Israel’s Supreme Court Undergoes a Green Makeover to Cut Energy Use by 30%

The Supreme Court in Jerusalem is currently undergoing a green renovation aimed at reducing electricity consumption by approximately 30%. TECH E.H.S, the company that won the Ministry of Finance’s tender for energy efficiency across 15 government institutions, is replacing the entire lighting and air conditioning systems in the building. The upgraded systems are expected to save 25–30% in annual electricity usage.

Following a successful pilot project at the Ministry of National Infrastructure building—with an investment of 100,000 shekels and a first-year savings of 68,000 shekels—it was decided that the pinnacle of Israel’s justice system should set an example in energy conservation. This is also the largest energy efficiency project the company has undertaken to date.

The project includes replacing outdated bulbs with advanced, self-dimming lights that adjust based on natural light levels. These lights automatically turn off according to pre-programmed parameters. The central air conditioning system is also being upgraded with advanced climate control components. The entire efficiency process is expected to take about three months.

Every responsible citizen has likely been shocked by the number of lights left on in empty government buildings and unused rooms. When questioned, the typical response is “That’s just how it is.” On the flip side, there’s also the phenomenon of over-saving: on the way to the one clerk who can help, a citizen may find themselves in a pitch-dark corridor. Logic suggests it leads either to a darker stairwell or, worse, an open elevator shaft. But the clerk is indeed there—and without her approval, your car, bike, and Siamese cat might be repossessed.

As part of the project preparation, EHS teams scanned the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Finance building, Eshel HaNasi Youth Village, and four additional courthouses—including the district courts in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Nazareth, and Be’er Sheva. They found significant potential for energy savings, and in many cases, even opportunities to improve lighting intensity in courtrooms, meeting rooms, judges’ chambers, offices, classrooms, and hallways. The combined electricity bill for these institutions before the upgrade exceeded 70 million shekels annually.

According to Elitzach Dembinsky, VP of Marketing and Business Development at TECH E.H.S, the planning phase revealed that the existing systems were highly inefficient. “They were cooling the ceiling instead of the floor,” Dembinsky remarked at the “From Renewable Energy to Energy Efficiency” conference held last week in Tel Aviv.

The keyword for the new system is “monitoring”—precise control of temperature and lighting based on actual need, not personal whims or disregard for public funds. The implemented solution prevents horror scenarios and, most importantly, saves taxpayer money. Corridors with little foot traffic remain dark most of the time, but sensors detect approaching individuals and light up the space as they walk through.

The air conditioning system also adjusts its intensity throughout the day. It gradually turns on before doors open and shuts off precisely when the building closes—not based on the mood of the maintenance staff. In rooms that are mostly empty, it activates only when people are present. The new system also prevents extremes—whether rooms that are too hot or freezing cold offices where clerks are on the verge of hypothermia (and service suffers accordingly).

Dembinsky noted that during surveys and installation, the team encountered very positive feedback. Many employees and visitors offered suggestions for improving facility management, and court presidents who met with company representatives welcomed the project and expressed strong willingness to collaborate in implementing the solutions.

So next time you see a dark corridor in the Supreme Court, don’t be alarmed—it’s lighting up just for you. And if you feel great after a court ruling, it might not be just because you won—it could be thanks to the perfectly tuned climate control in the courtroom.