The Environment

ATCO Gas is committed to the protection and stewardship of the environment.  This strongly held value is embedded in our staff training, reflected in our corporate decision making, and integrated into our business strategies. Our Environmental Policy outlines this commitment and our Environment Operating Principles incorporate practices that limit greenhouse gas emissions.

We support Canada's initiative to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using voluntary measures, and we endorse the objectives of the Voluntary Challenge and Registry (VCR) Inc. The results of our greenhouse gas emissions action plan are reported annually.

Drake Landing Solar Community

In Okotoks, Alberta, a community south of Calgary, ATCO Gas worked collaboratively with all three levels of government and the private sector to create a North American leading community solar heating system. The company led construction of the one-of-a-kind system that eliminates 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions from a new housing development.

The project captures the sun's rays in the summer and stores them to heat 52 homes in winter - reducing emissions by between 3.9 and 5five tonnes annually at every residence. ATCO Gas is initially acting as project manager and later will become owner and operator of the innovative heat-storage system. The system will supply more than 90 per cent of the space heating requirements for the 52 homes.

Natural gas vehicles used by Parks Canada

In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Banff National Park, ATCO Gas partnered with several other organizations to set up a new Natural Gas Vehicle fuelling station in Banff.

Using natural gas rather than gasoline to fuel seven vehicles means a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the national park.

ATCO Invests $1.2 Million in Advanced Fuel Cell Research

ATCO Gas invested $1.2 million to develop new research focused on determining viable commercial applications for power generated by Canada’s first high voltage, fully operational fuel cell.

Installed at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), the $3.25 million fuel-cell project at the applied technology post-secondary institution is funded in partnership with provincial and federal government agencies.

Read the news release and backgrounder to learn more on the fuel cell project.

A national leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions

ATCO Gas was nationally recognized at Canada's Climate Change VCR Inc.'s Seventh Annual Leadership Awards in March 2004 for cutting GHG emissions to almost 50 per cent below 1990 levels.

ATCO Gas received Honourable Mention in the Oil and Gas – Pipelines and Natural Gas Distribution category for successfully reducing its 2002 GHG emissions by 6,040 tonnes or 13.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent from 1990 levels. That’s about the same amount of emissions exhausted by 975 SUVs in one year. ATCO Gas’ 2002 emissions per customer were 49 per cent below 1990 levels.

For more information, read the news release for the award and the backgrounder.

View our ATCO Gas 2007 Action Plan Update for Greenhouse Gas Reduction.