Union Gas incentives help Greater Sudbury save energy, cut costs

City expected to save more than $700,000 over life of new energy-efficient equipment

SUDBURY, ON, Nov. 26, 2013 /CNW/ - Thanks to incentives from the Union Gas EnerSmart program, the City of Greater Sudbury is making several local arenas, a library and a long-term care facility more energy efficient.

Through the Union Gas EnerSmart program, which offers incentives to its municipal, commercial and industrial customers to implement projects that will use natural gas more efficiently, reducing energy costs and emissions, the city was able to install energy-saving equipment in six municipal buildings. In total, the equipment is expected to save the city more than $700,000 in energy costs over its lifespan, and reduce energy use by more than 2 million cubic metres, enough to fuel more than 1,000 homes for a year, over the projected life of the project.

The upgrades include equipment such as condensing boilers, heat recovery ventilators and an ozone laundry system, which was installed at Pioneer Manor, a long-term care facility. Ozone is a naturally occurring molecule which acts as a strong disinfectant, eliminating the need for harsh chemicals such as chlorine used in traditional laundry systems, leaving only oxygen as a by-product.  As a result, ozone laundry systems use up to 90 per cent less hot water and reduce drying time by up to 20 per cent, significantly reducing energy costs.

Gerald Laforest, Union Gas commercial / institutional markets account manager for the northeast district, presented a $30,000 incentive cheque to Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk and the city's energy initiatives department before today's council meeting.

"Our goal is to help our municipal partners use clean and affordable natural gas in an efficient way," Laforest said. "These investments will help Greater Sudbury reduce its energy consumption and lower its operating costs."

The City of Greater Sudbury is proud to participate in the EnerSmart program, said Mayor Matichuk.

"Reducing energy use in our municipal buildings just makes sense," said Mayor Matichuk. "With the support of Union Gas' Enersmart program, we've been able to introduce the latest in energy efficient equipment in six of our facilities, upgrades that will benefit the residents of Greater Sudbury for years to come."

Union Gas has been dedicated to energy conservation and reducing its environmental footprint for over 15 years. Since it first began offering Demand Side Management programs in 1997, Union Gas has delivered over 4.3 billion cubic metres of natural gas savings, and reduced carbon monoxide emissions by the equivalent of removing 1.4 million cars from Ontario's roads for a year. 

About Union Gas Union Gas Limited is a major Canadian natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario with 100 years of experience and service to customers. The distribution business serves about 1.4 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in more than 400 communities across northern, southwestern and eastern Ontario. Union Gas, named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers  for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, is a Spectra Energy (NYSE: SE) company with assets of $5.8 billion and approximately 2,200 employees. For more information, visit uniongas.com or find us on Twitter: twitter.com/uniongas, Facebook: facebook.com/uniongas and YouTube: youtube.com/user/uniongas.

SOURCE: Union Gas Limited

Union Gas Limited
Andrea Stass
Manager, External Communications and Media Relations
Ph: 519 436-5490 or 1-800-571-8446 ext. 5490
Cell: 519 365-1010
[email protected]

City of Greater Sudbury
Shannon Dowling
Corporate Communications and French Language Services
Ph: 705-674-4455, ext. 2539
Facebook: www.facebook.com/greatersudbury
Twitter: @greatersudbury