Verizon Wireless Communications Stores Recognized For Leadership In Green Building Design

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless today announced that its green retail store design has achieved pre-certification in the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED® Volume Program.  Verizon Wireless is one of only eight retailers in the United States and the only wireless company to achieve pre-certification from the USGBC.

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings that deliver environmental, economic and community benefits.  Under the LEED Volume Program, any Verizon Wireless Communication Store constructed using the pre-certified design will earn a LEED Silver or higher rating.  The company has begun certifying stores under the program, building upon its portfolio of 95 stores rated under the LEED for Commercial Interiors rating system.

"Whether building new stores or transforming current retail or network locations, our goal is to lower greenhouse gas emissions and help preserve precious natural resources.  By pursuing LEED certification we can improve our customer experience and environmental performance, while also achieving operational and utility savings," said Chris Baron, vice-president, national operations, Verizon Wireless.  "USGBC's LEED certification will also serve as key benchmarks for our Green Stores Program as we continue to look for new ways to implement environmentally friendly practices and energy savings throughout the company."

Each LEED-certified Verizon Wireless Communications Store is expected to deliver, on average, the following environmental benefits and associated cost savings:

• 12,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year energy savings from lighting, equivalent to the CO2 emissions from the consumption of 972 gallons
• 28,000 gallons of water per year, equivalent to 455,000 glasses of water
• 28 tons of construction waste diverted from landfills, equivalent to 14 cars

"Verizon Wireless' commitment to reducing the footprint of its retail stores shows tremendous company-wide leadership," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer and founding chair, USGBC.  "The LEED Volume Program enables us to move further faster towards our shared goal of market transformation."

The LEED Volume Program is part of Verizon's commitment to reducing major energy drivers such as network equipment, energy efficiency requirements and aggressive energy reduction initiatives in company-operated buildings.  Taken together, these efforts will help Verizon meet its aggressive goals of reducing its carbon intensity – the amount of energy used per data flowing through the company's networks – by 50 percent within the next eight years.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 93.0 million retail customers, including 88.0 million retail postpaid customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 80,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Nearly 46,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising 8.6 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 130 countries. In addition, more than 20,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with more than 80,000 more homes registered. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless