleep. A programmable thermostat is exceptionally useful to reach optimal settings.

Day 4 (December 10): Honour Shabbat by turning off your TV, computer, video games or music. Choose at least one item and try keeping your energy use on Shabbat as low as possible. If you already keep Shabbat, find something extra to turn off. Shabbat is a time to rest. By using less energy, we give the earth a rest too.

Day 5 (December 11): Skip a car trip. Walk, run, skate, bike, share rides or take public transport instead of a traveling alone in a car.



Day 6 (December 12): Start a scrap paper pile to reuse paper. Reusing is an important step in the recycling process. Designate a place in your home for used paper (only used on one side) that can be reused for drafts, writing notes, shopping lists, etc. Buy recycled paper products and you've completed the recycling loop!
Day 7 (December 13): Have a candlelight dinner. Shut off all of your lights for an hour and enjoy an evening of latkes with the Hanukkiah glowing. (You may want to light a few extra candles as it is traditional to not use the Hanukkiah as a functional lamp). Take notice of how many lights are turned on afterwards.

Day 8 (December 14): Rededicate yourself to protecting the earth by writing out a Hanukkah Pledge to last all year. Share it with your family and friends, and ask them to join your efforts.  You can also help support programs like this one that teach British Columbians about Jewish environmental values by joining Adam va-Adamah. Tax-deductible receipts issued.



 


Eight Days - Eight Actions is sponsered by YEN (Youth Environment Network).

To find out how you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions take the

One Tonne Challenge.

 

Eight Days - Eight Actions poster

Eight Days - Eight Actions pamphlet


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