August 26, 2008

Small Canadian Town Fights Climate Change

LEED Silver Building Anchor’s Canada’s Newest Eco-Industrial Park

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Hinton, Alberta –  The Town of Hinton, Alberta has announced the ground breaking of their new Infrastructure Services Building (ISB) to be built at Innovista, an Eco-Industrial park located at 330 Fleming Drive, Hinton. The Town of Hinton will serve as an anchor tenant in this subdivision, showing further leadership in implementing green initiatives.   The building, which is being built to a LEEDTM silver rating, will save 8.5 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year, consume 30% less water and generate 75% less construction waste. Hinton is the first community to have initiated a greenfield eco-industrial park.

The ISB will be the new home of the Town’s public works, parks, and building maintenance departments. It is the third project in a series of environmentally innovative public buildings that includes the Government Centre and the new Protective Services Building.  One of the primary features of the building will be a solar hot water system. The system will use solar panels to pre-heat water for domestic use, pressure washing and the in-floor radiant heating system. Overall the solar thermal system will provide approximately 30 per cent of energy needed for the hot water systems mentioned above. The system is expected to save 8.5 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually by generating 150 GJ of energy. 

The Town has partnered with ATCO Gas who will install the solar hot water system.  ATCO Gas will own this renewable energy system and be responsible for maintaining and servicing the system to ensure it is functioning at the highest standard.  The Town will not be incurring any additional capital cost to have this green technology incorporated into the building. “We are extremely pleased to be a partner in this pilot project,” said Brian Hahn, President of ATCO Gas. “We are pursuing renewable and alternative energy technology solutions for Albertans and this pilot project will help lay the foundation for future initiatives.”

Mayor Glenn Taylor sees the benefits extending further. “Hinton will be able to not only show positive steps towards fighting climate change but also use the system as a platform to other customers.”  This project exemplifies how partnership and collaboration enables the Town to go over and above its social, economic and environmental responsibilities as well as providing an opportunity to test innovative technology.  

About Hinton and Innovista
The Town of Hinton is located along the Athabasca River, 29km from the east gate of Jasper National Park and 287 km west of Edmonton.  Innovista is a 108 acre green field industrial park.  Valued at $22 million at final build out, it will be home to light and medium industrial businesses, as well as more than 1.5km of walking (or cross-country skiing) trails.

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For more information, visit Innovista’s website (www.eip.hinton.ca).

About ATCO Gas
ATCO Gas is part of ATCO Group and distributes natural gas through a network of close to 36,500 kilometres of underground pipes and service lines. The company operates 62 agency offices across Alberta and serves more than one million customers in nearly 300 communities across the province. ATCO Gas’ distribution rate remains the lowest in Canada. This news release is also available at the ATCO Gas website at www.atcogas.com

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