In an effort to reduce their businesses’ environmental impact, the state’s two leading telecommunications companies – Cox Communications and Verizon Communications – are both adding hybrid vehicles to their fleets of cars and service trucks.

The companies’ moves come as awareness grows about the environmental impact of public- and private-sector vehicle fleets. A recent survey found that 80 percent of fleet managers say there is growing interest in their fleets’ environmental impact at their organization, according to trade publication Utility & Telecom Fleets magazine.

First out of the gate locally is Cox, which now has a diesel-electric hybrid bucket truck on the road in Rhode Island, one of nine hybrid Cox trucks in the company’s nationwide fleet of 15,000 vehicles.

The company says it plans to continue replacing its current vehicles with hybrid and fuel-efficient ones as part of its routine vehicle transition. “As older vehicles cycle out of the fleet, hybrid and fuel efficient ones will be added,” Cox’s Rhode Island spokeswoman, Amy Quinn, said in an e-mail.

“We believe our employees and our customers want to be associated with a company that is committed to the long-term viability of the environment and the world we live in,” Quinn added.

Cox is using International DuraStar Hybrid bucket trucks from Navistar, which recover and store energy created while the trucks are braking. The power can be added back into the driveline when a truck is starting and accelerating, making them more efficient in standard driving, particularly in city and other stop-and-go situations.

The trucks’ hybrid system also powers a hydraulic pump, which can operate the bucket trucks’ aerial device and electric tools for up to two hours without running the engine.

The ability to turn off the engine while doing maintenance work is the key reason why the trucks are estimated to save between 1,000 and 1,500 gallons of fuel annually, according to the Hybrid Truck Users Forum, a trade group of which Cox is a member. The trucks also reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 11 to 16.5 tons per vehicle, according to the group.

In total, 15 of the 607 vehicles in Cox’s New England fleet are now hybrids, the company says, for an estimated fuel savings of more than 2,200 gallons and a reduction in emissions of 31 tons.

In addition, 110 vehicles in the New England fleet can travel 27 miles or more per gallon, according to Cox.

The switch to greener vehicles is part of Cox Conserves, a corporate environmental program that is being implemented across all six Cox subsidiaries nationwide.

“Being an environmental leader is a natural extension of our long-standing commitment to be a good corporate citizen,” Quinn said. “We have a collective obligation with our customers and employees to take better care of the environment.”

Not to be outdone, Verizon Communications is also adding hybrids to its fleet of vehicles.

Verizon has been replacing its gasoline-powered cars with Toyota Prius hybrids since late last year. The company announced last week that it has doubled to 200 the number of hybrids in its nationwide fleet of more than 55,000 vehicles as part of a push to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

The hybrid sedans are being used in California, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Verizon will add hybrids to its fleet in Rhode Island soon, according to spokesman Phil Santoro.

In addition to the Priuses, Verizon has been experimenting since last year with 13 specially-designed hybrid service vans. The vehicles had to be retrofitted because no domestic manufacturer currently makes vans powered by gasoline-electric engines. The hybrid vans are currently being used in Maryland and Texas.

Over the last five years, Verizon says its energy-conservation, waste-prevention and recycling efforts have resulted in an estimated reduction of 332,295 metric tons in greenhouse-gas emissions, which it says is equivalent to taking nearly 61,000 cars off the road for a year.

But it’s not just telecom’s biggest players that are going green:

Warren-based Full Channel TV Inc. – an independent local cable, telephone and Internet service provider serving the East Bay region – recently introduced a new program that allows its customers to have their services powered by renewable energy from nonprofit People’s Power & Light for $1 extra each month. (READ MORE)

Cox Communications – the Atlanta-based wholly owned subsidiary of Fortune 500 company Cox Enterprises – is a broadband communications and entertainment company with more than 6 million business and residential customers nationwide, including about 450,000 basic cable subscribers in New England. Additional information is available at cox.com/NewEngland.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), a Dow 30 company that is based in New York, delivers broadband and other communications services through its Verizon Wireless and Verizon Wireline divisions. For more information about Verizon and its Rhode Island operations, visit verizon.com/ri.

Full Channel TV Inc. is an independent local telecommunications provider that offers service to residential and commercial customers in Barrington, Warren and Bristol. For more information, visit www.FullChannel.com.