Province Welcomes Natural Gas Use, Emission Cuts

Nova Scotia is now cleaner and greener, thanks to Saint Mary's University's switch from oil to cleaner burning natural gas.

Energy Minister Barry Barnet was on campus today, March 3, to celebrate the start of the school's natural gas heating system, and to kick off Saint Mary's Sustainability Fair.

"Natural gas is a cleaner, healthier, made-in-Nova Scotia energy solution," said Mr. Barnet. "This is a resource in our own backyard, helping us move to a greener energy future.

"The province's 2009 Energy Strategy commits Nova Scotia to becoming cleaner and greener by the year 2020. Making smart energy choices like natural gas are essential to helping us get there."

The new heating system establishes an anchor load for the surrounding area. As a larger customer, Saint Mary's conversion allows Heritage Gas to expand its network further into Halifax, and creates more opportunities for natural gas use by local residents.

The conversion from oil to natural gas allows the university to heat more than one million square feet of space and reduces the university's emissions by more than 2,000 tonnes per year -- equal to taking about 400 cars off the road.

Saint Mary's University president Colin Dodds said the school is dedicated to sustainability and environmental stewardship and continues to make energy efficiency a priority.

"Conversion to natural gas speaks to our commitment to the environment," said Dr. Dodds. "Students, faculty and staff are showcasing that commitment at today's fair and throughout Sustainability Week, highlighting our energy retrofit, academic leadership around sustainability, guest speaker series and other initiatives."

"We're pleased to offer Saint Mary's a reliable and healthier energy source, and we're proud to help improve the local air quality for both campus and neighbourhood residents," said Ray Ritcey, president of Heritage Gas. "Saint Mary's is also the anchor load in this part of Halifax to attract other businesses and residents to natural gas."

The conversion was made possible with a contribution from the Nova Scotia Gas Market Development Fund. The province has supported natural gas conversion projects in Burnside and at health-care facilities in Amherst, Dartmouth and Halifax. In 2008, the fund contributed to nearly 14,000 tonnes of greenhouse-gas emission reductions from residential and commercial customers.

Saint Mary's University Sustainability Week runs until Friday, March 6, and includes a fair on sustainable products and initiatives, a panel discussion and a special presentation by author Silver Donald Cameron.

For more information on events, visit www.smu.ca/sustain/activities.