June 6, 2008 – Verizon has established new energy-efficiency standards for the IT equipment it buys, requiring manufacturers to improve the energy performance of their products by an estimated 20%.

"This is similar to a consumer buying appliances according to the standardized Energy Star efficiency levels," explains Mark Wegleitner, Verizon’s senior vice president of corporate network and technology. "That type of rating system doesn’t exist for much of the equipment we buy, so we set up our own standards and measurement process.”

Verizon’s new Telecommunications Equipment Energy Efficiency Ratings are based on field tests of equipment operating under a range of conditions and settings. Data from the tests was used to develop baseline energy-efficiency standards for various types of equipment, including optical and video transport systems, switches and routers, and high-speed internet equipment, as well as switching power systems, datacenter servers, and power adapters.

"The Verizon network requires power costing hundreds of millions of dollars annually to provide the most advanced services available anywhere in the world," Wegleitner says. "The energy dollars are well spent, as the network supports consumers and businesses in dynamic new ways. For example, our customers engage in energy-efficient activities like videoconferencing and e-commerce every day over our network.”

"Aside from the potential cost reductions involved, as a responsible corporate citizen, we want to be part of the drive toward greater energy efficiency," he adds. "Part of our plan to accomplish this is to request our suppliers' help in meeting our conservation goals."

The new standards will be applied to certain broadband, video, datacenter, and network equipment purchased after Jan. 1, 2009. Verizon's Energy Efficiency Requirements for Telecommunications Equipment are available for review here.

Verizon recently released its 2007 sustainability report. Access it here.