NEWS RELEASE
April 21, 2009
UNION GAS MARKS EARTH WEEK BY DELIVERING BIG ENERGY SAVINGS
Chatham, ON – Union Gas today announced it will mark Earth Week by distributing more than 21,000 free Energy Saving Kits to customers at giveaway events to be held at 15 Home Depot locations across Ontario this spring[1].
Each Energy Saving Kit packs easy-to-install items that reduce energy used to heat water in the home – cutting both air emissions and water consumption.
By using the kits, customers will save money and help eliminate close to five million kilograms of carbon monoxide emissions – the equivalent of what 483,000 trees can remove in a single year – and total water consumption will be reduced by more than 573 million litres.
"Earth Week is the perfect time to lead by example and reinforce our commitment to environmental stewardship," said Julie Dill, President, Union Gas.
Union Gas has also taken important steps to reduce its own environmental footprint by commissioning three new office buildings constructed to Gold Standard Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) standards in Burlington, Windsor and Kingston. In addition, the company has introduced energy conservation measures in its 60 company buildings across Ontario such as a retrofit of existing lighting which has reduced the associated electricity consumption by up to 58 per cent and the installation of water saving devices which have reduced water consumption by up to 40 per cent.
In the business, Union Gas has also focused on other innovative energy-saving initiatives such as an anti-idling program for company vehicles and an automated system that places all personal computers on low-power mode after business hours. Support for environmental conservation, education and research is highlighted as a main area of focus in the company’s comprehensive community relations program.
"Union Gas has been a pioneer in designing and delivering energy efficiency programs for customers for over a decade," said Mel Ydreos, Vice President, Marketing and Customer Care. "We are continuing to build on this commitment through education and energy savings tools in every area of our business."
For more information visit uniongas.com/environment/energyconservation.asp
About Union
Gas
Union Gas Limited is a major Canadian
natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in
Ontario with nearly 100 years of experience and service to customers.
The distribution business serves 1.3 million residential, commercial and
industrial customers in more than 400 communities across northern,
southwestern and eastern Ontario. Union Gas's growing storage and
transmission business offers premium storage and transportation services
to customers at the Dawn Hub, the largest underground storage facility
in Canada and one of the largest in North America. It offers customers
an important link in the movement of natural gas from Western Canadian
and U.S. supply basins to markets in central Canada and the northeast
U.S. A Spectra Energy company, Union Gas has assets of $4 billion and
approximately 2,200 employees. Visit uniongas.com for more information.
CONTACT:
Andrea Stass
Manager, Public Affairs and Media Relations Union Gas Limited
Ph: 1-800-571-8446 ext. 5490
Cell: 519 365-1010
Fax: 519 436-4621
E-mail: astass@uniongas.com
[1] Union Gas Energy Saving Kits will be distributed in Belleville, Brantford, Burlington, Cambridge, Guelph, Hamilton, London, Milton, Oakville, Orillia, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Waterloo and Windsor. For dates and times visit uniongas.com/esk.