The American Bar Association (ABA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently named Wyche an official “Climate Challenge Partner.” This distinction is given to law firms that have taken steps to become better environmental and energy stewards.
Wyche has a long history of leading preservation and conservation efforts, so of course we were excited when the ABA and the EPA joined forces to issue the Law Office Climate Challenge. We are always looking for more sustainable practices and were glad to adopt some of their recommended best practices for conserving energy and resources in our office.
For decades, Wyche has led the effort to make Greenville and its surroundings truly green. Wyche’s office is located on the banks of the Reedy River, and Wyche attorneys and their families have worked to clean up what was once the most polluted river in South Carolina. Now, the Reedy is a showplace for Greenville and the heart of a beautiful city park. Tommy Wyche, one of the firm’s founders, is well known for his preservation efforts, protecting tens of thousands of acres of South Carolina’s Blue Ridge Escarpment. He has played a key role in ensuring future generations will enjoy iconic natural areas including Caesar’s Head State Park, Jones Gap State Park, and Raven Cliff Falls.
The Wyche lawyers who have followed in Tommy Wyche’s footsteps as environmental advocates are too numerous to mention. They include Cary Hall, who has been a leader in the effort to establish the Palmetto Trail from South Carolina’s coast to its mountains and served as chair of the board of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. Cary has personally blazed miles of trails so that hikers can enjoy the beauty of South Carolina’s mountains. Rita Bolt Barker, a leader in the firm’s Environmental & Sustainability practice, is currently serving on the City’s Green Ribbon Advisory Committee, which advises the Mayor and City Council on environmental and sustainability issues facing the City of Greenville. She is also Vice President of the Board of Directors of Friends of the Reedy, which is dedicated to protecting the Reedy River watershed.
Taking part in the ABA-EPA Law Office Climate Challenge and implementing new ideas for better managing the firm’s use of energy and resources fit perfectly with Wyche’s commitment to the environment.
