Environmental Leader

Cell phone provider Verizon Wireless is reducing energy use at its stores, and so far 32 locations have been recognized with the Energy Star award from the Environmental Protection Agency.

To qualify, a location must be at least 5,000 square feet, it must have at least a year’s worth of energy consumption data to share with EPA and it must earn an energy performance rating in excess of 75 (out of 100).

Verizon says it has more than 150 stores that meet that criteria, but so far EPA has recognized about one-fifth of them, according to a press release.

Verizon Wireless is making its store more energy efficient via the following methods:

• installing temperature sensors and energy management systems to monitor heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system use
• controlling temperature set-points as well as internal and external lighting schedules
• tracking usage history for maintenance and service requirements
• installing light-emitting diode (LED) exit signs and microcontrollers on vending machines
• using insulated water heaters to reduce heating costs
• emphasizing proper sealing of building “envelopes” and entry doors to prevent the loss of heated or cooled air.

In early March, Verizon put in place a new energy management guide.

Verizon’s call-switching center and office building in Garden City, N.Y., is powered by fuel cells.

And Verizon has established its own energy-consumption standards and an associated measurement for new telecommunications-related equipment that its suppliers will have to meet.