[IMGCAP(2)]At RexCorp, committee members will seek to meet these challenges by developing creative solutions that decrease RexCorp's carbon footprint through significantly lowering emissions of greenhouse gasses. The mission of the Green Buildings Committee at RexCorp calls for enhancing energy efficiency in both existing and new developments as well as sourcing new energy options including solar panels, wind turbines, fuel cell technology, cogeneration plants and thermal storage solutions. The committee will assist RexCorp tenants, vendors and suppliers in sourcing environmentally friendly products, material and systems to further this important cause.

[IMGCAP(3)]"Forming this committee represents the continued commitment of RexCorp to promote innovation in energy-efficient buildings and environmentally-sensitive development," says Scott Rechler, chairman and CEO of RexCorp. "We stand firmly committed to the proposition that helping the environment and fostering economic development aren't mutually exclusive."

Members of RexCorp's Green Buildings Committee specialize in a wide range of professional disciplines including design, construction, leasing, marketing and operations. RexCorp's Green Buildings Committee is chaired by Walt Smith, EVP of Operations. Committee members include Carol Allen, Brian Fitzsimons, Matthew Frank, Frank Pusinelli, Christopher Kacinski, Todd Rechler, Eric Schlameuss, Christine Stone and Carlton Wenz.

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton's Sustainability Program initiative, led by partners Randolph Visser and Rafael Muilenburg, focuses on increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste and saving the firm money. The initiative will provide educational opportunities for lawyers and staff to learn how to become more "green." The program's main goals will be to decrease the consumption of energy, resources and material and to advance Sheppard Mullin as a leader in environmental responsibility, while improving the firm's bottom line in the process, according to a prepared release.

"More corporations and organizations are paying attention to 'green' initiatives and expect that their law firms do also. The firm's Sustainability Program supports the commitment to practices that our clients are adopting and implementing," Visser says.

"This new initiative reflects our commitment to take firm-wide sustainability policies to the next level," Muilenburg explains. "In addition to improving our own performance, we can assist our clients to achieve their business goals while attaining the best environmental result. We will be working with our attorneys and staff to identify 'green' efforts already underway within the firm, and to help develop plans to drive these efforts forward firm wide."

The program's launch will include a number of projects, including: implementing efficiency improvements based on internal survey results; enrolling in the Law Firm Eco-Challenge sponsored by the American Bar Association and the US Environmental Protection Agency; launching an internal Sustainability Program website containing information about the initiative's efforts and the realized tangible and intangible benefits; and launching a new blog; created in cooperation with the Global Climate Change practice group, that will explore the growing interface between California legal requirements and sustainability efforts.

Studley has also recently launched the Sustainable Real Estate Practice to assist clients with making environmentally responsible real estate decisions and with achieving LEED certification by the US Green Building Council for their office space or building, as GlobeSt.com reported. The law firm of Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP recently established an online "green building network" for the exchange of information and services related to sustainable real estate practices. Even some cities, such as New Haven, CT, who recently formed the Economic Development Corp. are focusing on green initiatives.

Instant Insights /

Firms Seek Sustainability, Launch Green Programs

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