Verizon Launches Comprehensive Sustainability Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Conserve Energy

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April 12, 2010
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Verizon Launches Comprehensive Sustainability Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Conserve Energy

Program Includes New Initiatives and Expansion of Existing Energy and Recycling Efforts That Have Reduced CO2 Emissions by More Than 793 Million Pounds

NEW YORK, April 12 -- To deliver on its commitment to find practical and innovative ways to reduce the carbon footprint of its global operations, Verizon has launched a comprehensive sustainability program consisting of a series of new initiatives and an expansion of existing efforts.

The initiatives and expansion range from significantly increasing the number of alternative vehicles in the company's fleet to conducting a trial of energy-efficient FiOS-TV set-top boxes to using more green products and services.

"Customer demand for Verizon's broadband and wireless technology is driving the growth of our high-IQ networks, but we're growing responsibly," said James Gowen, Verizon's chief sustainability officer.  "We're partnering with other businesses, suppliers, employees and our customers to dramatically increase the sustainability of our supply chain and operations. This approach positions the company for growth in future markets while creating lasting social value."

  Some of the initiatives Verizon is launching this year include:

  --  Adding 1,600 alternative energy vehicles in the Verizon fleet in 2010.
      Verizon is purchasing more than 1,100 alternative energy vehicles
      including hybrid and compressed natural gas-powered aerial trucks and
      vans, and hybrid pick-up trucks and sedans. The company will also
      increase its use of biodiesel and flex-fuel (E85) to power 470
      vehicles. A video explaining the benefits of hybrid aerial trucks and
      how they're being used in New York is available at
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5RDYkBnh7k.
  --  Verizon has teamed up with Motorola to trial eco-friendly set-top
      boxes for FiOS TV customers in select markets. The new QIP models use
      significantly less energy than existing models. A DVR model will boast
      increased digital video-recording storage capacity. Packaging for both
      models will be 100 percent recyclable and made from 75 percent
      recycled cardboard.
  --  Kicked off a long-term awareness campaign to educate, encourage and
      make it easy for Verizon's 220,000 employees to cut energy use,
      recycle and reuse at work and home. Recent examples include free
      electronic recycling days, open to the public, at various company
      locations including the company's Operations Center in Basking Ridge,
      N.J., (April 21) and its facility in Ashburn, Va. (April 21). All
      materials collected during the campaign will be recycled or disposed
      of in an environmentally responsible manner.
  --  Verizon's IT, security, communications and network expertise are
      helping the utility sector ramp up smart grid deployment.  The
      company's intelligent IP and wireless networks provide an ideal
      foundation for the smart grid's control and metering functions.

In 2009, Verizon's aggressive energy reduction and recycling measures reduced the company's CO2 emissions by more than 793 million pounds, approximately the amount of CO2 emitted by 46,700 homes in a year. The company also improved its rate of emissions per million dollars in revenue to 60.2 metric tons of CO2 in 2009, from 64.4 metric tons in 2008.

(NOTE: To view a video featuring the many ways Verizon is reducing its carbon footprint, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tETxFdHh0LM.)

In 2009 Verizon took several steps toward increasing the sustainability of the company. Examples include:

  --  A new lab in Columbia, Md., for federal customers interested in
      Optical LAN services and technology. Passive optical network
      technology can reduce power consumption by up to 75 percent because it
      requires no additional regeneration of power for up to 12 miles from a
      campus data center.
  --  Setting energy efficiency standards for the company's suppliers of
      network equipment, resulting in saving 91 million kilowatt hours and
      more than 114 million pounds of CO2 avoidance. In 2008, Verizon led
      the industry by being the first company to establish energy efficiency
      standards.
  --  Handling millions of virtual meetings each month for customers, and
      conducting virtual meetings between Verizon employees, customers,
      partners and suppliers.  The meetings include high-definition video
      conferencing and immersive video, which makes participants feel as
      though they are in the same room.  By skipping the trip and meeting
      virtually, Verizon employees avoided the equivalent of 8 million
      pounds of CO2, which is like taking nearly 700 passenger cars off the
      road for a year.
  --  Monitoring building temperatures and installing energy-efficient
      lighting, which reduced energy consumption by 84 million kilowatt
      hours, enough energy to power 7,800 homes for a year. The company's
      operations center in Basking Ridge, N.J., and two Verizon Wireless
      stores earned the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED silver and gold
      certifications, respectively.
  --  Drivers of Verizon vehicles conserved 1.7 million gallons of fuel in
      2009 as part of the company's continuing efforts to reduce engine
      idling, the equivalent of taking 2,800 cars off the road for a year.
  --  Encouraging business customers to opt for paperless billing from
      Verizon.  Each time a customer does so, Verizon donates money to the
      American Forests' Global ReLeaf program, which replenishes trees in
      the U.S. American Forests planted more than 70,000 trees in 2009,
      through its partnership with Verizon.

For more information about Verizon's commitment to the environment, visit http://newscenter.verizon.com/kit/green-press-kit/.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)(NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 91 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of approximately 222,900 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit http://www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at http://www.verizon.com/news.  To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

Source: Verizon
   

CONTACT:  Media, Alberto Canal, Verizon, +1-908-559-6367,
alberto.c.canal@verizon.com

Web Site:  http://www.verizon.com/

Company News On-Call:  http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/094251.html

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