BT Launch Energy Efficient Phones

BT is launching less power-hungry telephones to cut CO2 emissions. The telecoms giant's new home phones use around half the power of previous models. This will mean lower electricity bills for customers and reduced carbon dioxide emissions, the firm said.

The design change will apply to more than 90% of all BT's home phone handsets by July this year. BT group MD for the consumer division Gavin Patterson said: "BT has continued to address environmental concerns by launching phones that consume approximately half the electricity of previous models; this will make a major contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions."

The energy efficient handsets will not cost any extra. BT estimates its switch to the new designs will cut customers' combined CO2 emissions by 195,000 tonnes over three years.