NEWS RELEASE
FREE ENERGY SAVING KITS AVAILABLE THIS WEEKEND
Union Gas Limited has partnered with RONA to provide free Energy Saving Kits to Union Gas customers in Waterdown, Cambridge, St. Thomas, Leamington and Windsor
August 18, 2009 – Union Gas, in partnership with RONA, Canada’s largest home improvement retailer, is giving away thousands of Energy Saving Kits (ESK) to help its customers conserve energy and save on their energy bills.
Union Gas customers can pick up a free ESK kit at participating RONA store locations in Waterdown, Cambridge, St. Thomas, Leamington and Windsor, Ontario between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday August 22, 2009, while supplies last.
Each ESK contains: one energy efficient massage showerhead, one energy efficient kitchen swivel aerator, one energy efficient bathroom aerator and two metres of foam pipe insulation - a $35 value. Once installed, these products can deliver up to $100 in energy savings every year – ongoing savings that can be used for other household needs.
Water heating is the second largest user of energy in the home. On average, 15 to 20 per cent of a home’s yearly energy bill goes to heating water for showers and washing dishes, clothes and hands.
"These kits contain a number of do-it-yourself items you can easily install in your home to reduce your energy use," said Mel Ydreos, vice-president of marketing and customer care, Union Gas. "This can result in a big payback both financially, and for the environment."
By minimizing the energy used to heat water, customers are also helping the environment by reducing air emissions. Installing the whole kit can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 200 kg, equivalent to what 23 trees can remove in a single year.
"At RONA, we are committed to helping Canadians adopt eco-responsible consumption habits," says Normand Dumont, executive vice president, merchandising, at RONA. "By following a few easy steps, including the installation of energy efficient accessories for appliances such as the ones recommended by Union Gas, it is easy for consumers to save both energy and money."
Union Gas offers these energy-saving tips:
- Install an energy efficient shower head (such as the one included in the free kit, which has the same pressure as a conventional showerhead but with less water flow), and save approximately 17,500 litres of water and 68 cubic metres of natural gas a year
- Install energy efficient tap aerators (also included in the free kit) and save up to 9,800 litres of water and 28 cubic metres of natural gas a year
- Wrap all hot water pipes with foam pipe insulation (also in free kit), and save 17 cubic metres of natural gas a year
For more on Union Gas’ Energy Saving Kits and participating RONA locations, visit http://www.uniongas.com/esk/.
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.
About RONA
RONA is the largest
Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, home renovation and
gardening products. RONA operates a network of close to 700 franchise,
affiliate and corporate stores of various sizes and formats. With close
to 30,000 employees working under its family of banners in every region
of Canada and more than 15 million square feet of retail space, the RONA
store network generates over $6.3 billion in annual retail sales. Please
visit rona.ca.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Union Gas Limited
Andrea Stass
Manager, Public Affairs and Media Relations
Ph: 1-800-571-8446 ext. 5490
Cell: 519-365-1010
Fax: 519-436-4621
E-mail: astass@uniongas.com
RONA inc.
José Caron
514-599-5900, ext. 5398