Irving Oil launches Low-Carb Driving Awareness Pilot Program

SAINT JOHN, NB - As part of its overall efforts to address climate change, Irving Oil is offering motorists the opportunity to participate in a "low-carb" driving program at select Irving Bluecanoe locations in the Saint John area. The five-week pilot program will help motorists reduce their CO2 emissions, and in the process help them use less fuel and save money.

The program will run at six Bluecanoe stores within Saint John: Garden Street, Fairville Boulevard, Torryburn, Marr Road, Grand Bay and Millidge Avenue. Information cards with easy-to-follow tips on reducing carbon emissions will be handed out to customers, and customers will have the opportunity to win "low-carb" prizes, such as bus passes, running shoes and bicycles.

"We currently undertake activities to reduce carbon emissions in our production processes, and we are pleased to be piloting a new program with easy-to-follow tips to help our customers reduce their CO2 emissions when they use our clean fuels," says Jay Leduc, Senior Manager of Health, Environment and Safety for Irving Oil. In the lifecycle of a litre of gasoline, from drilling to refining to driving, all members of the supply chain contribute to the production of greenhouse gases. Motorists, for example, can contribute up to 85 per cent of the total emissions. "With this program," says Leduc, "we want to help our customers reduce their carbon footprint, use less fuel and save money."

On November 2, to celebrate the launch of this pilot program, Irving Oil will offer customers a tire pressure check and training session at participating sites throughout the day. Research shows under-inflated tires create additional resistance when driving. For each tire under-inflated by two pounds per square inch, fuel consumption increases by one per cent, which means unnecessary carbon emissions are produced.

"The low-carb driving program is a good fit for Saint John, and it supports our city in its growth as a thriving and prosperous community," says Mayor Norm McFarlane. "Protecting the environment where we all live and work is something we all care about, and by adopting these simple tips when driving, we will all be making a difference."

"I want to congratulate Irving Oil for rolling out this important program, which is a win-win for the environment and for customers," says Energy Minister Jack Keir. "Just as we have, as a government, improved efficiency programs for homes and accelerated clean energy programs like wind energy, we are pleased to see Irving Oil responding proactively to the community's desire to tackle the issue of climate change."

"Climate change is a great concern for all of us," says Leduc. "Our company recognizes that everyone, including businesses and individual consumers, can take steps to become more energy efficient."

Irving Oil continues to invest in technology to improve energy efficiency, improve air quality and address CO2 emissions. Some of these programs include:

• Operating a shuttle bus service within the refinery, replacing dozens of vehicles that would otherwise be needed.
• Using bicycles as a means of transport around the 780-acre refinery grounds.
• Installing an ultra-efficient $90 million cogeneration plant, which uses one fuel to produce two forms of energy, power and steam.
• Through a partnership with Praxair Inc., capturing and recycling hundreds of thousands of metric tones of CO2 each year, which is then turned into food-grade carbon dioxide for soda drinks.
• Championing the supply of cleaner burning natural gas in Atlantic Canada by becoming an early and significant purchaser of Sable natural gas; supporting the development of the natural gas pipeline; and developing an LNG receiving terminal in partnership with Repsol YPF.
• Exploring the opportunities to integrate wind and tidal power with the proposed Eider Rock refinery.