Laying down the law on carbon emissions

IT'S the instruction every worker wants to hear – when your boss tells you to switch off your computer.But that's exactly the order that will be sent down from on high at law firm Tods Murray today as part of World Environment Day.Staff at the practice will be switching off their computers when they are away from their desks, turning down the office heating thermostats and recycling more paper than usual in a bid to reduce the firm's carbon footprint.A seven-point plan has been issued with suggestions to make staff aware of what they can do to "cut out a kilo", reducing their carbon dioxide emissions by the equivalent of a kilo of carbon. Keeping a check on progress will be a team of volunteers from across the practice – so be warned, you're being watched.If everyone in the firm turned off their PC for 45 minutes – say, over lunch – the firm could cut its carbon emissions by two kilograms.Turning down the office heating thermostats by half a degree would save more than ten kilograms.David Dunsire, executive partner at Tods Murray, said: "The Cut Out a Kilo campaign is a worthwhile initiative and we are encouraging everyone in the firm to help. "I hope to see more taking advantage of car-sharing options, walking or cycling to work, or even just bringing in homemade sandwiches for lunch rather than buying the pre-packaged variety."

"KILLER QUOTE"

GREEN politics sometimes presents business as the enemy of climate policy. For as long as business resists long-term change, that will be the case. But low carbon business, and 'low carbon consumers' can also be a major positive driver of change."Lord Peter Mandelson, the Business Secretary.