Media Release

For Immediate Release

August 13, 2008

Saint Mary’s to convert oil furnaces to natural gas

Saint Mary’s University will convert its oil furnaces to cleaner-burning natural gas this summer, with the help of nearly $1-million from the Nova Scotia Department of Energy.

An agreement confirming $993,000 in provincial funding for the project was signed today by Dr. J. Colin Dodds, President of Saint Mary’s University, and Energy Minister Richard Hurlburt. The furnace conversion is scheduled to be complete in October and will cost an estimated $1.3 million.

 “This conversion is part of our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Dr. Dodds. “We encourage our students, faculty, staff and alumni to engage in global challenges and to take action on issues of universal significance such as the degradation of the environment.”

Minister Hurlburt said, "Natural gas is a made-in-Nova Scotia solution to improving air quality and protecting the environment. We are proud to help Saint Mary’s provide a reliable, efficient and healthier energy source to their staff and students."

The conversion to natural gas will help improve air quality by reducing the university’s emissions by more than 2,000 tonnes a year, equal to taking about 400 cars off the road. This includes reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 32 per cent, sulfur dioxide emissions by 99.9 per cent, nitrogen oxide emissions by 79 per cent and particulate emissions by 90 per cent.

The new heating plant will provide heating to more than a million square feet of space at Saint Mary’s and serve as an anchor load for Heritage Gas to expand its natural gas system into south end Halifax. Last summer, the conversion of furnaces by Capital Health was an anchor for building a pipeline across Halifax Harbour to deliver natural gas to the peninsula.

"We are very pleased to be building out our natural gas system to the southern part of the Halifax peninsula,” said Ray Ritcey, president of Heritage Gas. “This will provide a new energy product that brings both economic and environmental benefits to this great educational institution and the community around it."

The conversion project will include the installation of new burners for seven boilers at the university. It will also include installing new stack liners, replacing two old boilers and building four new stacks.

Education Minister Karen Casey was also on hand for the presentation.

"This initiative is a further indication of our commitment to universities as they continue to address their infrastructure needs," Education Minister Karen Casey said. "In doing so, I'm pleased we can also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

Converting the furnaces is part of the university’s sustainability program.

“Converting the oil furnaces demonstrates Saint Mary’s commitment to community leadership and environmental sustainability,” said Gabrielle Morrison, Vice-President Administration and Chair of the Saint Mary’s Sustainability Task Force.

The sustainability program at Saint Mary‘s already includes projects such as campus-wide recycling, building to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, and promoting energy awareness through academic teaching projects, activities and research.

“By reducing our carbon footprint, Saint Mary’s is demonstrating its commitment to fostering a sustainable future,” said Morrison. “This investment in sustainability is an example for our students who will be the next generation of managers, operators and decision makers in the Nova Scotia economy.”

Saint Mary's University is known for its community outreach projects, both in Canada and around the world. Saint Mary's, founded in 1802, is home to one of Canada's leading business schools, a Science Faculty widely known for its cutting-edge research, a comprehensive and innovative Arts Faculty and a vibrant Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

-30-

For more information:

Blake Patterson
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: blake.patterson@smu.ca
www.smu.ca