Earth Day is celebrated annually April 22 with events held across the globe to demonstrate support for protecting the environment.
FortisBC recognizes that sound environmental practices make good business sense and that’s why the company is committed to delivering safe, reliable energy in an environmentally responsible way to all of the communities we serve.
We look for ways to support the environment in our operations and with services that we provide to our customers.
One simple way customers can help the environment is to consider our paperless billing option, a fast and simple way to save paper and ultimately our forests.
When customers go paperless, their bill is delivered directly to their email address as a PDF file attached to the email. The eBill service is a fast, easy and environmentally friendly way for customers to access both their electricity and natural gas bill.
Another simple way customers can look at reducing their carbon footprint is through rebates and financial incentives offered as part of our PowerSense and Energy Efficiency and Conservation programs. .
Through FortisBC’s PowerSense programs, electricity customers saved an estimated 32 million kilowatt hours of electricity in 2012. The PowerSense programs helps customers conserve energy and get the most out of their energy dollar by providing both financial incentives and advice on energy efficient technologies and practices.
In 2012, FortisBC’s natural gas Energy Efficiency and Conservation programs helped residential, commercial and industrial customers save more than 360,000 gigajoules of natural gas, enough energy to heat some 4,100 homes in one year.
Renewable natural gas is a B.C.-made, carbon neutral energy source. The methane gas used to produce renewable natural gas comes from organic waste found at local landfills and farms. Instead of escaping into the atmosphere as a harmful greenhouse gas, it’s captured, cleaned and added to our pipeline, giving our customers a renewable energy source.
For about $5 more per month on their natural gas bill, customers can designate 10 per cent of their natural gas use as renewable. We’ll then inject an equivalent amount into our system.
To date, more than 60 businesses and close to 3,800 residential customers have signed up to be part of the renewable natural gas program.
Helping customers conserve energy is one of the most cost effective ways for us to meet future needs. And by making thoughtful energy choices — whether it’s switching to paperless billing, installing energy efficient lighting or upgrading to a high-efficiency natural gas furnace — you're supporting the environment.
Tom Loski is the vice-president of customer service at FortisBC.