April 11, 2003—Verizon has earned the federal government’s prestigious Energy Star certification for three more of its energy-efficient office buildings, maintaining its position as the top Energy Star company in the telecommunications industry.
The company completed facility improvements and rigorous energy-use audits at the three buildings as part of its program to significantly reduce pollution as well as energy costs.
Verizon now has Energy Star certification for eight office buildings across the country, under the federal program run jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE). In addition, Verizon is in the process of performing Energy Star benchmarking measurements in 200 more administrative buildings. Verizon also is working with the EPA on an energy-use benchmarking process for the company’s central office buildings, where the computerized switching systems that route voice calls and data are located.
No other company in the telecommunications industry has earned as many Energy Star certifications or launched benchmarking in as many buildings, according to the EPA.
The three Verizon buildings—located in Newbury Park, Calif., Ardmore, Pa., and Glen Ridge, N.J.—recently received the Energy Star label following lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning improvements designed to lower electrical energy use. Under the Energy Star benchmarking program, buildings are audited for energy use and then receive a score between zero and 100, based on how efficiently the building uses electricity. Buildings that receive a score of 75 or higher are eligible to apply for the Energy Star label.
Since launching Energy Star benchmarking and other company energy-reduction initiatives in 2000, Verizon has saved millions of dollars in energy costs annually. Last year, Verizon saved $15 million.
For more information, contact Verizon.
