Sustainability

AOL is committed to conducting its business in ways that minimize our impact on the environment through a variety of initiatives. These include:

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Energy Conservation

AOL has installed features in its buildings to automatically turn off lights, manage heating and air conditioning and provide other conservation measures, where possible. Fluorescent lights are used wherever appropriate and where the types are available, low-mercury fluorescent lights are used.

For years, AOL has participated in the EPA's "Energy Star" program which activates the low power "sleep" feature on computers and monitors. It is estimated that the activation of this feature on AOL computers prevents up to 30 tons of CO2 emissions annually. AOL also promotes this program to its users, saving members an average of $50 in energy costs per year.

Telework/Carpool/Mass Transit

AOL's telework program lets appropriate employees work from home or other remote locations, thus avoiding an employee commute trip. Through a variety of programs, AOL encourages employees to participate in carpooling or mass transit where possible, including discounted mass transit pass, shuttle buses to subway stations or ride-sharing programs to promote carpooling. Larger AOL locations include bike racks and showers to facilitate biking to work.

Voluntary Air Permit (Run Hour Limitations)

AOL has a number of diesel engines for the emergency-power generators at the distributed Data Centers, and has a program of voluntarily limiting operation of these engines during certain "Code Orange" or "Code Red" (high pollution “ozone action” days). The AOL program defers any elective operation of our diesel engines to a day other than the “ozone action” days.

Green Buildings

New construction at AOL, whether owned or leased, is designed around the principles set out by LEED. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is an accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. The design encompasses five areas of environmental issues: energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, conservation of materials and resources, and site planning and maintenance. See www.usgbc.org for more information on "green buildings."

AOL's new childcare center, which opened in 2007, is expected to be the first childcare facility in Virginia certified by LEED. AOL's new headquarters building in New York City is also expected to be LEED certified. MapQuest buildings in Denver and Pennsylvania were built to green design standards and include renewable materials (bamboo flooring, recycled content countertops), low volatile paints, carpets, and furniture, and energy management systems.

Water Resources

Where the company is responsible for landscaping, AOL works toward lower maintenance practices, such as native plantings and perennials. In new buildings, native/adaptive plantings are included in the design, so no irrigation is needed for the landscaped areas. With respect to those areas that are watered, all irrigation is done with non-treated well water. Most of the sustainability metrics associated with water use are around potable water, since drinking water typically requires both chemical  management / chlorination and energy to treat, process and distribute the water. Locally derived well water requires less chemical treatment and energy to distribute.

Recycling

AOL recycles where possible. Paper, glass, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, cell phones, batteries, CDs and toner cartridges are the main items recycled, with select locations recycling other items such as shipping pallets. Different locations have different procedures and may be subject to landlord rules, so recycling practices may differ across locations.  AOL continues to recycle the AOL CDs that are either unused or returned from vendors and consumers.

AOL’s computer systems are also recycled, with used computer equipment donated to non-profit organizations, sold to employees, or recycled if not reusable.

The non-recyclable office trash from the AOL facility in Dulles goes to a waste-to-energy facility, so the trash is burned to generate electricity, rather than being landfilled.

Sourcing

AOL is increasingly "greening" its sourcing procedures. AOL purchases recycled paper for office use and 100% recycled paper for kitchen and restroom facilities where appropriate. Other office products, such as carpet, office furnishings, paint and the like are evaluated for their environmental attributes. AOL asks cleaning contractors to use "green" products on site. Additionally, AOL encourages vendors to transition to paperless invoice/payment systems. For more information about AOL's Sourcing Practices, click here.

Green Content

In Oct. 2007, AOL launched a new site dedicated to all things related to green living - www.GreenDaily.com. The site is intended to give busy consumers simple solutions to live green, with up-to-the-minute green news, tips, product reviews and solutions.

In January 2007, MapQuest launched a gas prices portal that includes locations of alternative fuel sources -- such as hydrogen, biodiesel, LNG and CNG (liquefied or compressed natural gas), E-85 ethanol, and electric car -- outlets by zip code. This year, MapQuest also sponsored the “VeggieMobile” – a car operated on vegetable oil, and driven cross-country by sportswriter Joe Connor to raise awareness of alternative fuels.

Awards, Honors & Sponsorships

2003 - EPA & Department of Energy “Energy Star” Award

2004 & 2005 - "Most Participating Employees" in the D.C. area for “Ride your Bike to Work Day” Event

2007 - AOL’s Columbus offices nominated and honored for a Central Ohio “Emerald” award for their efforts in recycling, and was honored at an event May 9, 2007

2007 - VeggieMobile Tour Sponsored by MapQuest. For more information, visit http://www.greenpowersportstour.com.

Time Warner

As a part of the larger Time Warner family of companies, AOL is proud of our contribution to Time Warner's inclusion on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, which consists of more than 300 companies that represent the top 10% of the leading sustainability companies in 59 industry groups in the 34 countries covered by the Dow Jones Global Indexes. Just as all the company's decisions are consistent with our commitment to our shareholders, we understand that sound environmental decisions can be made in ways that are economically effective.