Verizon Wireless Reduces Carbon Footprint at 100 Retail Outlets

Since 2008, more than 100 Verizon (News - Alert) Wireless Communications (VWC) retail shops have been awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s coveted Energy Star certification—the highest number of stores of any wireless retailer to date. The Basking Ridge, New Jersey-based wireless provider remains committed to achieving Energy Star certification at least once for all eligible stores. 

Verizon Wireless (News - Alert) formed a partnership in 2006 with the voluntary Energy Star program, which promotes energy efficient products and practices that lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. At that time, VWC adopted the EPA’s measurement and tracking tool, Portfolio Manager, enabling the company to monitor and assess energy and water consumption across its real estate portfolio in a secure online environment.

 “Our six-year strategic relationship with Energy Star has focused on reducing Verizon’s carbon footprint and serving our customers in the most environmentally friendly way possible,” said Verizon’s Chief Sustainability Officer James Gowen, adding, “We look forward to continuing our alliance—and reaching Verizon’s sustainability goals of increasing our energy efficiency and cutting our carbon intensity in half by 2020.”

VWC has taken steps to improve energy efficiency in stores with projects such as lighting retrofits, energy management system (EMS) installations and HVAC upgrades. Specific initiatives include:

• Replacing more than 30,000 existing 50-watt and 37-watt Halogen MR16 spotlights with 12-watt LED (light-emitting diode) lamps nationwide in the United States (with less than a two-year payback).
• Upgrading 338 locations with energy management systems (EMS) in 2010 and adding 174 locations in 2011. These systems control the HVAC units and lighting, based on set schedules, thus maximizing store efficiency. Another 38 EMSs have been installed as of July 2012. 
• The stores also feature low-flow plumbing fixtures, environmentally friendly finishes, recycled content products, and operational waste reduction.

In 2012, Verizon Wireless opened an Evolution 2.0-designed retail store in Toms River, New Jersey., featuring an open 3,100-square-foot sales floor, with numerous interactive demo stations that enable customers to immerse themselves in a hands-on experience with the latest 4G LTE (News - Alert) smartphones, 4G LTE tablets and more.  The new design resulted in a 30 percent reduction in energy costs.

In addition, two newly constructed VWC retail locations were among the first in the nation to apply for and receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), joining the company’s headquarters in Basking Ridge, N.J., with this certification.

To learn more about Verizon Wireless’ green initiatives, click here.  

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