Verizon Wireless Communications Stores In Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Awarded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star

CLEVELAND, OH — Two Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, are among the first wireless retail stores to rate in the top 25 percent of commercial facilities for energy efficiency and earn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) ENERGY STAR®, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection.

"The changes we have implemented in our stores are significant because they impact our business, the environment and our ability to provide customers with an industry-leading experience," said Roger Tang, president—Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia Region, Verizon Wireless. "By being more energy efficient, we can keep operating costs down and redirect those resources to improve the customer experience."

The Communications Stores — one located at 6440 Som Center Road in Solon and the other located at 5945 Mayfield Road in Mayfield Heights — installed light-emitting diode (LED) exit signs and microcontrollers on vending machines, and replaced incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps. The stores also feature an insulated water heater to reduce heating costs, and properly sealed building "envelopes" and entry doors to prevent the loss of heated or cooled air.

The EPA's national energy performance rating system provides a 1-to-100 point scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher and occupies 5,000 square feet or more, is eligible for the ENERGY STAR. Commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR use an average of 40 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

In addition to the Solon and Mayfield Heights stores, two other Verizon Wireless Communications Stores — in Toledo, Ohio, and Omaha, Neb. — were also recently awarded the ENERGY STAR. Four other Verizon Wireless retail facilities in the Midwest Area also deploy the same energy management systems as those in Solon and Mayfield Heights, but do not meet the 5,000-square-foot requirement to be eligible for ENERGY STAR.

The EPA's ENERGY STAR is yet another recognition of Verizon Wireless' ongoing commitment to environmentally friendly "green" practices. In February, Verizon Wireless was the only wireless carrier named to IDG Computerworld's first-ever list of top Green-IT Companies for 2008.

For more information about Verizon Wireless, visit www.verizonwireless.com.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: 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 The EPA's ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. For more information about ENERGY STAR visit www.energystar.gov.

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