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Verizon is focused on long-term value creation. Its approach to corporate responsibility entails operating within a consistent set of values and engaging in constructive dialogue with its stakeholders. This framework allows Verizon to use its broadband and wireless networks to deliver long-term business and social value.
The notion of “sustainability” is an area where Verizon leaders have focused because they realized early on that they could make a significant impact while creating long-term, sustainable value.
Their approach has been two-fold.
First, Verizon focuses on minimizing the impact of its operations on the environment and second it concentrates on applying its broadband and wireless technology in ways that encourage customers to minimize their impact on the environment.
Within its own business, the company is focused on improving the energy efficiency of its buildings, fleet and networks.
Buildings
Over the past two years, Verizon became an EPA Energy Star Partner and upgraded 77 Verizon Wireless stores to meet the Energy Star certification.
By the end of 2010, Verizon Wireless had a total of 32 LEED certified retail stores. By constructing the stores in accordance with LEED standards, Verizon diverted 763 tons of construction waste away from landfills, which is the equivalent to the weight of ten 737 jets or 383 cars!
Following LEED standards also led to the reduction of water consumption by 865,320 gallons a year or 13.8 million glasses of water and caused Verizon to use on average 28 percent recycled content materials in store construction. It also contributed to saving close to 400,000 kWhs of energy per year.
Fleet
Verizon has one of the largest fleets in corporate America. In 2010, it purchased 604 hybrid electric pick-up trucks from GM and 501 compressed natural gas vans from Ford. The company also converted more than 470 of its existing vehicles to utilize biofuels (E20 and E85) and added green aerial splicers and SmartWay tractors.
These purchases and conversions were part of a plan that increased the number of alternative energy vehicles in the fleet to approximately 5 percent. Verizon’s goal is to increase the percentage of alternative fuel vehicles in the fleet to 15 percent by 2015.
Network
Verizon requires its suppliers to improve the energy efficiency of their network equipment by 20 percent over the previous generation equipment’s energy usage.
In addition, Verizon has adopted a policy of no net growth in energy usage in its network switching centers. This means Verizon engineers must remove the energy equivalent of old equipment to offset the energy used by new equipment they install.
The industry analyst Gartner has calculated that the Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector globally produces about 2 percent of carbon emissions. Verizon continues to focus on minimizing its own environmental footprint, but quite frankly the bigger opportunity lies in applying its broadband and wireless technology to reducing the 98 percent of emissions attributable to other industry sectors and private citizens.
The Boston Consulting Group has determined that ICT and broadband can help reduce U.S. emissions by 22 percent by the year 2020 through innovations that support development of smart electrical grids, smart transportation and building systems, and travel substitution services.
New Innovations
All of this is why Verizon is rolling out services like:
- Smart Grid Connect – a product that supports utility smart grid programs;
- Connected Home – a consumer and business energy monitoring and control service that uses Verizon’s FiOS broadband platform; and
- High definition videoconferencing that enables customers to skip the trip, but make the meeting
Looking to the Future:
Verizon is trialing a smart building solution in 16 company facilities so it can introduce a product geared to commercial and office buildings.
As you can see, Verizon is focused on sustainability because it is one of the areas where its leaders can create value for shareholders, customers and the communities they serve.
Use the comment space below to share your thoughts about Verizon’s sustainability efforts and ways that you contribute to a better planet in your home or business.
To view vital speeches given by our authors, visit our speeches page.
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Kathy Brown
S.V.P., Public Policy Development and Corporate Responsibility
Kathy leads Verizon's global corporate responsibility initiatives and policy development. She also oversees the Verizon Foundation.
James Gowen
Chief Sustainability Officer/
V.P. of Services Operations
James oversees Verizon’s supply chain, vehicle fleet, investment recovery, purchasing and materials management and sustainability initiatives.
Rose Kirk
President, Verizon Foundation
Rose leads Verizon's philanthropic strategy with an emphasis on projects that demonstrate the use of Verizon's technology in addressing social issues such as education, domestic violence prevention and online safety. The Verizon Foundation is one of the 15 largest corporate foundations in America.
Jack McArtney
Director of Corporate and Community Responsibility
Jack promotes digital wellness and online safety. He works with parents, educators, service providers, application developers and industry leaders to foster responsible use of Verizon's mobile and broadband networks.
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