Sprint Expands Environmental Commitment with Energy Management System in Retail Stores

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 27, 2013 – During the next 10 years, Sprint expects to save approximately $15 million with the implementation of a new Retail Energy Management (REM) system. The system, which has been installed in more than 1,000 Sprint retail stores to date, is expected to reduce Sprint’s retail energy costs by 15 percent, a $1.5 million annual savings, an 18-month payback on the program.

The system will enable a Web-based energy management system that can remotely control heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). Ultimately, the new system should reduce Sprint’s monthly spend on electricity and natural gas and enable more energy efficient operations.

The expected reduction in utility costs and bottom-line benefits are complemented by the positive effect on the environment and reduction in greenhouse gasses. The environmental impact is often measured as CO2 produced or fossil fuels burned. By controlling mechanical systems through the new REM system, Sprint estimates it will reduce its electrical usage by 11 million kilowatt hours (kWh) per year.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, to generate 11 million kWh of electricity, a power plant would need to burn 5,830 tons of coal or 880,000 gallons of oil. In effect, the energy savings achieved will allow Sprint to reduce its carbon footprint by more than 17 million pounds of CO2. According to the U.S. EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, that’s the same amount generated by electricity use in 422 single-family U.S. homes in one year.

Other projected REM system benefits include:

1. Reduction in response time for HVAC reported issues. The REM System can identify mechanical issues before they affect our retail locations.
2. Reduction of maintenance costs and reduced time on site for maintenance technicians.
3. Sprint will also implement a proactive unit replacement plan based on unit efficiency.

“We recognize that all Sprint facilities contribute to operating expense and our overall carbon footprint,” said Jaime Jones, senior vice president-Consumer Sales. “We will continue to improve our bottom line and reduce our environmental impact by controlling our behaviors, monitoring for inefficiencies in mechanical performance, and by identifying additional areas for improvement.”

Sprint’s next retail energy savings effort will come from the installation of LED lighting in more than 600 retail stores. The project is estimated to reduce electrical usage by 2.8 million kWh per year.

Sprint continues to improve its business operations with energy efficiency and the environment in mind. Sprint recently announced it would join the Department of Energy Better Buildings program. Launched by President Obama in 2011, the Better Buildings Challenge brings together corporations, universities, municipalities, and other national leaders to make significant commitments to energy efficiency that reduce waste and cut energy costs. To join the program, organizations must commit to an energy savings goal during the next two to five years.

Sprint has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by an absolute 20 percent by 2017. Sprint is the first and only U.S. telecom company to publicly announce an absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goal and is one of 30 companies to be named to the elite World Wildlife Fund Climate Savers program. Sprint is also the only telecom provider in the top 50 on the 2013 EPA Green Power Partners Fortune 500 list, coming in at #13. Earlier this month, Frost & Sullivan awarded Sprint its 2013 North American Award for Green Excellence.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in both its 2011 and 2012 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.