ATCO Gas Opens New Environmentally Friendly Operations Center

In March ATCO Gas celebrated the official opening of a new environmentally friendly operations center. Located in Edmonton, the operations center is the largest commercial building in Canada to make use of geothermal heating, ventilating and cooling (HVAC) technology fueled by natural gas.

“The North Edmonton Operations Center 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 new 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 of an estimated 60 metric tons annually.

“The new North Edmonton Operations Center is a showcase for ATCO, as well as the City of Edmonton and Province of Alberta,” said Brian Hahn, President, ATCO Gas. “It helps consolidate operations into a future forward facility where 185 employees work to build and maintain a safe, reliable gas distribution system."

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

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