News Release
June 12, 2008

Union Gas: Building for the Future

BURLINGTON, ONTARIO – Union Gas today announced the completion of a new energy efficient and environmentally friendly building to serve as the new Burlington regional centre. The announcement was made at the site of the new building, 4475 Mainway, Burlington. On hand to assist Julie Dill, president, Union Gas, with the ceremonial ribbon-cutting were the Honourable Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Peter Love, Chief Energy Conservation Officer, Ontario Power Authority.

Union Gas’ new Burlington office has been built to a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standard and features state-of-the art energy and environmental technologies. The new office is the regional hub for Union Gas and will serve as a base for approximately 70 employees.

“This new building showcases some of the best environmental technologies available today, which we project will deliver energy savings of more than 25 per cent compared to conventional buildings,” said Dill.

Union’s new Burlington office will feature:

  • natural gas micro turbines to supply the energy needs of the office;
  • computerized control of lighting, heating & cooling systems;
  • a building design which will provide 75 percent of employees with natural lighting in their workspace, thus reducing the need for electrical lighting;
  • the harvesting of rainwater for toilets; and
  • drought-resistant and native plants.

“I want to congratulate Union Gas for taking a cutting edge approach to energy efficiency,” said Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Its leadership will serve as role model for others to follow suit.”

“Energy conservation is invisible,” said Peter Love, Chief Energy Conservation Officer, Ontario Power Authority. “You can’t see it. But you can see that an energy efficient building that saves energy and water, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, can be very attractive and comfortable. Union Gas is, again, showing leadership in the area of sustainability.”

Over the past few years, Union Gas has been taking steps to reduce its energy consumption at its existing buildings across Ontario by replacing office light fixtures to reduce electricity consumption by about 58 per cent; installing low-flow showerheads, hands-free faucets and self-flushing toilets to reduce water consumption by 20 to 40 per cent, and replacing existing air conditioning units in its largest office with new energy-efficient units.

In addition, Union Gas has been delivering energy efficiency programs to its customers for over a decade. 90 million cubic metres -- the equivalent of heating and water heating for more than 35,000 homes.

“Union Gas is committed to environmental responsibility and building vibrant communities. These new facilities are part of our larger plan to reduce our energy consumption and lighten our environmental footprint,” said Dill.

Union Gas is an integrated natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company serving about 1.3 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in more than 400 communities in northern, southwestern and eastern Ontario. Union Gas is a Spectra Energy company. Spectra Energy Corp (NYSE: SE) is one of North America’s premier natural gas infrastructure companies serving three key links in the natural gas value chain: gathering and processing, transmission and storage, and distribution. For close to a century, Spectra Energy and its predecessor companies have developed critically important pipelines and related energy infrastructure connecting natural gas supply sources to premium markets. Based in Houston, Texas, the company operates in the United States and Canada approximately 18,000 miles of transmission pipeline, 265 billion cubic feet of storage, natural gas gathering and processing, natural gas liquids operations and local distribution assets. Spectra Energy Corp also has a 50 percent ownership in DCP Midstream, one of the largest natural gas gatherers and processors in the United States. Visit www.spectraenergy.com for more information.

Andrea Stass
(519) 436-5490
(519) 365-1010 (Cell)