Xerox cuts greenhouse gas emissions

Xerox Corp. announced Monday it has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 18 percent since 2002 by cutting emissions from cars and improving building equipment, saving the company $18 million last year.

The office equipment manufacturer, which has reported revenue of $12.3 billion so far this year, said it reduced emissions by 87,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents last year, from 486,000 metric tons in 2002.

Xerox set a reduction target of 10 percent in 2002 and announced Monday it would increase its target to 25 percent by 2012.

The emissions reductions were the result of improved energy efficiency in the production of toner, digital technology, and remote equipment monitoring to cut the use of company vehicles by Xerox’s 15,000 equipment technicians. Reductions also came from replacing and updating equipment to improve energy efficiency, the company said.

Energy consumption from 2002 to last year declined 21 percent, driven by a 12 percent reduction in electricity use, a 27 percent reduction in natural gas purchases and a 30 percent reduction in gasoline and diesel fuel consumption.

Xerox shares declined 22 cents, or 1.3 percent, to close at $16.66 Monday.

•AT&T Inc. will exit the rapidly shrinking pay phone business by the end of next year, before it becomes unprofitable, the company said Monday.

AT&T will sell 65,000 pay phones, in prisons and in public places, within its original 13-state area before the end of 2008, said spokesman Michael Coe. AT&T officials said they expect the pay phones to be purchased by independent operators.

Coe said the company has been phasing out of the business by not renewing contracts as they’ve expired.

The pool of pay phones nationwide has shrunk from 2.6 million to 1 million in the past decade.

AT&T shares rose 19 cents to $38.40 Monday.

•The Teamsters sought the right Monday to represent United Airlines mechanics, filing a petition and predicting it will win an election to displace the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association in early 2008.

The union already represents more than 40,000 airline employees.

Many mechanics are disgruntled by United’s move to outsource maintenance work overseas as well as by the possibility the Chicago-based airline may sell its Mileage Plus program and its heavy maintenance facility in San Francisco, where about 3,000 of its nearly 6,000 mechanics work.