Today the law firm of Horack Talley announced participation in the Law Firm Climate Challenge, a multifaceted program run by the American Bar Association in collaboration with the US Environmental Protection Agency. As part of its commitment as a Green Power Leader in the ABA-EPA Law Office Climate Challenge, Horack Talley is eliminating more than 100% of the greenhouse gas emissions generated from its electricity use with the purchase of low-carbon renewable energy credits from Renewable Choice Energy. The firm has instituted “Best Paper Practices” as delineated in the Challenge, and is participating in WasteWise, EnergyStar, and Green Power, three EPA programs. The Challenge only requires participation in one of these programs; Horack Talley has opted to participate in all of them.
As part of the program, Horack Talley has purchased renewable energy from cleanSOURCE, a national Green-e certified mixed renewable energy product comprising credits from biomass, small-scale hydroelectric, geothermal, and wind providers. The estimated environmental benefit of Horack Talley’s participation is equivalent to the carbon-offsetting that would be achieved by planting 2229 trees or by not driving over 590,000 miles.
“Horack Talley is showing leadership among law firms for their commitment to purchasing renewable energy,” said John E. Johnson, Sales Manager for Renewable Choice Energy (RCE). RCE is one of only four firms certified by Green-e. The Green-e program is administered by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions, the nation’s leading independent certification and auditing program for renewable energy. It provides an objective standard for consumers and firms to verify that renewable energy purchases are directed.
To kick off the Law Firm Challenge, Horack Talley created a baseline of energy and paper usage, recycling and other energy-related programs in September of 2007. Since then, the firm has implemented further improvements with battery recycling, bottle and can recycling, has expanded paper recycling significantly, now purchases paper with 30% recycled content, and has policies in place for energy usage. In addition, the firm has held a public transportation lunch and learn session with CATS, and encourages use of public transit with a monthly drawing.
Efforts are ongoing. This month Horack Talley is purchasing mugs for each employee to offset usage of paper cups, and has set copiers to default to two-sided copying, and instituted two-sided printing in accounting, which produces reams of information each month.
“We’re saving 12,000 sheets of paper a quarter just by printing our pre-billing on both sides,” said Scott Callendar, facilities manager. “Just in accounting in a year, that’s about 48,000 sheets of paper we’re not using,” he added. The company is now a Green Power Partner at the leadership level. Horack Talley has purchased green power in the amount of 101% of their total energy usage per year. As of the April 16, 2008 EPA report, only six other law firms in the country are Green Power Leaders.
Horack Talley serves the Charlotte region and beyond in real estate, creditors’ rights, tax planning and wealth management, commercial litigation, green initiatives, and family law. For more information on the ABA / EPA Law Firm Climate Challenge and Horack Talley’s participation in it, please contact Thea Grace Morgan at 704.716.0887
