Posts from March 2014
2014 brings Increased Incentives for Vanpooling
March 05, 2014
In the coming months, Massachusetts will join a growing number of regions that subsidize the capital cost of contracting for vanpools, which will significantly lower vanpooling costs for individuals. A finalized contract could be released as early as April, coming just in time to provide some relief to commuters who will also feel the effects of an MBTA fare increase this summer. Until then, vanpool vendor vRide plans to provide a $600 incentive per van so riders can start seeing benefits now.
New State Incentives
While the lingo for "capital cost of contracting" may sound technical and complex, it is actually a simple way for the state to incentivize vanpooling. Once the new contract is complete, the state will be able to provide approved vanpool vendors with a $600/month subsidy for each van that the vendors oversee in Massachusetts. In addition to vRide, both Easy Street and Enterprise are anticipated to be approved vendors in the contract. These vendors will pass the benefit to vanpool riders by reducing the cost of leasing their vans.Vanpool Subsidy Program
In addition to state incentives, employees and tenants of ABC TMA members are eligible to receive $220 towards their vanpool fare over 6 months. Participants receive the subsidy incrementally in the form of commuter checks as indicated below:
- $50 for 1st and 2nd months
"Legally Green" - the new standard for law offices
March 04, 2014
Nixon Peabody is making 'Legally Green' the new standard for law offices
[caption id="attachment_957" align="alignleft" width="240"]
Nixon Peabody's Green Team receiving the 2012 award for 'highest score[/caption]
Law firms are historically known for using a lot of paper. That's just the nature of their business: filing briefs, preparing closing documents, and documenting rights and obligations. But one law firm is looking to change that. Nixon Peabody LLP, an international law firm with a 170,000 square foot office in Boston, has been participating in the Challenge for Sustainability since 2010. Not only has Nixon Peabody managed to reduce its paper use 15% firm-wide by implementing best practices for office paper management, they have shown time and again that building tenants can achieve meaningful use reductions through focused sustainability initiatives.
Nixon Peabody most notably cemented their commitment to sustainability in 2007 when they appointed a Chief Sustainability Officer, the first ever in a law firm. Carolyn Kaplan, who oversees the firm’s Legally Green® initiative, has been actively involved in the Challenge for Sustainability, and also serves on ABC's Sustainability and Climate Change Steering Committee. Undeniably, Nixon Peabody’s success in promoting a culture of sustainability stems from commitment at the top, including management’s decision to employ a dedicated CSO, supported by a firm-wide Green Ops steering committee and local green teams.
With its largest . . .