50 Wireless Quick Facts IV

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ENVIRONMENT

31. The wireless industry has committed to supporting a "one-charger-fits-all" solution for new wireless devices as of January 1, 2012. Developed by the Open Mobile Terminal Platform industry standards group and adopted by GSMA, the Universal Charger Solution will provide an estimated 50% reduction in standby energy consumption.31

32. Wireless manufacturers are continually improving the design of wireless devices and packaging to be more lightweight and environmentally-friendly. The use of substances such as lead and cadmium are being phased out of devices while increasing the use of recycled materials. The new generations of wireless devices currently weigh approximately 79g; this is 42% less than earlier models.32

33. Energy consumption in the network accounts for 86 percent of the total energy consumed, or as much as 30 percent of network operating costs. Wireless carriers are exploring the use of alternative energy sources such as wind, bio-fuel, and solar power at cell sites.33

34. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycling one million cell phones saves enough energy to power more than 185 U.S. households with electricity for a year.34

35. For every 5,000 cellphones recycled, we save 11,000 kilowatt hours of energy.35

36. In a survey conducted by MyWireless.org in March 2011, almost 54 percent of consumers had donated or recycled an "old" device or accessories.36

37. Nearly half of mobile consumers surveyed by ABI Research in 2009 said they are somewhat likely or very likely to be influenced by suppliers' green credentials when purchasing services or devices.37

38. Morgan Stanley predicts the worldwide smart grid market will have grown annually from about $20 billion in 2010 to almost $100 billion by the year 2030.38

39. By 2015, ABI Research says there will be approximately 212 million smart meter systems and smart grid projects installed worldwide.39

40. Carriers and suppliers are using more energy-efficient and environmentally responsible equipment and components in their overall operations to find energy savings of up to 70 percent and substantial reductions in their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.40

Last Updated: December 2011

Click here for footnotes
31 See GSMA press release, "Mobile Industry Unites to Drive Universal Charging Solutions for Mobile Phones", available at http://www.gsmworld.com/newsroom/press-releases/2009/2548.htm.

32 See Nokia, 'Integrated product policy project: Stage 1 Final Report: Life Cycle Environmental Issues of Mobile Phones,' April 2005, at p.9 (Figure 2-4) available online at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ipp/pdf/nokia_mobile_05_04.pdf.

33 See Nokia Siemens Netowrks' "Energy Efficiency Equals Business Growth", available at http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/news-events/e-unite/energy-efficiency-equals-business-growth and CTIA Research.

34 EPA, "eCycle Cell Phones", http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/partnerships/plugin/cellphone/index.htm.

35 "Go Green with Verizon Wireless", available at http://aboutus.verizonwireless.com/Green_Initiative/overview.html.

36 MyWireless.org Annual Survey, March 2011.

37 ABIresearch, "Green Purchasing Trends for Mobile Phones and Services", http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1004052.(2009).

38 The Economist, "Making every drop count", http://www.economist.com/node/17388318?sttory_id=17388318 (2010).

39 ABIresearch, "Green Purchasing Trends for Mobile Phones and Services", http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1004052.(2009).

40 Press Release, "Nokia Siemens Networks launches Energy Efficiency solution to optimize energy in mobile networks", available at http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/news-events/press-room/press-releases/nokia-siemens-networks-launches-energy-efficiency-solution-to-.