Still, we are committed to reducing our energy consumption. We continue to invest in highly efficient lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, as well as in cogeneration and renewable energy, like photovoltaics. We’ve installed solar panels on certain building rooftops and parking structures, where the panels not only generate electricity but serve as shade structures. We’ve purchased a fleet of hybrid vehicles and encourage our employees to commute without cars by offering transit subsidies, shuttle services and bike lockers. Reducing energy consumption also enables us to reduce operating expenses.

In California, where we have nearly 5 million square feet of building space, our energy-efficiency investments to date save more than 23.7 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually—at a savings of $3.09 million.

Direct Energy Consumption

Indirect Energy Consumption

In addition to our internal efforts to reduce GHG emissions, we also work with our peers, governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and communities toward the same goal. Among our efforts:

• We participated as an observer at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP15 meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December 2009. We also took part in meetings leading up to COP15, including negotiations regarding technology transfer. We spoke to various country delegations and NGOs about the role of information and communications technology in addressing climate change.
• We hold the vice-chair position in the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP). The SGIP is a public-private partnership that coordinates standardization activities for U.S. smart grid (electrical networks that use digital technology) standards and has developed a number of plans to address reduction of the nation’s carbon footprint via the use of renewable energies.
• We participate as members in Grid Wise Alliance, an industry advocacy group focused on accelerating the deployment of smart grids. The Alliance’s outreach program includes educating stakeholders about the environmental benefits of smart grid technology.
• We participate in The EV Project, the largest deployment of electric-vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the United States. The project, which is led by ECOtality, includes 15,000 EV charging stations across six U.S. states and Washington, D.C. We provide comprehensive support for this initiative, including cellular technology, engineering expertise and advice on the optimal location for public chargers. We’re also working to install charging stations at our own facilities to support our employees’ use of EVs.
• We are investors in Consert Inc., a provider of home energy management systems. Consert uses our 3G technology to offer a fully integrated energy-conservation solution. Residential users set their energy preferences in an easy-to-use web portal, and the system takes care of the rest. By reducing ghost consumption (using kilowatts when no one is benefiting from it), pilot programs demonstrated energy savings ranging from 7 percent to 54 percent with an average of 17 percent.
• We are a member of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, and our employees serve on several council committees focused on promoting clean energy technologies.
• We are a member of the Digital Energy Solutions Campaign, which brings together information and communications technology (ICT) companies and associations, NGOs, customers and other stakeholders who recognize the enabling role that ICT plays in improving our environment and driving long-term economic growth.
• We serve on the San Diego Foundation Climate Initiative Professional Advisory Board.
• We sponsored the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Green ICT & Energy Efficiency Conference in Mexico in 2010, focusing on the role of cellular communications in the smart grid.
• We work with the energy and environmental committees of various industry associations to monitor and shape laws and regulations related to energy efficiency and emissions reduction. In 2010, we also participated in various state, federal and international policy proceedings regarding smart grids. In these proceedings, we urged regulators and utilities to rely on wireless communications as a key part of smart grids.