A Chicago-area synagogue was rated the greenest synagogue in America.
A $10 million project earned The Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston, Ill., the highest rating from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.
The “platinum” rating was awarded for features such as using recycled concrete, sensor-controlled lighting and a parking space reserved for a hybrid car.
Six churches across the country have received similar certification. A synagogue in San Luis Obispo, Calif., is seeking a lower silver rating.
The Reconstructionist synagogue’s energy costs will be about 45 percent less than a typical synagogue of the same size.
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