Thinking green
In 1991 our concern with matters that contribute to degradation of our natural environment led to a commitment to reduce our consumption of natural resources. Following the earlier successful implementation of a paper conservation and recycling program, we focused attention on our consumption of electricity, natural gas and water.
Our original building facilities, comprising laboratories, offices, project rooms, core and sample repository, library, bookstore and storage space, were built in 1967 to meet our specialized geoscience research requirements. The facilities have since been expanded four times to a total floor space of 18,580 m2 (200 000 ft2). The use of electricity, natural gas and water grew as the facilities expanded. By 1990 the 160 employees used 3,475,600 KWh of electricity, 26,000 GJ of natural gas and 42,000 m3 of treated city water, annually.
The Energy Management Program developed in 1991 was designed to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment, to show responsible use of our natural resources, and to save money. This voluntary initiative resulted in an ongoing process of operational, physical and attitudinal change. In 1995, after several major energy efficiency improvements had been made by on site staff, an energy management service contract was awarded under the Federal Buildings Intiative to further retrofit the building facilities without using our own capital funds.
During the period from 1990 to 1998 conservation measures resulted in a substantial reduction in the use of electricity, natural gas and water, with a commensurate reduction in environmental impact associated with the production and use of these utilities. The functionality and comfort of the facilities have not deteriorated as a result of the changes and in many cases they have improved.
| Type of Utility | Reduction in 1998 over 1990 | Total avoided use since 1990 | Annual Savings in 1998 over 1990 | Environmental benefits since 1990 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical | 42 % | 7 500 000 KWh | $83 000 | Combined avoidance of 9161 tons of CO2 |
| Natural Gas | 15 % | 18 000 GJ | $8 000 | 91 tons of SO2 46 tons of NOX |
| Water | 77 % | 182 000 m3 | $31 000 | Less water processing, chlorination and sewage treatment |
Chronology of activities since 1990 in reducing electricity, natural gas and water consumption
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Our concerns for environmental matters extend to the use of dual-fuel vehicles that can use both propane and gasoline, and the implementation of a "green procurement" program that places an added value on the selection of environmental-friendlymaterials. We continue to look for ways to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment. It pays!