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The Legal Sector Alliance Edinburgh Forum will be hosted by HBJ Gately on the evening of Wednesday, 7 March 2012.

The Legal Sector Alliance Sustainable Travel Report will be launched at the Business Travel Show on 7 February at Earls Court, London at a seminar from 11:10-11:50.

Expert comment by Peter Belk, powerPerfector

With the Carbon Reduction Commitment and rising energy costs putting pressure on law firms to reduce their emissions, there is a need to find new and innovative ways to reduce energy consumption within this sector.

One option is voltage management, a method of dealing with the discrepancy between the voltage that you are supplied with (on average 242V) and the voltage at which your electrical equipment was designed to operate most efficiently (220V). It can lead to a reduction in electricity spend of up to 20 per cent.

The Carbon Trust Standard Company has produced a practical new guide that shows you how to reduce your carbon emissions - whether you are a small or large law firm. The guide was produced with a particular focus on making the issue accessible to SMEs. The Growing business’ guide to managing carbon contains a foreword from Micael Johnstone, Legal Sector Alliance manager.

Expert comment by Gyles Scott-Hayward, Greenstone Carbon Management

Creating a carbon footprint report has become a commonplace activity for many businesses. It is increasingly expected that larger law firms will participate in voluntary carbon reporting initiatives, of which there are an ever growing number, including the likes of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), as well as compliance reporting obligations, such as the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC).

The LSA has agreed a partnership with Greenstone Carbon Management, the global specialist carbon solutions company, to provide a new online portal for LSA member firms to measure and report their carbon emissions.

The 20 LSA executive members have publicly committed to cutting their Co2 emissions by adopting challenging emissions reduction targets to drive change in the legal sector. The LSA carbon targets announcement is unique as it is the first time that any sector has publicly committed to collectively reduce carbon emissions.

Expert comment by Thomas Stokell, Challenge for Change.

You might have already run tried and tested measures such as improving cycle parking, operating the Cycle to Work scheme, or running simple promotions such as cyclists’ breakfasts. However, chances are that with the right behaviour change intervention, many more of your staff could be persuaded to try cycling, delivering significant benefits for them and for your business.

Expert comment by Jane Burston, Carbon Retirement

New Energy Finance’s report, The business case for carbon offsetting – an independent analysis, revealed that improved corporate reputation is perceived as the most significant benefit of offsetting.

Nominations are now open for the 2011 Law Society Excellence Awards. This year the Excellence Awards celebrate their fifth birthday and are shaping up to be the biggest and best yet on 18 October.