Cisco, Nortel lead green ranking

Cisco Systems has been ranked at the top of the latest Vendor Matrix released by ABI Research. Nortel Networks claimed the second place in the company’s new evaluation of network switching vendors' internal green initiatives as well as the greenness of their switches.

The Vendor Matrix is an analytical tool developed by ABI Research to provide a clear understanding of vendors’ positions in specific markets. Vendors are assessed on the important parameters of “innovation” and “implementation” across several criteria unique to each vendor matrix.

“Nortel, which finished first in the Implementation category, builds the ‘greenest’ switches, which have been optimized for low power consumption,” says ABI Research vice president Stan Schatt.”

Cisco finished just behind Nortel in Implementation. It also received points for its Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) and its ability to schedule power deliver to IP devices. Its Implementation score coupled with its strong internal green efforts propelled Cisco to first in the overall rankings.

For this particular matrix, under "Innovation," ABI Research examined vendors’ carbon footprints, their regulatory compliance and recycling practices, internal green initiatives, their use of video conferencing, telepresence and telecommuting, and their participation in environmental organizations.