SCEL Sustainable Law Office

Standing Committee on
Environmental Law

Welcome!

Welcome to the ABA site that will help you lower your operating costs while conserving precious natural resources. Designed by the ABA Standing Committee on Environmental Law, the site is intended to act as an on-line community providing useful tips, an array of contacts and current information to help you succeed in running a "sustainable" law office. This site will be interactive: we not only want to help you, but we also want to hear from you and about you. In the coming months we will add features that will promote interactivity.

WHAT THIS SITE IS ABOUT
"Pro bono service to the environment" is how the Law Firm Waste Reduction Network in Seattle, Washington characterizes law office practices that reduce waste and energy usage and conserve resources. But by minimizing your impact on the environment, your office also will reap savings - in costs of heating, cooling, lighting, equipment operation, and purchase of supplies, among other areas. Employee morale should improve. Your public profile will shine brighter as well.

Why Bother? The legal profession uses enormous amounts of resources, especially paper. With minimal attention to conservation, the practice of law remains inefficient. Heavy use of resources is inconsistent with a sustainable future in which adequate, healthy resources are preserved for future generations. Land use, forestry, air and water quality - all are affected adversely.

Regardless of size, any law office - whether a private firm, non-profit, government agency or law school clinic - can take steps to reduce energy use and waste, thus creating less to be disposed of in landfills, less to be manufactured in the first place and less demand for energy production with its environmental impacts. Strategies range from simple paper recycling to comprehensive replacement of lighting and HVAC systems. While some strategies are more realistically available to building owners, tenants have numerous options for savings. Many organizations stand ready to assist - with guidelines, case studies, hotlines and more. All you have to do is ask.

This web site will get you started with some key strategies to reduce your operating costs and minimize your office's environmental impacts. Along the way we feature real-life examples, offer telling statistics, and explode a few myths. We hope that this resource will help you take the first step or support you on a path you have begun. Both your business and the environment will benefit.

Energy-efficiency, waste reduction, re-use and recycling go right to your bottom line by substantially reducing operating costs.

BEST PRACTICES

RESOURCE CONSERVATION & WASTE REDUCTION

If your landlord does not provide a recycling service, consider engaging a private company that provides both document destruction and recycling capability, thus preserving client confidentiality while providing an environmental service.

Recycle paper, toner, cans, glass, newspaper, batteries
Use recycled and recyclable copier and printer paper, toner, notepads and memo pads
Seek higher post-consumer content in recycled paper
Install recycled carpets and tile
Institute a "green" purchasing policy that incorporates waste reduction into purchasing decisions
Purchase refurbished or recycled furniture
Join buying clubs to save money on recycled products
Donate old binders, magazines and equipment rather than disposing of them
Recycle old electronic equipment. Some computer manufacturers, among others, will accept and recycle electronics, thus keeping them out of landfills
Use duplex or 2-sided copying
Use duplex printing when possible
Use "print preview" before printing out documents to reduce multiple drafts
Use a spelling check function before printing out documents
Encourage responsible transit by taking advantage of tax-subsidized mass transit employee programs
Conserve water through low-flow toilets, aerators and water restrictors
Provide reusable food & beverage supplies such as stir sticks and mugs
Increase alternatives to paper communication (electronic client and in-house newsletters and memos)
Request soy-based inks in outside printing jobs
Provide recycle boxes in individual offices, conference rooms and common areas
Ask building management to have trash separated from recycled paper and newspapers
Set forth an appropriate conservation message or directive in your employee orientation manual
Reduce use of attachments and other documents as feasible
Consider videoconferencing in place of some out-of-town meetings

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Use screensavers on computers
Power down equipment when not in use after specified time periods
Shut off office equipment when not needed, such as at nights and on weekends
Install automatic lighting controls in irregularly used spaces
Turn off unneeded lights
Install and set programmable thermostats
Close exterior doors to keep out excess heat and cold
Make energy-efficiency a decision factor when purchasing equipment
Look for the "EnergyStar" energy-efficiency logo when purchasing equipment
Participate in the USEPA "Green Lights" program to reduce lighting costs
Use electronic ballasts and energy-efficient fluorescents in your lighting
Combine equipment functions in one machine, a "hydra" (printer, fax, scanner, copier)
Consider electronic filing where feasible

Ask your local public utility to perform a free energy audit of your premises. The audit will identify where energy savings can be attained.

COMMON MYTHS

Recycled materials are unattractive and unprofessional.
Truth: While that once was true, recycled paper now comes in a wide range of choices and is as attractive and durable as virgin paper. Recycled materials (toner cartridges and the like) also have improved greatly in quality.

We don't have time to focus on this.
Truth: Many measures have a minimal impact on daily routines, and some measures save time, such as replacing some paper memos with electronic communications.

Waste prevention costs too much.
Truth: Many recommended measures cost little or nothing to carry out. Further, waste prevention saves money by using fewer resources, resulting in reduced waste disposal costs and reduced purchases. 2-sided copying and printing reduce paper usage and thus its cost; non-disposable serviceware reduces the cost of meal and beverage supplies. Shutting off printers and computers nights and weekends lowers energy bills. Underwriting mass transit stipends can cost far less than paid parking spots. In addition, in some locales, recycling is the law. In other locales, tax incentives are offered to promote efficiency.The State of Maryland at one time eliminated sales tax on certain highly efficient consumer goods for three years, including high-efficiency furnaces and central air-conditioning units. Nearly a dozen other states have offered some kind of sales-tax reduction on energy-efficient products.

My office is too small to take these steps.
Truth: Reducing energy consumption and waste actually can be easier in a small office where there are fewer decision makers before action is taken; less paper to replace, file, and otherwise deal with; fewer replacement supplies to purchase; smaller archives to move into electronic format, etc.

Turning lights on and off uses more power and costs more than keeping them on.
Truth: Modern systems make it more cost-effective to turn off unneeded lights.

Leaving the heat or cooling at a constant setting is most efficient.
Truth: Using programmable thermostats to set the temperature according to need is easy and far more cost-effective, and, according to the U.S.Department of Energy, provides a 50% rate of return on energy dollars.

It's not workable in the legal profession.
Truth: Court rules are growing more flexible, especially concerning use of recycled paper, and some allow 2-sided copies in some circumstances. Check with your court system.

We're only a building tenant and can't make changes.
Truth: Tenants can make many beneficial changes - in purchasing policies, equipment and furniture disposal, communication methods, powering of equipment, use of lighting, and support for mass transit. Tenants also can work with landlords to achieve office-wide recycling pick-up and disposal and lighting retrofitting, and can negotiate energy usage credit terms in leases.

Clients won't like it.
Truth: A growing number of clients support their lawyers' efforts to conserve resources, and a growing number expect it. Many clients accept documents on recycled content paper and double sided legal documents. Preventing and reducing waste helps build a more efficient business. Public attitudes have made it appropriate and honorable to be "green"; environmental sensitivity builds a law firm's public image.

Finally, energy-efficiency and resource conservation simply make sense. They save you money while helping to preserve natural resources needed in the future.

RESOURCES & LINKS

Many resources exist for law offices seeking to reduce business operating costs and their impact on the environment. Government programs, non-profit and business associations and suppliers offer a wide variety of information, much of it available through their web sites. Resources range from federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to local business groups, state agencies, local and national non-profits and university-based projects, among others.

A wealth of material and contacts accessible on-line can be your first point of inquiry. To get you started, a number of useful resources are listed below. They will provide or point you towards fact sheets, statistics, operating strategies, success stories, and information guides from the general to the technical in all aspects of business operations. While not a comprehensive list, the resources listed below will direct you to many others as well.

• • • • • • •

ABA-EPA Law Office Eco-Challenge: An initiative of the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources and the U.S. EPA designed to encourage law offices to take practical steps to become better environmental and energy stewards. Three voluntary EPA partnerships are available, applicable to any size organization. Visit http://www.abanet.org/environ/ecochallenge/home.shtml.

Oregon Lawyers for a Sustainable Future has developed four tools for any law office interested in adopting more sustainable practices: (1) Model Law Office Sustainability Policy, (2) Sustainable Practices in the Law Office (checklist), (3) Guidelines for Sustainable tenant Improvements, and (4) Sustainable Practices for the Building Manager. Copies are available on-line at http://www.earthleadershipcenter.org/OLSF/office_practices.

"Recycling at Work," U.S. Conference of Mayors, http://www.usmayors.org/uscm/recycle/.

WasteWise, www.epa.gov/wastewise or 1-800-372-9473 - information on this USEPA program and its benefits, along with links to numerous other information sources, including The Business Guide for Reducing Solid Waste and manuals for conduct of self-audits.

Green Lights, 202/775-6650 - U.S. EPA voluntary program providing technical information, financing options, lighting software and other services to encourage use of energy-efficient lighting.

Green Meetings, U.S. EPA, http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/greenmeetings/index.htm - offers tips, tools and resources to organize and hold environmentally responsible meetings.

Water Sense: Efficiency Made Easy, http://www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency/index.htm - a public-private partnership program sponsored by the U.S. EPA to protect the future of the nation's water supply by promoting and enhancing the market for water-efficient products and services. The site offers tips, products, partner names, and links for consumers, businesses, utilities and communities.

Office Green Buying Guide, from the GreenSeal program, U.S. EPA, 202/872-6400.

EnergyStar, http://www.energystar.gov - 202/233-9114, U.S. EPA program working with manufacturers and end users to bring more energy-efficient computers to the market.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, http://www.energy.gov/energyefficiency/index.htm - U.S. Department of Energy site offering a gateway to energy efficiency and renewable energy information.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC), 1-800-363-3732 - U.S. Department of Energy resources.

"Energy Solutions for Your Building," http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/info/office/index.html - information about planning, financing, designing, constructing and operating an energy-wise office or building. Includes real-world examples (such as a database of 93 projects) and helpful links.

"High Performance Buildings," http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/highperformance/ - U.S. Department of Energy web site devoted to promoting resource-efficient buildings. Includes case studies, technologies, and a "toolbox."

Environmental Energy Technologies Division of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, http://eetd.lbl.gov/paper - practical information to achieve reductions in office paper use.

Federal tax incentives for energy-saving improvements in commercial buildings, http://www.energytaxincentives.org/tiap-commercial-bldgs.html

Buy Recycled Business Alliance, http://www.nrc-recycle.org/brba or 703/683-9025 - fact sheets and other information on "green" products.

Energy Services Companies - develop, install and finance energy efficiency measures repaid through energy savings. To locate an ESCO, contact National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) http://www.naesco.org, 1615 M Street, NW, #800, Washington, DC 20036, 202/822-0950.

Hands-On Solutions to Improve Your Profits & Productivity, U.S. Department of Energy, DOE/GO - I0095-175 (1996), available from National Technical Information Service, 703/487-4650.

Workforce Performance, http://www.opm.gov/perform/articles/2001/fal01-3.asp, a discussion about the benefits and challenges of a workplace telework program, with examples from AT&T and the Internal Revenue Service.

Guide to Energy-Efficient Office Equipment (2d ed., 1996), Loretta A. Smith, ACEEE (American Council for An Energy-Efficient Economy), Marc Ledbetter, Pacific Northwest Laboratory, and Cyane Dandridge, U.S. EPA. ISBN 0-918249-22-8, 100 pp., $12. Order from ACEEE, 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, #801, Washington, DC 20036, 202/429-8873. ACEEE offers a range of resources and publications facilitating development and adoption of energy-efficient buildings and equipment.

The Sustainability Handbook: The Complete Management Guide to Achieving Social, Economic, and Environmental Responsibility: this new publication from the Environmental Law Institute offers a model sustainability policy for organizations; summaries of sustainability codes and tips on how to select them; guidance for structuring your organization for sustainability; and an overview of key sustainability trends. The handbook offers guidance for organizations ranging from small companies to colleges to non-governmental organizations and government bodies. Visit http://www.elistore.org/books_detail.asp?ID=11143.

National Zoo/Smithsonian Institution offers practical suggestions for making environmentally friendly daily decisions. Visit http://nationalzoo.si.edu/publications/greenteam.

Earth911 provides community-specific links, resources and environmental information. Visit http://earth911.org.

Business recycling: Earth911 resources, tools, events, products, waste reduction strategies for businesses. Visit http://www.earth911.org/usa/master.asp?s=lib&a=brrc/default.asp.

INFORM, www.informinc.org, 5 Hanover Square, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10004, 212/361-2400 - "Waste at Work" prevention strategies and other resources from this national non-profit organization that identifies practical ways of living and doing business that are environmentally sustainable.

Green Seal, http://www.greenseal.org - an independent non-profit dedicated to promoting manufacture, purchase and use of environmentally responsible products and services. Offers resources and a certification program.

Environmental Defense, Public Information Department, 1-800-684-3322, members@edf.org, or http://www.edf.org. Web site features a guide to selecting energy-efficient light bulbs.

World Resources Institute, http://www.wri.org, offers on its web site "Switching to Green: A Renewable Energy Guide for Office and Retail Companies."

Natural Resources Defense Council, https://www.nrdc.org/cities/building/foffice.asp - Features NRDC's "green" offices in four cities, detailing virtual tours, benefits accrued, a building guide, and related resources.

Resource Conservation Alliance, http://www.Woodconsumption.org/issues/offices.html - Greening Offices and Meetings offers strategies and resources to bring conservation into the office.

General Electric offers "Office Success Stories" at http://www.gelighting.com/na/home_lighting/products/energy-star.htm - explains Energy Star lighting and offers a savings calculator.

Sustainable Development International Corporation works to define linkages among policy, environmental attitudes and human behavior. The Smart Office Resource Center at http://www.smartoffice.com provides information on buildings and office design and operation, and offers real world examples. The Smart Office book explains how to create a "green" work place. Sustainable Development International Corp., PO Box 725, Black Mountain, NC 28711.

Environmental Building News provides information on energy-efficient and healthy building practices at its web site, http://www.buildinggreen.com. EBN offers a newsletter, a library, a building checklist, product reviews, success stories, books, periodicals and videos.

"As Green As the Grass Outside," by Charles Lockwood, http://charleslockwood.com/pdf/barrons_article.pdf - guest article in December 2006 issue of Barron's that discusses the burgeoning "green building" trend and its opportunities and benefits.

Green Marketing Newsletter, produced by Sustainable Industries, "offers expert industry advice, trends and analysis for professionals interested in the growing field of sustainable business and corporate social responsibility." http://www.sijournal.com/newsletter.

The Sustainability Handbook: The Complete Management Guide to Achieving Social, Economic, and Environmental Responsibility, by William R. Blackburn, pub. by Environmental Law Institute, 2007, $67.96 ELI members, $79.95 all others. This handbook "covers the complexities, challenges and benefits of sustainable development as it is pursued by corporate, academic, government and non-profit organizations…provides a blueprint on how organizations of all sizes can reach or exceed economic, social and environmental excellence… offers a wide variety of practical approaches and tools, including a model sustainability policy for organizations; summaries of sustainability codes and tips on how to select them; practical guidance on structuring the organization for sustainability and gaining support from management; and an overview of key sustainability trends..." ISBN 978-1-58576-102-9. Order from ELI, 1-800-433-5120 or 202-939-3844.