By Mae Kowalke

In the three Rs of the environmental movement—reduce, reuse, recycle—reduce comes first because in the long run it’s less expensive to use fewer resources than to recover resources once they’ve already been used.

The same principle holds true in the area of energy. Technology that helps with energy efficiency might not seem as exciting as the development of renewable energy sources, but it can make a big difference in terms of cost and impact on the environment.

In its entry for energy conservation, Wikipedia points out that one way technology can help is by “allowing energy users, business and residential, to see graphically the impact their energy use can have on their workplace or homes,” and by providing smart metering solutions to help people change their energy use behaviors with minimal impact on their daily activities.

Communications technology company Alcatel-Lucent takes the idea of energy efficiency seriously, and is working with customers to help them achieve sustainability goals. Case in point: a solution being developed for Exelon Corporation’s electric and natural gas utility subsidiary PECO in Philadelphia, which will bring updated metering technology to 1.6 million Pennsylvania customers.

PECO is embarking on a ten-year metering technology upgrade project, and selected Alcatel-Lucent to build an IP-based optical communications network to support the system’s goal: give residential and commercial customers in southeastern Pennsylvania the information they need to effectively use and save energy.

“By deploying a network that combines optical, IP and microwave technology, PECO will have the ability to transmit mission critical data and applications to and from its control centers automatically, so customers can rapidly and efficiently control individual energy usage,” explained Eric Thomas, VP of Alcatel-Lucent’s strategic industries division for North America, in a statement to the press.

Alcatel-Lucent is providing a converged IP/MPLS network, a gigabit Ethernet switch designed for demanding operational environments, a microwave packet radio and long-haul system, and a portfolio of network integration services. Together, these will deliver service seamlessly across fiber and microwave technologies, and optimize service delivery regardless of operating conditions.

IP traffic engineering and design, circuit provisioning, maintenance services and project management will also be provided by Alcatel-Lucent.

Alcatel-Lucent’s mission to make a difference doesn’t end in the energy sector. The company also recently teamed up with nonprofit World Education in a \$6 million global initiative (ConnnectED) to provide educational and digital skills training for children and teens in disadvantaged communities.