Can You Hear Us Now??

Conventional wisdom these days has it that fuel cells—small chemical “converters” that create electricity from hydrogen with no polluting byproducts—may just be the energy source of the future. But Verizon Communications, a New York-based Fortune 10 corporation with an international presence, is using them as an energy source today.

Verizon’s Environmental Director and Energy Board of Directors’ Vice Chairman Christopher Lloyd, accepting the EPA’s Climate Protection Award for the company in 2002.

The company has announced and initiated plans to build the world’s largest fuel cell installation at one of their primary call routing stations on Long Island, to be completed in 2004. The project, known as the Zeckendorf Green Power Project, has received more than $4 million in grants and is considered a pivotal piece of groundwork for future endeavors with fuel cells—so much so that the U.S. Department of Energy is a primary sponsor. The Zeckendorf site is a critically important one for Verizon, serving more than four million residents and 125,000 businesses in the community; it is heavily reliant on a large, dependable stream of high-quality power. Verizon executives felt that, given these needs, fuel cells were a natural choice.

"We expect this fuel cell project will show us that the technology can deliver for us in terms of reliability, reducing energy costs and protecting the environment," explained Verizon's network president, Paul Lacouture, in a March press release.

The Zeckendorf facility will use a “hybrid” power system: seven fuel cells will provide up to 1.4 megawatts of power-generating capacity, and a mixture of highly efficient cogeneration and natural gas turbines will supply another 3 megawatts when necessary. In all, the price tag for design and construction after government sponsorship will come to about $15 million. But, proving that good business morals and good business “sense” can definitely go hand in hand, the company is estimating a payback period of about five years—and after that, the savings in energy expenses and maintenance costs every year will be logged into the profit column. The project is also expected to cut Verizon’s annual carbon dioxide emissions by 12 million pounds, another clear benefit in the eyes of Verizon’s Energy Board of Directors.

In fact, the Zeckendorf Project is just one aspect of Verizon’s larger efforts toward energy and environmental stewardship. Since its creation from the mergers of GTE and Bell Atlantic in 2000, the company has been working to track, reduce, and communicate about its overall energy use and its environmental footprint.

Verizon’s California team recently won the company’s top honor for their work to reduce energy use in their workplace and at home.

One of the company’s most successful efforts in this regard is its “Energy Champions” program, an ever-growing group of Verizon employees across the nation who have volunteered to find ways to cut energy use in their work spaces and motivate their co-workers to do the same. These enthusiastic go-getters have done everything from drawing posters and stickers, writing e-mails—even poems!—and creating office contests centered around individual energy-saving actions—turning off unused lights and computers, for instance.

Eight energy champions were recognized and rewarded last September for their efforts to reduce energy at their work locations. Steve Vogel of White Plains, NY took the top Champion award with Mary Liz Hepburn and Susan Reinhart receiving the First Place award for their efforts at the Courthouse Road complex in Arlington, VA.

They are also responsible for paying attention to office designs and technologies, which means working with IT or operations managers to make sure their buildings and equipment supplies are as energy-efficient as possible.

Five teams from the Corporate Real Estate Department were honored last year for their work to achieve Energy Star building certifications.

Verizon estimates that its Energy Champions are helping to reduce the company’s carbon emissions by 39 million pounds annually, while saving $2.2 million—unarguably a win-win proposition. And what’s more, the program is sparking increased employee involvement, enthusiasm, and team-building. Let’s just call it one more illustration of the many business benefits waiting for companies who are smart and creative enough to recognize the dawning of a new energy era. Verizon, it seems, is making money, improving employee morale, and helping advance crucial new technologies by being just that.

We can definitely hear them now.

--Jennifer Andrews