Verizon Introduces Sustainability Program for Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Verizon has introduced a sustainability program in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint on all its operations worldwide.

The chief sustainability officer of Verizon James Gowen commented that the company is collaborating with other companies, employees, suppliers and its customers to enhance the sustainability of the company’s operations and supply chain.

The program consists of numerous new initiatives and expansion efforts that include adding 1,600 vehicles that use alternative energy to its fleet. The company is purchasing over 1,100 alternative energy vehicles such as compressed natural gas-powered aerial vans and trucks, hybrid vans as well as hybrid pick-up sedans and trucks. The company also plans to increase the use of flex-fuel (E85) and biodiesel for powering 470 vehicles; partnering with Motorola to conduct trail on eco-friendly set-top boxes for the customers of FiOS TV in select markets. The novel QIP models utilize less amount of energy in comparison with currently available models; starting an awareness program among the company’s 220,000 employees to encourage, educate and make it convenient for them to reduce energy use, reuse and recycle; and helping the utility industry increase the use of smart grids.

The year 2009 saw Verizon reducing its CO2 emissions by over 793 million pounds by means of recycling and energy reduction measures.