Cox Enterprises Launches CoxConserves.com
Website Chronicles Cox's Environmental Projects and Inspires Eco-Friendly Action
ATLANTA, Sept. 25 -- Cox Enterprises today announced the launch of CoxConserves.com, a website detailing the company's environmental initiatives and offering tips on how anyone can become more environmentally friendly. Cox Conserves is a national corporate program that includes the company's six major subsidiaries. The program enables and encourages Cox's 80,000 employees and families to engage in eco-friendly practices that reduce energy use and promote sustainability.
Since 2000, Cox Enterprises has reduced its energy consumption by 10 percent while growing at nearly 12 percent a year. Building on this success, the goal of Cox Conserves is to reduce its energy consumption by an additional 20 percent by 2017.
"I'm really proud that our employees have responded so enthusiastically to Cox Conserves," said Jim Kennedy, chairman and CEO of Cox Enterprises. "Thanks to their commitment, we've developed some innovative solutions toward this goal. And now, with CoxConserves.com, we have a place to share these stories with our partners and customers. The site also has a lot of information and tips that remind us all that it's the little steps we take to conserve the environment that together, can add up to a big difference."
CoxConserves.com
The website highlights Cox's environmental initiatives throughout the company and offers case studies on high-profile projects. Some of the information listed on the site includes:
-- 98 percent of Cox's fleet of 15,000-plus vehicles throughout the company are Low Emission Vehicles (LEV) or better. Cox has 300 E85 flex-fuel and 2,500 vehicles capable of running on BioDiesel in its fleet. -- Cox's largest automotive subsidiary, Manheim, recently opened a new state-of-the-art auto reconditioning center. During daily vehicle cleanings, the facility removes enough contaminants from the process water to allow the company to re-use almost 60 percent of the water. Manheim also exclusively uses waterborne basecoat painting at numerous locations to reduce air pollutants by 40 percent. -- SP Newsprint Co., a general partnership equally owned by Cox Enterprises, McClatchy and Media General, recently completed $6.7 million in energy efficiency upgrades to its Clackamas paper recycling plant and Newberg newsprint plant in Oregon. This will reduce the company's energy consumption by 57 million kilowatt hours annually, equivalent to the total amount of electricity used by nearly 5,800 homes each year. -- Cox Radio is replacing disposable cups with reusable mugs in various locations. This keeps between 10,000 and 15,000 cups out of landfills in Long Island alone. -- Cox Communications has created a teleworking program in Arizona that reduces the number of cars on the road. Currently, 225 employees participate in the program. -- Cox Newspapers uses recycled newsprint for its 45 publications. -- Cox Television's WPXI reclaimed and revitalized a site that was a dump for construction debris decades earlier and constructed a green- friendly building for its main studio. -- Cox Auto Trader connects consumers with cars that receive 30 miles per gallon or more through Auto Trader Green, the first classifieds publication focusing exclusively on fuel-efficient vehicles. -- Cox offers a commuter program at its headquarters that includes discounted public transportation passes, shuttle services and hybrid vehicles that are available for checkout to eligible employees during the workday.
CoxConserves.com serves as a gateway to the many websites powered by Cox Newspapers and Cox Television that educate, inform and engage viewers and readers. The portals provide information on local environmental issues and initiatives.
The company is also exploring other initiatives that harness solar and wind power to further reduce its carbon footprint.
Along with offering eco-friendly tips for the home, office and travel, the site provides links to Cox's environmental partners, such as The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, Earth 911, Sierra Club, Trust for Public Land, Earth Share, Ducks Unlimited, PATH Foundation, World Wildlife Fund and The Conservation Fund, among others.