EDMONTON, AB — ATCO Gas recently celebrated the official opening of a new environmentally friendly operations centre. Located in Edmonton, the operations centre is the largest commercial building in Canada to make use of geothermal heating, ventilating and cooling (HVAC) technology fuelled by natural gas.

"The North Edmonton Operations Centre demonstrates ATCO's commitment to the environment through the commercial use of alternative energy technology," said Nancy Southern, President and Chief Executive Officer, ATCO Group. "It sets a new standard for sustainable buildings and reinforces ATCO's reputation for technological innovation."

The 55,000 square-foot facility utilizes natural gas, the cleanest burning fossil fuel, to run the heat pump geothermal system. It uses approximately 40 percent less energy than a similar size building heated through conventional means. The energy savings equate to a reduction in carbon dioxide emission by an estimated 60 metric tonnes annually.

"The new North Edmonton Operations Centre is a showcase for ATCO, as well as the City of Edmonton and Province of Alberta," said Brian Hahn, President, ATCO Gas. "It helps us reduce our carbon footprint while improving operational efficiency."

ATCO Gas opened a smaller geothermal facility in Viking, Alberta, last March, while another operations centre equipped with geothermal technology is currently under construction in Airdrie. Other green initiatives undertaken by ATCO include solar and hydro projects.

More information about ATCO Gas is available at www.atcogas.com.

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