Happy Earth Day 2013!

On this, the 43rd annual Earth Day, we wanted to celebrate by sharing some of the programs and initiatives the cable industry is taking part in to ensure a healthy, bright future for our planet. As an industry that provides services and equipment which are being powered for several hours every day in the home, we understand that taking steps to reduce cable’s overall energy footprint are critical. 

A major initiative that will save significant energy and result in consumer electricity savings of $1.5 billion annually is the Set-Top Box Energy Conservation Agreement that fifteen of the nation’s largest multichannel video providers and device manufacturers announced last year.

Other specific green-friendly initiatives include:

Comcast NBC Universal utilizes the tenth-largest commercial fleet of hybrid vehicles in the country. Comcast’s “Green is Universal” initiative focuses on sustainability and energy-saving strategies throughout the entire corporation.

Cox Communications has implemented alternative energy projects in several states, effectively saving 17,600 tons of carbon from entering the environment. In partnership with The Trust for Public Land, Cox created the Cox Conserves Heroes initiative that honors eco-friendly individuals who have taken steps to develop, improve or enhance energy-saving innovations.

Time Warner Cable is conducting a trial of hydrogen fuel cell technology to replace traditional standby diesel or propane-powered generators. This innovation could eliminate the need for generators, automatic transfer switches, batteries and uninterruptible power supplies, and reduces the consumption of fossil fuels.

Suddenlink Communications has formed a program called “Greenlink” that, among other initiatives, supports the “eCycling” programs that encourage and assist local communities to safely dispose of recyclable electronic equipment.

BendBroadband is the creator of the BendBroadband Vault, a 30,000 square foot server farm that demonstrates extreme energy efficiency. It is qualified as a tier 3 environmentally friendly colocation data center – setting the standard for data center energy efficiency. It’s so green that even the buildings’ insulation is made using recycled blue jeans!

Midcontinent Communication’s new buildings include oversized insulated windows, insulating roofing material, automatically dimming lighting, and flooring and carpeting made of recycled materials. Midcontinent also established an internal “Green Committee,” an electronic billing system, and an E85 fueled fleet of vehicles.

CableLabs has created Energy Lab, a program designed to help customers reduce and manage energy consumption in their homes. From improving set top box efficiency to reducing the carbon footprint to every day activities like reducing water and recycling, cable companies both large and small are taking action!