Verizon Getting 'Greener'

Verizon Communications, a successful company that last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion, is no stranger to extending cost savings to its customers.

 

Now, the company has announced it will be further "examining every way that we and our customers can use energy to promote savings."

 

Chuck Graff, Verizon's (News - Alert) director of corporate and network technology announced today a number of new initiatives, standards and an energy management guide the company will undertake in a bid to conserve energy in the communications network.

 

According to Graff, reducing the amount of energy consumed by equipment can provide additional cost benefits because companies will not need to air condition buildings and storage areas as much.

 

Graff said that the company will also be implementing "strict standards governing the energy efficiency of new network equipment" they order and will be using more fuel cells to replace older equipment and even power radio towers that support wireless services.

 

In addition, he said the company will be testing geothermal heating and cooling facilities. These tests will look to the value of "tapping the earth's constant temperature for warmth or cooling, using heat pump equipment."

 

One of the key ways Verizon is also able to help consumers and businesses conserve energy is through their broadband fiber-to-the home network which consumes only 38 percent of the electric power that copper high-speed Internet does.

 

Also, because broadband use is spreading more and more among businesses and consumers, it will be possible to spare the environment tons of carbon emissions and reduce America's dependence of foreign fuel. Instead of consuming gasoline or traveling, broadband networks support telecommuting, e-commerce and teleconferencing. These new behaviors will help drive conservation and cost savings.

 

"Setting and achieving goals and using available technologies are things we all can do," Graff said. "And one of the triggers for great conservation advances will be America's broadband networks and services."

 

"As Americans start to use broadband networks more and more, they save energy, too."

 

Last year, Verizon announced it was recognized  by Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) with a 2008 Green Excellence of the Year Award in the Corporate Leadership category for the telecom services industry. The company was awarded for its efforts in enhancing long-term sustainability and a measurable improvement in the company's overall environmental impact within its industry sector.

 

Verizon also recently announced it is looking to hire 60 new customer service reps for its Hamilton, New Jersey service center.

 

"We're looking for great people to help us grow and succeed," said Michelle Swittenberg, Verizon's vice president of sales, mid-Atlantic region. "With surging demand for Verizon FiOS (News - Alert) and our other leading products and services, these new team members will help us take our great customer service and sales support to an entirely new level."