Deliver Your News to the World

Verizon Makes Its Fleet ’Greener’ by Adding Nine Hybrid Vehicles in Maryland and Washington, D.C.


WEBWIRE

New Vehicles, Part of 100 More Hybrid Sedans Being Added Across Seven States and Washington, D.C., Help Verizon Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Save Fuel

Verizon is rolling out nine additional hybrid sedans to help conserve fuel and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in Maryland and Washington, D.C.

The new vehicles are among the 100 hybrid sedans Verizon is adding to its motor vehicle fleet in seven states and the District of Columbia, replacing gasoline-powered sedans. The new hybrid sedans are in addition to 100 hybrids, including 27 in the Washington, D.C., area, that the company began adding to its fleet at the end of 2007. By doubling the number of hybrids to 200, Verizon expects to conserve an additional 16,000 gallons of fuel and cut greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 1.4 metric tons per vehicle annually.

Verizon’s new Toyota Prius hybrid sedans, compared with most conventionally powered sedans, can travel nearly twice the miles per gallon and emit less than half of the carbon. This supports the company’s goal of continuing to reduce CO2 emissions.

“Minimizing the impact of our operations by conserving energy, increasing our recycling rates and finding practical as well as innovative solutions to environmental challenges are a part of how we operate our business,” said William R. Roberts, Verizon’s regional president for Maryland and Washington, D.C. “As a broadband company, Verizon makes it possible for e-commerce to flourish and for our customers to telecommute or engage in distance learning. So, we understand the important role technology plays in reducing the environmental impact of our operations.”

In addition to the hybrid sedans, the company has been using 13 specially designed hybrid service-vans in Maryland and Texas since 2007. A company that specializes in hybrid-power systems retrofitted the new vehicles to Verizon’s specifications since no domestic motor vehicle manufacturer currently makes vans powered by gasoline-electric engines.

In 2007, Verizon also powered down or removed obsolete equipment from more than 400 buildings, and collected 1.1 million cellular phones for refurbishing, donation and recycling. So far in 2008, Verizon has electronically delivered about 75 million bills to customers.

Over the last five years, Verizon’s energy conservation, waste prevention and recycling efforts have yielded an estimated average reduction of 332,295 metric tons in greenhouse-gas emissions. That’s equivalent to nearly 61,000 cars not driven for one year.



WebWireID80302





This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.