ONE OF Liverpool's biggest law firms is planning to make its new offices as green as possible - despite being based in one of Liverpool's oldest buildings.
Brabners Chaffe Street is moving its 200 staff to Exchange Flags over the summer.
Green plans include issuing staff with mugs, insisting people print on both sides of the paper ... and making sure staff turn off the lights. And money saved will be spent in ways staff choose!
James Clarke, a partner at the firm, was tasked with making the company as green as possible.
He said: “Moving into a refurbished building, as opposed to a brand new one, does pose problems when we try to reduce our carbon footprint.
“Obviously, with a new building, you can start from scratch, But we’ve proved it can be done in what is one of Liverpool’s most historic buildings.
“There are a lot of windows in the building, and that would have presented a real problem in the summer. So instead of getting air conditioning, we’ve gone for climate control, which will create a constant temperature.
“That will mean staff won’t need extra heaters in the winter or fans on their desks in the summer, saving energy costs along the way.�
Another key area for firms looking to reduce their carbon footprint – the impact they have on carbon production, directly or indirectly – is reducing waste.
And for Brabners, one of the solutions is: giving all staff a mug and a glass.
Mr Clarke said: “We will reduce waste because we won’t be providing plastic cups at the water coolers, instead staff will have their own cup and glass.
“We will be making sure that people always print, using both sides of a piece of paper, and paper which can be reused as scrap notepads will be distributed among staff.
“Any paper which we do throw out is recycled after being shredded. Staff are encouraged to turn off computers when they leave their desks for any more than half an hour, and if they’re the last out of an office, they should turn off the lights.�
And Brabners also have the solution for getting staff on board by giving them a say in how the savings are spent.
Mr Clarke said: “The plan is to put annual savings from energy efficiencies into either a charity voted for by staff, or into a social fund for the staff.
“It is important they feel involved and most have been very positive about it.�