Faith Community Sustainability & Solar Options
Helping synagogues, churches, and faith institutions reduce utility overhead, embrace solar energy, and practice environmental stewardship.
Connect with ReJews to explore solar education, recycling programs, and environmental initiatives for your faith center.
Bring ReJews to Your CongregationHouses of worship and religious community centers are anchors of spiritual, educational, and charitable life. Maintaining large sanctuary facilities, classrooms, and social halls requires significant heating and electrical overhead, which can divert resources away from community programs.
Rooted in values of environmental responsibility (such as Bal Tashchit—the prohibition against wasteful destruction—and Tikkun Olam), ReJews assists faith organizations in cutting facility utility overhead. We help congregations evaluate solar feasibility, understand federal elective-pay provisions, and lead practical sustainability efforts.
Bring ReJews to Your Congregation
Connect with ReJews to explore solar education, recycling programs, and environmental initiatives for your faith center.
Bring ReJews to Your CongregationYour Circumstances in Faith Institutions
Faith organizations often operate older, architecturally unique facilities with complex roof structures and intermittent occupancy patterns (heavy weekend and holiday use alongside quiet weekdays), creating challenging utility costs.
High utility expenses divert congregational funds from charitable missions, youth programs, and community relief.
Board approval processes and volunteer committees require thorough, transparent, and non-predatory financial information.
Non-profit 501(c)(3) tax status requires clear understanding of federal elective-pay clean energy tax provisions.
Practical Sustainability for Houses of Worship
Proven methods for faith-based facilities to cut operating expenses and mobilize congregational stewardship.
Understanding Federal Elective Pay
How eligible 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities may claim qualifying clean energy tax credits through elective pay after satisfying applicable project, filing, and registration requirements under IRS rules.
Managing High-Ceiling Sanctuary HVAC
Using destratification ceiling fans, programmable multi-zone thermostats, and occupancy sensors to avoid heating empty sanctuaries during weekdays.
Congregational Recycling & Youth Drives
Organizing bottle and can collection drives with youth groups and religious school classes that fund community projects while teaching conservation ethics.
Commercial Energy Auditing for Non-Profits
How to schedule professional commercial energy audits through local utility non-profit rebate programs.
Institutional Solar & Energy Solutions
Exploring solar and clean energy agreements for non-profit and faith-based facilities.
For Eligible Homeowners
For eligible homeowners, ReJews provides access to a solar pathway with no installation payment and no loan. Savings begin from the first day the system is activated under the applicable program agreement. Eligibility depends on the property, roof condition and sun exposure, utility territory, program availability, and agreement terms. Where supported by the applicable agreement, eligible homeowners receive guaranteed savings beginning when the system is activated.
For Renters & Apartment Residents
Where available, renters may be able to subscribe to a community solar project and receive credits associated with an off-site solar installation. No equipment is installed at the renter's home. Availability, enrollment requirements, billing format, savings, fees, cancellation terms, and credit requirements vary by utility territory and project.
Community Solar Specifics
Faith communities leasing facility space can explore community solar subscriptions where available to receive credits on utility accounts without capital equipment.
Utility & Hardship Policies
Under Internal Revenue Code Section 6417, eligible tax-exempt organizations may claim qualifying clean energy investment credits via elective pay, subject to project qualification and IRS pre-filing registration.
Congregational Leadership & Community Action
Empowering youth, volunteers, and congregants in environmental stewardship.
Relevant Pathways & Opportunities:
- Synagogue and church 'Green Team' sustainability committee coordination
- Youth group environmental service projects and community recycling drives
- Community clean energy education and solar outreach for congregational families
Explore Your Clean Energy & Community Pathways
Select the action that matches your immediate goal. All actions are clearly marked by status.
Bring ReJews to Your Congregation
Connect with ReJews to explore solar education, recycling programs, and environmental initiatives for your faith center.
Find IRS Elective Pay Info
Review official IRS guidelines on elective-pay clean energy credits for 501(c)(3) non-profit entities.
Explore Torah & Environmental Ethics
Read about Torah teachings, Jewish environmental ethics, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe's perspective on solar energy.
Elective-pay clean energy tax credits are subject to IRS regulations, pre-filing registration, and project qualification requirements under IRC § 6417. ReJews does not provide formal legal or tax counsel.
Select Your State to View Local Utility Tariffs & Incentives
Clean energy programs, net metering compensation, and property tax abatements are governed by state-level public utility commissions. Explore utility rules in your state: