Workplace Charging Success: MetLife

MetLife is talking the "green" talk and walking the walk. The insurance company has long encouraged its policyholders to live environmentally-conscious lifestyles, and continues to embrace emerging technologies, work with green products, and utilize environmentally-friendly services.

As part of their commitment to environmental sustainability, MetLife provides alternative commuting options for associates, including encouraging electric vehicle adoption. As of 2014, the company has installed 32 plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging stations at 14 of its U.S. corporate offices as a partner in the Department of Energy's Workplace Charging Challenge.

Installing charging stations at the workplace plays a critical role in growing the PEV charging infrastructure across the county. In addition to demonstrating MetLife's willingness to adopt technological innovation, this also increases exposure to the PEV market for MetLife's employees and guests. Providing workplace charging helps employees to take personal responsibility for their environmental practices by supporting an alternative mode of transportation for their individual daily commutes.

A few PEV-driving employees from across the country recently commented on their MetLife workplace charging experiences - one said, "[MetLife's] recognition and support of [PEV] charging only proves their forward-thinking and quality as an employer meeting the needs of their employees present and future."

Several others noted that their decision to purchase or lease a PEV was based on MetLife's provision of workplace charging stations and since the installation, fellow employees are more aware of the benefits of using alternative energy sources.

MetLife's Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Services, Joseph Sprouls describes the corporate rationale for providing workplace charging: "Through the Department of Energy's Workplace Charging Challenge, we have joined with other sustainability-minded companies to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. We are proud to be a part of this national effort to promote alternative transportation. By making PEV charging stations more readily available to employees, we can encourage more people to use PEVs."