MIAMI – Carlton Fields was named a finalist and was awarded third place in the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and Office Depot “Green Office Makeover Contest.” The firm was recognized for its firm-wide green initiatives.

The contest kicked off at the Chamber Green Initiatives Task Force event in early March and ran through Earth Day, April 22. Entrants answered questions regarding their understanding of environmental issues in the workplace and within their organization. Each company also submitted a 250-word essay and supporting materials that were reviewed by a judging panel that included representatives from Office Depot, the Greater Miami Chamber, and the South Florida academic community. The finalists were announced during the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s “Greening Your Business” event held on May 12, 2010.

"In the last three years, Carlton Fields has made great progress in our efforts to implement green initiatives. We are committed to instituting sustainable business practices throughout all of our offices." said Nicole C. Kibert, Carlton Fields Tampa associate and chair of the firm’s CF Goes Green program. The Carlton Fields’ CF Goes Green program is currently focusing the following three initiatives:

1. Increasing the firm’s recycling efforts – our goal is to recycle all paper!
2. Knowing our size – Visit http://www.3degreesinc.com/partners/carltonfields/ and calculate your carbon footprint. Then take steps to reduce and offset your footprint.
3. Reducing the firm’s energy usage

 CF GOES GREEN 2009-2010 HIGHLIGHTS:

Carlton Fields is a member of the EPA WasteWise Program. The purpose of the WasteWise Program is to encourage and track waste reduction. Carlton Fields reduces waste by engaging in the following activities:

• Recycling electronics, paper, aluminum cans and plastics
• Reusing office supplies
• Providing employees with reusable drinking cups
• Reducing the use of paper by effectively utilizing:
• The firm’s Extranet, Intranet, and e-mail system for document exchange
• Electronic delivery of faxes
• Integrated scanning, copying, and faxing

Carlton Fields has an environmentally responsible procurement policy which is shared with key vendors and includes the following purchasing decisions:

• Purchasing post-consumer recycled paper, recycled printer toner cartridges, and biodegradable coffee cups instead of styrofoam

Carlton Fields is a member of the EPA Green Power partnership at the Leadership Level. The firm purchased Green-e Energy Certified Renewable Energy Certificates to match 100% of firm's total energy usage. This is the equivalent to one of the following environmental benefits:

• Preventing over 5,237,322 pounds (2,375 metric tons) of carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas, from entering the atmosphere each year
• Removing 435 cars from the road each year
• Converting 314 average U.S. households to renewable energy for one year
• The amount of carbon dioxide absorbed annually by protecting 539 acres of forest
• Supporting wind and biomass facilities located across the country

Carlton Fields is a member of the EPA Energy Star Program which encourages energy reduction and efficiency. The firm is in the process of developing an energy plan. In the meantime, the firm is participating in the following activities to reduce our consumption of electricity:

• Purchasing Energy Star compliant electronics
• Utilizing computer equipment and printers which hibernate for energy savings and shutting down computers and other office appliances every night
• Installing motion detection lights as appropriate in our build-out schedules
• Turning lights off in unused spaces
• Server consolidation
• LCD monitors replacing CRTs
• Using energy efficient light bulbs

HISTORY OF CF GOES GREEN

Carlton Fields launched the environmental protection initiative, CF Goes Green, in the spring of 2007. The initial goal of this program was for the firm to proactively reduce waste generated by business and work practices, and to implement a green procurement policy. This includes creating a work setting that is healthy and environmentally responsible. Carlton Fields continues to evaluate business practices to find smarter ways to do business while protecting the environment. Please click here to visit the CF Goes Green web page.

Click here for information about the Green Office Makeover Contest.