Thousands of Verizon Employees Expected to Attend Green Expo

For the second consecutive year, Verizon Co. in Basking Ridge has scheduled an event expected to attract thousands of the company's New Jersey employees that will showcase showcase environmental initiatives and encourage lifestyles that help protect the environment.

The Green Expo, an in-house, four-hour event, is scheduled for today, Thursday, at the Verizon Center off North Maple Avenue, the company announced. The expo will present programs from within and outside the company, and will provide an opportunity for Verizon employees to learn about "sustainable" earth initiatives and how they can be incorported into their daily lives.

"At Verizon, we recognize the benefits of working toward strong environmental goals and want to encourage our employees to do the same,” said Samuel Delgado, vice president of external affairs for Verizon New Jersey. “This expo is just one example of what we do to increase awareness and move toward reducing the company’s overall carbon footprint."

The company already has earned for the Basking Ridge building's energy-saving and environmentally friendly design, and has scheduled other events such as regular to collect electronics and computer equipment and similar appliances.

The company's expo was to have more than 50 tabletop displays of hands-on demonstrations of green initiatives, including a showcase that will highlight a new carbon-free smartphone.

The expo also is designed to offer employees a chance to learn more about Verizon’s growing fleet of green vehicles, according to a news release from the company. The company has nearly 2,000 hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, including a Chevrolet hybrid pickup, an all-electric Chevrolet Volt and a first-of-its-kind hybrid aerial-splicing vehicle.

Verizon also will detail its recycling, energy reduction and volunteer programs, the release said.This year, for example, Verizon is deploying smart technologies in 250 buildings where heating, cooling, lighting and airflow will be monitored and managed in real time to reduce energy usage and improve efficiency.

"We want our employees to have every opportunity to help protect the environment," Delgado said. "Together, the thousands of employees on the Verizon team can have a tremendous positive impact."

During the expo, Verizon employees will be able to donate no-longer-used mobile devices to the company’s HopeLine® program, which works with local domestic violence organizations and government and law enforcement agencies to provide refurbished mobile phones to families suffering from domestic violence. 

_ with Linda Sadlouskos