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Interfaith Group Lauds TI's Global Consciousness With Award.........posted Nov 15, 2007

The Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light is bestowing its first Energy Award on TI at a public recognition ceremony on Nov. 29 at the Washington National Cathedra's Pilgrim Observation Gallery.

"Tikvat Israel has been an incredible leader on the congregational level of sustainability to protect creation from the climate change," said Allison Fisher, coordinator of the 3-year-old interfaith group, in announcing the award.

The synagogue's environmental committee has undertaken a wide range of measures over the past year that are resulting in sharply lower utility usage in the building and lower utility bills. (See a related story, "TI's Saving the Planet ... Plus $17,000 a Year," for complete details.)

Representing Tikvat Israel at the award ceremony will be Dan Black, chair of the TI Environmental Committee; Art Fabel, a founding member of the committee; and Rabbi Howard Gorin.

"I am surprised and delighted by the recognition that GWIPL is according us -- to be the first recipient of their energy award," the rabbi said, upon learning of the synagogue's designation.

As part of the committee's conservation efforts, the Rabbi's Fund has paid for renewable energy certificates that offset part of the synagogue's carbon footprint. The energy originates from landfill gas.

The Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light (www.gwipl.org) is a non-profit initiative that helps Jewish congregations and other religious institutions work for a more sustainable and healthier environment by reducing the threat of global warming.

At the November ceremony, the interfaith group will recognize a second religious organization, the Universalist Unitarian Church of Silver Spring, and two individuals, Grace Ogden of the National Cathedral and Dennis Chestnut, a citizen in District of Columbia's Ward 7.