The Grass can be GREENer in Your Law Firm

In today’s marketplace, consumers are expecting more from businesses on many fronts, including their impact on the environment. This expectation is nondiscriminatory and transcends all types of business - including your law firm. According to research from Intellitrends, when asked about their future purchase behavior of services that are specifically “green” or environmentally friendly, 93 percent of U.S. consumers say they definitely or may purchase these products over others.

Having a greener attitude in your firm can not only help attract clients but also cut costs. The ABA’s Law Office Guide to Energy Efficiency says that “energy represents 30% of a typical office building’s operating costs, and is the single largest controllable operating expense.” Firms of all sizes can become more environmentally conscious with simple, cost-effective changes. The first step is to attack the simplest problems first.

​Communicate - Talk to your staff and co-workers - consider things such as water, heating/air conditioning, lighting, paper and ink usage, and recycling to see how you are currently managing your eco-footprint. Simply having heightened awareness and ongoing education at the office will help make positive changes in your firm’s office environment.

Save Trees - take a look at any lawyers desk, which is typically covered in a pool of papers. Paper use leaves a significant carbon footprint. According to the ABA-EPA Law Office Climate Challenge Waste Wise Program, the life-cycle of one ton of office paper, from production to recycling, results in the release of about nine tons of CO2-equivalent gases, which contribute to global climate change, as well as other air and water pollutants. Take advantage of todays digital age by reading and editing documents on the computer or tablets. Still, if you have to print something, purchase recycled paper and use both sides.

Conserve energy - Try opening the windows more and making use of natural light – it is free and more refreshing than fluorescent lights. Also, investing in compact fluorescent light bulbs and putting time sensors on these lights can help trim costs with little to no investment upfront. Ensure that electronic equipment, such as printers, scanners, and computers go into standby mode 10 to 15 minutes after non-use.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle - recycle materials such as paper and other supplies whenever possible. Today, many companies will pay you to recycle old electronics.Use mugs and kitchenware as opposed to plastic and styrofoam.

Preserve H2O - Invest in water efficient faucets. Avoid bottled water to reduce pollution and instead try a filter system.

Make a short checklist that you and your employees can breeze over quickly at the end of each day to make sure you are complying with your goals. Soon these aspirations will become habit.

The next step is to consider different aspects of how the firm functions. Is it really necessary to be in the office five days a week? Consider carpooling. Maybe try telecommuting a couple of times a month- using face to face software to hold meetings or conduct business as opposed to commuting saving time, transportation costs, and reduce office expense.. You may also realize in the process of “greening” your office that your home could use some major improvements as well.

Making your office more environmentally friendly not only helps you market your firm more successfully to an conscious consumer, it cuts costs and provides a new perspective on the traditional workplace.

Improving a firm's sustainability performance, both environmentally and socially, can have a massive impact on reputation, brand and staff morale. This is not only a win-win for the environment; it is a chance to reconsider your habits and paradigms from a fresh perspective.