Environmental Leader

Cox Communications has announced initiatives to cut energy costs that include adding solar electricity to its headquarters and communications system and increasing fuel efficiency in its fleet vehicles, the Arizona Republic reports.

In addition to installing a 150-kilowatt solar array at its Arizona headquarters and planning to expand the use of solar energy at its state offices, Cox is testing a tradeoff in which customers allow the communications company to install solar panels on their roofs. The energy would benefit the customer and help power Cox substations and about 20,000 power boxes, that each cost the company about $85 a month in electricity.

So far, moves like this have only been made by utility companies, such as Xcel, Duke, and Southern California Edison that have enlisted commercial customers for solar installations.

Cox is also spending $2,000 to set up a nitrogen tire filling system for its vehicles in Arizona which ,could save an extra mile per gallon per truck.

The article points to Frito-Lay as another national company operating in Arizona with aggressive cost-cutting and energy efficiency efforts.