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Environmental Responsibility
Fenwick & West has a long history of reducing consumption where possible, as well as promoting reuse and recycling beyond local, state and federal requirements. We are the first law firm in the United States to be awarded LEED certification for two offices, including the first law firm to secure a LEED-CI Platinum Designation (for our Seattle office). We were also the first law firm certified by Santa Clara County as an environmentally sustainable "Green Business" for our efforts to conserve resources at our Mountain View headquarters.
Improving Our Sustainable Business Practices
Fenwick & West established a "Green Team" in 2007 (a combination of partners, associates, executive management and staff) to provide focus on green initiatives, establish priorities and ensure compliance with external certification programs. Since that time, the firm established an official Green Policy that includes waste management, purchasing and energy conservation initiatives. Some of our achievements and current initiatives include:
- LEED Certification: Our Mountain View HQ office is LEED-EB Gold Certified and is one of the 20 largest LEED-certified commercial spaces in Silicon Valley. Our Seattle office is LEED-CI Platinum Certified. We are in the LEED certification process for our San Francisco office. Our Boise office building is also LEED Platinum certified.
- ISO 14001 Certification: We are in the process of ISO 14001 evaluations. ISO 14001 is the international standard for environmental management systems.
- Energy Star Partner: In July 2007, the firm officially registered with the Energy Star challenge to record all energy consumption. In 2008, our Silicon Valley office achieved an EPA Energy Star rating of 91, which was 39% above the national average. In 2009, we achieved an Energy Star rating of 96, which is 42% above the national average.
- Sustainable Silicon Valley: A collaboration of businesses, governments, and non-governmental organizations that address environmental and resource pressures in Silicon Valley. As a participant, we provide all records of energy consumption and have pledged to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% by the year 2010.
- CA Title 24 Compliance: Our Mountain View office exceeds California's Title 24 energy standards by utilizing energy-sensitive design and planning to maximize use of natural light, energy-efficient lighting, sustainable ceiling and carpet products wherever possible, low-flow faucets and toilets, motion sensors to further reduce water and energy use, and low-water landscaping.
- Responsible Procurement: We integrate sustainable criteria (manufacture, use and disposal) into our purchasing policies, including the use of low-emitting materials – adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, carpet, compost wood and laminate adhesives – with any new construction or internal office build-out, equipment purchase or procurement of services and supplies. We have a commitment to our local communities and pledge to support local and diverse businesses wherever possible.
Reducing Consumption and Waste
One of our primary goals is to continually reduce consumption and improve recycling in all areas. In 2009, we decreased energy consumption by 428,100 kilowatt hours in our Mountain View headquarters, a year-over-year reduction of 13.79%.
Some of our initiatives include:
- Energy consumption reduced year over year by 50,000 kwh by implementing the following:
- Employing server virtualization
- Purchasing energy efficient appliances, computers, servers, printers and copiers
- Maximizing natural light to reduce dependency on artificial light as well as replacing all light fixtures with T-8 bulbs while installing lighting sensors to reduce energy use
- Switched all monitors from CRT to LCD, reducing monitor energy consumption by 75%
- Use of technology to further reduce energy usage:
- Using Wikis, ShareRooms and fax servers to reduce paper consumption and saving up to 20% on server-related energy consumption
- Significantly reducing the amount of paper required for litigation and corporate transactions through the use of our award-winning eDiscovery and due diligence system
- Implementing double-sided printing and copying as defaults
- Instituting paperless policies in various practice groups and departments
- Establishing sustainable purchasing practices by instituting the following:
- Sustainable language inserted into all RFP's RFQ's and purchasing agreements
- Purchasing furniture, office supplies, ceiling and carpet tiles with highest possible recycle content or post-consumer materials from local and diverse vendors to reduce shipping impact and enhance our communities
- Recycling a broad variety of office items and construction waste (72% of trash diverted from waste stream).
- Using Green Seal cleaning products throughout all offices
- Achieved a 45% reduction in water use by installation of low flow toilets, motion sensor faucets and drought resistant landscaping
- Selected office locations based on access to public transportation, shopping and dining
- Switched from bottled water to pitchers of water for our internal and client meetings
Promoting Public and Alternative Transportation
In 2002, we selected downtown Mountain View as the new location of our firm headquarters based primarily on the accessibility to public transportation, shops, restaurants and businesses.
- The Mountain View location — more centrally located to our employee population — reduced overall commute time contributed by Fenwick employees
- 5% of our garage parking spaces are reserved for hybrid and carpool vehicles, all located in prime, highly-visible spots to help spread the conservation message
- The first US law firm to install charging stations for electric vehicles
- We provide full reimbursement to staff who commute monthly by public transportation to our Mountain View office
- Secure bike parking and onsite showers are provided to encourage biking to work. The success of the program caused us to double the capacity of our bike cage.
- We are a sponsor of Bike to Work Day with 511.org, staff a Bike to Work station, and actively promote Bike to Work Day within the firm
- Fenwick & West provides pro bono support to the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
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