From: The Economist - December 06, 2008

Telecoms firms are reducing the power consumption of their networks, for economic and environmental reasons. Like many other industries, the telecoms industry is increasingly worried about its energy consumption and the associated carbon footprint. This is not just because rising energy prices have made it more expensive to run telecoms networks; it is also because telecoms networks and devices account for nearly 1% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, and the industry wants to avoid criticism from green campaigners. Unlike many other firms, however, telecoms operators find their carbon footprints quite easy to work out. That is because their footprints are dominated by one thing: running their networks.

For example, Vodafone, a giant European mobile operator, estimates that its network accounts for 80% of its carbon footprint (the remainder is attributed to its offices, shops and vehicles). And three-quarters of the network's contribution is, in turn, associated with powering the base-stations that allow mobile phones to connect to the network.

Typically, around half of the operating expenditure of a network company goes on electricity, according to Ericsson, a leading telecoms-equipment manufacturer. The proportion tends to be higher for operators in the developing world because their base-stations may be in remote areas, and therefore require diesel-fuelled generators. So the recent spike in energy prices has prompted operators to look for ways to cut costs. "The operators are feeling it," says Elaine Weidman, Ericsson's director of corporate responsibility.

Fortunately there are some relatively simple ways to reduce the energy consumption of a base-station...

Read Full Article: World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)