Environmentally Friendly

Natural gas is an extremely important source of energy for reducing pollution and maintaining a clean and healthy environment. In addition to being a domestically abundant and secure source of energy, the use of natural gas also offers a number of environmental benefits over other sources of energy, particularly other fossil fuels.

Natural gas is the cleanest of all fossil fuels. Composed primarily of methane, the main products of the combustion of natural gas are carbon dioxide and water vapour, the same compounds we exhale when we breathe.

Pollutants emitted, particularly from the combustion of fossil fuels, have led to the development of many pressing environmental problems. Natural gas, emitting fewer harmful chemicals into the atmosphere than other fossil fuels, can help to mitigate some of these environmental issues.

These issues include:

-    Greenhouse Gas Emissions

-    Smog, Air Quality and Acid Rain

-    Industrial and Electric Generation Emissions

-    Pollution from the Transportation Sector = Natural Gas Vehicles

Global warming, or the 'greenhouse effect' is an environmental issue that deals with the potential for global climate change due to increased levels of atmospheric 'greenhouse gases'. There are certain gases in our atmosphere that serve to regulate the amount of heat that is kept close to the earth's surface.

The principle greenhouse gases include water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides, and some engineered chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons. While most of these gases occur in the atmosphere naturally, levels have been increasing due to the widespread burning of fossil fuels by growing human population. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has become a primary focus of environmental programs in countries globally.

The use of natural gas does not contribute significantly to smog formation, as it emits low levels of nitrogen oxides. For this reason, it can be used to help combat smog formation in areas where ground level air quality is poor. The main sources of nitrogen oxides are electric utilities, motor vehicles, and industrial plants. Increased natural gas usage in the electric generation sector, a shift to cleaner natural gas vehicles, could all serve to combat smog production. Particularly in the summertime, when natural gas demand is low and smog problems are the greatest. Industrial plants and electric generators could use natural gas to fuel their operations instead of other, more polluting fossil fuels. This would effectively reduce the emissions of smog causing chemicals, and result in clearer, healthier air around urban areas.

Natural gas being the cleanest of fossil fuels, with its many applications can serve to decrease harmful pollution levels from all sectors, particularly when used together with or replacing other fossil fuels. The natural gas industry itself is committed to ensure that the process of producing natural gas is as environmentally sound as possible.

Going 'green' makes good business sense!