Spectra Energy | GRI Index

GRI Index

Management Approach – Environmental Indicators

We are committed to being responsible environmental stewards while striving to help meet North America's increasing demand for natural gas. Our challenge is to grow the business while minimizing the impact of our operations. See Protect the Environment for more information on our management approach, our Scorecard and Environmental Performance Data Table for goals and performance, and Stakeholder Engagement and Our Perspective on Climate Change for additional context.

Indicator	Description	2010 Spectra Energy Response
Materials
EN1	Weight or volume of materials	We do not currently track this information. However, during 2010 we will evaluate opportunities to reduce waste by running three pilot waste minimization projects.
EN2	Materials used that are recycled content	We do not currently track this information. However, during 2010 we will evaluate opportunities to reduce waste by running three pilot waste minimization projects.
Energy
EN3	Direct energy consumption by primary energy source.	Natural gas is our primary direct energy source. The amount of natural gas used to create energy is quantified for the purposes of calculating and reporting direct greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions data can be found in the Environmental Data Table. In addition, the amount of electicity use is documented in the Environmental Data Table.
EN4	Indirect energy consumption by primary source.	1,711 thousand MWh of electricity was used in 2009. Spectra Energy purchases 100% of its electricity from Canada and the United States. When Spectra Energy purchases electricity it does not directly request power generated from renewable sources. However, a significant portion of Spectra Energy’s purchased electricity in some of its operating areas, such as British Columbia (BC), does come from renewable sources such as those from BC Hydro.
EN5	Energy saved due to conservation and energy efficiency efforts	See Championing Energy Efficiency in our online sustainability report, specifically operating efficiency and emission reductions and energy services for our customers.
EN6	Providing energy efficiency products and services	See Championing Energy Efficiency in our online sustainability report, specifically energy services for our customers. Union Gas provides extensive energy efficiency products and services.
EN7	Initiatives to reduce indirect energy consumption and results achieved	Flexible work policies (9/80), programs to support use of mass transit, van pooling, use of teleconferences and energy efficiency practices in our office buildings are some of the ways that we reduce indirect energy consumption; however, we do not currently calculate the energy reductions that result from these programs. Three of Union Gas' customer service centers are built to LEED Gold Certification standards, and their construction included an evaluation and provision of alternative transport. Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from employee travel are reported in Spectra Energy's submission to the Carbon Disclosure Project.
Water
EN8	Water withdrawal	Spectra Energy uses water primarily for natural gas processing and in gas storage operations. Water is primarily sourced from wells and, in a few cases, rivers. At other sites, such as office buildings, water is purchased from municipalities and water use is tracked through the municipal billing process at the site level. An assessment of Spectra Energy's water use will be completed during 2010.
EN9	Water sources and habitats affected by withdrawals	We do not currently track this information.
EN10	Water recycled or reused	We do not currently track this information.
Biodiversity
EN11	Land adjacent to protected areas	Information is tracked at the site and facility level per ESIA requirements. ESIAs for major projects are publically available at the following NEB (neb-one.gc.ca) and FERC (ferc.gov) web sites.
EN12	Impacts on high biodiversity value areas	Information is tracked at the site and facility level per ESIA requirements. ESIAs for major projects are publically available at the following NEB and FERC web sites.
EN13	Habitats protected or restored	Information is tracked at the site and facility level per ESIA requirements. ESIAs for major projects are publically available at the following NEB and FERC web sites.
EN14	Programs to manage biodiversity	See Land Stewardship in our online sustainability report.
EN15	Special species habitats	Information is tracked at the site and facility level per ESIA requirements. ESIAs for major projects are publically available at the following NEB and FERC web sites.
Emissions, Effluents and Waste
EN16	GHG emissions	CO₂ equivalents (direct and indirect) of 9.9 million metric tons in 2009. Also see Our Perspective on Climate Change and Championing Energy Conservation, and our response to the Carbon Disclosure Project.
EN17	Other relevant indirect GHG emissions	CO₂ equivalents of 1.04 million metric tons in 2009.
EN18	Initiatives to reduce GHG emissions, and reductions achieved	See Protect the Environment, Championing Energy Efficiency and our response to the Carbon Disclosure Project.
EN19	Ozone depleting emissions, by weight	Ozone depleting substances are used in refrigeration systems at several of our facilities. Compliance requirements associated with their use are managed at the site level.
EN20	NOx, SO₂ and other significant air emissions by type and weight	See Environmental Data Table.
EN21	Total water discharges	This information is not tracked at the corporate level. It is tracked per permit stipulations at the site level only.
EN22	Total weight of waste by type and disposal method	See Environmental Data Table.
EN23	Total number and volume of significant spills	In 2009 our businesses reported 29 spills. Spill volumes are tracked and reported according to regulatory requirements at the site level. See Environmental Data Table.
EN24	Hazardous waste transported internationally	Waste is not transported internationally. Hazardous waste is treated and disposed of at licensed facilities, and records are keep as appropriate at the site level.
EN25	Water discharge impacts	If applicable to a site, the information is tracked per permit stipulations at the site level only.
Products and Services
EN26	Environmental impact mitigation	Our approach to minimization of the environmental impact associated with the services that Spectra Energy provides is discussed in our online sustainabilty report, Protect the Environment and Our Approach. Union Gas is the only business segment in Spectra Energy that sells natural gas to customers. Natural gas use, greenhouse gas emissions and water use are mitigated through Union Gas' Demand Side Management programs, described in the energy services for our customers section of our online sustainability report. Union Gas' extensive energy efficiency products and services are also described here.
EN27	Percentage of product that is recycled	Natural gas is combusted. Efforts to conserve natural gas usage, and waste heat, are discussed in Championing Energy Efficiency in our online sustainability report, specifically operating efficiency and emission reductions and energy services for our customers.
Compliance
EN28	Incidents and fines for environmental non-compliance	During 2009, Spectra Energy received 10 notices of violation and paid $79,500 in fines. See Environmental Data Table.
Transport
EN29	Transportation impacts for logistical purposes	Greenhouse gas emissions associated with the company's vehicle fleets (mobile sources) were 32,771 tonnes in 2009. Union Gas is currently assessing its logistics, vehicle and service efficiency. Hybrid vehicle were piloted in the U.S. and Canada in 2008.
Overall
EN30	Environmental protection expenditures	Environmental expenditure information is reported according to U.S. and Canadian regulatory guidelines. Information about environmental matters is located on page 21 of the Spectra Energy 10-K, dated December 31, 2009.