Light Bulb Moment, Part 2

A comment left on my first post asked: are there CFL's that are dimmable?

The answer is: YES. And, there are 3-way CFL's, too. You have to look for a bulb that is EPA Energy Star certified, and you may have to buy them online, but they definitely exist, and, they generally don't flicker. I found this on EPA's Energy Star website, which is a treasure trove of everything you always wanted to know about Energy Star products, how to chose what's right for you, and a wealth of information on energy saving in general. It is a terrific resource. And, today someone on the KOL -CHAI listserv posted a link to "the ultimate recycling" guide.There are links to these websites at the bottom of this post. And, there is a link to only one of many places to buy them as well. I hesitated to put this link, because i am not advertising or promoting any particular source, but since the question was asked, I took the next step and found a source. All you have to do is search for "dimmable cfl" and lots of sources will pop up.

Now, changing the subject, but still in the category of "lightbulb moments." Please note, I am not, by any means, shomer shabbos, but today I intentionally did not use my computer until approximately sundown. I turned it off last night. Just this simple act helped me to acknowledge that Shabbat is precious, a day of rest. And, while creating a day of rest for my computer, I created more of a restful day for myself. How does this relate to my "green Jew" persona? At first I thought, huh? And then I realized that acting with intention is how I've evolved into doing things that help the environment, making my own little mark in the battle against climate change, saving whatever resources I can, and, as a result, frequently trying to do more. For example, I took a five-minute shower the other day, and, while I managed to do it including washing my hair (;-D ), it was not easy (more on that concept in another post).

I think my point in this particular ramble in the wilderness is that each of us can make personal changes if we think about them. We need to think intentionally every time we get into our car, turn on a faucet, or pick up an empty soda bottle that someone has dropped and taking it home to recycle it. Soon it becomes part of our daily routine. And we continue to be champions for the environment. And, for me, doing these things, and knowing that there are Torah injunctions that require me to do them, deepens my Judaism as well.

By the way, Kol-Chai is an online forum on Judaism, the environment and ecology. To subscribe, send the message "sub kol-chai YOUR NAME" to listserv@jtsa.edu. There is not a lot of traffic, and what's posted is always interesting, and, often, provacative.

Shavuah tov,

Susan

Light Bulb Moment

So, I have been on a guilt-trip (hey, I'm Jewish ...) for the last week because I've not posted since June 8, and I believe that in blogger land that isn't cool. But, I didn't have anything to say. Until now, when Jennifer Kefer, the Climate and Energy Coordinator for COEJL and one of their bloggers notified those of us that are on her list that she'd just posted a new blog on the COEJL blog about the failure of the climate change bill to even get a hearing, and said that this occurred while the National Weather Service had issued yet another tornado warning, and that THAT had reminded her of a joke, but you'd have to read the blog post.

Well, that reminded ME of a joke, too. Last week I was reading one of the Sierra Club's online newsletters and it talked about a Lightbulbs to Leadership Program they'd started, to encourage leadership to change their incandescent bulbs to cfls, with a clever video about "how many lawmakers does it take to change a lightbulb?". And then there were some "how many" jokes, and an invitation to send one in. Which I did, but they don't appear to have it in their collection, so here it is for you:

Q: How many Jews does it take to change a lightbulb?

Bah dah bum ...

A: NONE, because we've already changed all of ours! Thanks to COEJL's campaign, A Light Unto the Nations, subtitled How Many Jews Does It take to Change a Lightbulb?

Have YOU made the switch?

Shalom,

Susan

THINKING ABOOUT THE FUTURE

This afternoon the SAZ COEJL board meets to once again consider our future direction for the next few years. These sessions are always full of "big ideas" - in fact, this time I asked that every member bring a "big idea" and a plan for implementing it to the meeting. We may not be able to implement them all, this year or ever, but it is a chance to get some thoughts on the table. One thing that is very exciting is that one of my colleagues and I have built a SAZ COEJL website that stands alone, instead of being linked to the Jewish Federation's site. Why is this important? Well, it's something we can edit, instead of relying on help from the Federation. And, there are no size limitations, so we can have links and photos galore. There's a link, or there will be soon, to the page in this blog.

I am very interested in rainwater harvesting (doing a demonstration project with the Watershed Management Group, for example) as one of our board member's family has done already, is a definite possibility. With this project, I'd like to do some workshops for the community, educating them on how easy this actually is, and bringing in some teachings about "mayim, mayim, mayim" - always an issue in this hot, dry desert. I am very curious to see what other folks bring to the table.

And, given that tonight is Shavuot, there will be cheesecake ...

Shalom,

Susan

WANDERING JEW

So, the first post had a title in Hindi, but I've corrected that and I am trying to figure out how to delete it ...

This is the first post on my Jewish environmental blog. I chose Bamidbar as the blog's title as I think we are always wandering, always searching, always wondering, always hoping. And, since I happen to live in the Sonoran desert, what better title for my musings about my place, our place on the planet and my wanderings to connect with the earth and its inhabitants. Yes, I am Jewish. Yes I care deeply about the planet and what we've done to destroy it, and what we can do to fix it. I take as my personal sacred and moral responsibility the task of doing what I can to protect my little piece of the environment, and to join with others in a community of activists dedicated to this cause.

As Rabbi Hillel said: "If not now, when?"

Shabbat Shalom,

Susan