The Verizon Wireless Communications store in Columbia, Md., has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Energy Star, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. The store replaced incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps and installed LED exit signs and motion sensors to activate lighting in portions of the store that are not in constant use, such as the storage room and back offices. In addition, the store's entire lighting and display systems are controlled by a digital timer system to ensure that lights turn off when the store is closed to avoid energy waste.

Additional energy-saving initiatives included insulating the water heater and piping and replacing the service bay doors with energy-efficient glass to reduce the loss of heated or cooled air.

"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," says Mike Maiorana, regional president for Verizon Wireless in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. "By being more energy-efficient, we can keep operating costs down and redirect those resources to improve the customer experience."

The Columbia store, located at 9021 Snowden Square Dr. in Columbia, marks the 47th Verizon Wireless store nationwide to receive the label.

--Nielsen Business Media