COLPM 2010 Annual Meeting Sustainability defined

COLPM 2010 Annual Meeting

Sustainability defined…. . l Paraphrasing the United Nation’s Brundtland Commission (1987) definition, sustainability entails meeting the “Triple Bottom Line” of economic, social and environmental responsibility. It is about fostering respect for people and other living things while at the same time wisely using and managing environmental and economic resources.

Core Areas of Sustainability l l l Energy conservation Paper reduction Recycling Greenhouse gas reduction Improve morale Diversity initiatives l l l Environmentally conscious purchases Sustainable practices Education Support for environmental conservation LEED

Doing the right thing; not 100% altruistic l While using sustainable practices is the right thing to do, it also makes “cents”. – – – Walmart reduced solid waste by 57% between 2008 and 2009 GE Ecomagination project: saved $100 MM and reduced emissions by 41% Nike: 3 to make 2; waste costs of $700 MM/year

LEED impact on morale and productivity l l l Improved health with better IAQ Improved lighting Carnegie Mellon University, Center for Building Performance: Productivity gains of 7. 1% with lighting control, 1. 8% with ventilation control, 1. 2% with thermal control. Measured tasks were typing, addition, proof reading, reading comprehension, creative thinking.

You might be more green than you think… l What is under the umbrella? – – Libraries Smaller offices Diversity EDD

What does it mean? ? ? l l l How big is the elephant in the room? How can my office make that much of a difference? How can we get started? – – – Reduce Reuse Recycle

And why should I care? l The Triple Bottom Line…. – – – l l Economics Social Environmental responsibility (global warming? ? ) a/k/a, the 3 P’s: People, Planet, Profits And speaking of profits…. .

Clients are demanding it. . .

ABA-EPA Law Office Climate Challenge Program l l l ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Started in March, 2007 with 7 pilot firms September, 2010: 230+ firms, legal departments, law schools

Law Office Climate Challenge: key components l l l Waste. Wise Green Power Partnership ENERGY STAR

Oregon State Bar Association l Oregon Lawyers for a Sustainable Future OLSF has developed six documents and supplemental materials that can serve as resources for the law office that seeks to support sustainable internal practices. Assists other states with sustainability programs www. earthleaders. org

Impact? ? ? l l l 4. 39 pounds 650 pounds 500 cups (Source: Clean Air Council)

Impact? ? ? l Buildings account for: – – 40% of our energy use 70% of our electricity 40% of CO 2 emissions 15% of our water resources

Impact? ? l Arnold and Porter informal survey: attorneys use 20, 000 to 100, 000 sheets of paper year – – 100, 000 sheets = ½ ton 1 ton of paper (if recycled) yields 9 tons of CO 2 emissions; 11 tons if not recycled

Part of the MGKF mission…. . l When you can practice what you preach: – committed to providing the highest quality legal services to our clients, while also acting as responsible stewards for the environment and providing a collegial, family-friendly workplace for all of our attorneys and staff.

The benefits l l l Making a difference By walking the walk, recognition as “experts” and Kool-Aid drinkers Credibility with – – – clients community employees

Setting the example in the office leads to…. l l l More involvement in recycling at home Food and yard waste composting Bike to work E-cycling in municipalities Green purchases Buy fresh, by local

What we do at MGKF…. l l l Have been using legal pads made from recycled paper since 1989. Gradually migrated all paper to recycled content. Implemented Green Lights program in 1995. 2 receptacles at each desk or workstation Landlord collects “clean trash” and bottles and cans. Recycle Tyvek envelopes and batteries

More stuff that we do…. l l l l Converted most laser printers to duplex “ 2 -sided” reminders at all copiers Periodic sustainability e-mail reminders Sustainability “police” Vending machine power misers Healthy snacks: buy fresh, buy local (seasonal) Use of E-waste vendors Electronic monthly reports

And even more stuff l l l Green renovations – smaller offices Host a Sustainability Directors Roundtable Landlord – new exterior lighting – – – Reduction of 23 tons of CO 2 per year ROI of 29 months $5, 700 per year energy savings

Community outreach l l l Co-chair of Philadelphia’s Sustainability Task Force $5, 000 annual grant for Environmental Community Services school program Green practices presentations to clients, professional associations

Financial Impact - Downside l Solutions not always cheaper – Typically higher costs for: l l l recycled paper (+20% to 30%, although improving) green power (+ $25/month for an average home) CFL’s (+ 4 x to 5 x) Duplex printing trays (+ $200 -$300) Initial outlay for lighting retrofit

Financial Impact - Upside l Duplex printing and copying – l Lighting (per EPA statistics) – – l 30 -40% reduction in paper utilization CFLs save over 60% over incandescent bulbs EPA Green Lights Program saving $10, 000 per year for 20, 000 sq ft office Office equipment, computers, appliances – EPA Energy Star rated saves up to 50% in energy utilization, generally no additional cost for Energy Star rated items

Financial Impact - Upside l Vending machine power management/timers – l saving 1, 100 k. Wh per year, approximate savings of $94 per machine Electronic Newsletters – – saving 20 cases of paper, $9, 300 in postage indirect cost savings for landfill disposal fees and fuel savings (hard dollars and lower emissions)

Environmental Impact l 1, 150, 000 attorneys (ABA estimate) – – l 20 K sheets per year per attorney 23 billion sheets or 4. 6 million cases If we could achieve a 30% reduction, consider the impact….

Even the Champagne makers… l 7% carbon reduction, 2, 400 more bottles per truck

Haynes and Boone, Victory Park headquarters l For one month (January, 2009): – – – $675 in landfill expenses 43 metric tons of debris and paper Saving: l l 255 trees 5, 700 gallons of oil 10, 500 gallons of water 61, 500 kilowatts of power (source: Texas Bar Journal, April 2009)

Environmental Impact l MGKF, 20, 000 square feet of office space, Green Lights program = 95 tons of CO 2 emissions saved, not to mention $10, 000 per year in energy savings

Recommendation