Each year, Atmos Energy celebrates Earth Day alongside the 1,400 communities we serve. This story is part of a continuing series being published all week about the ways that our comprehensive environmental strategy is focused on reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and other environmental impacts from our operations, fleet, facilities, gas supply, and customer end-use. 

According to the American Gas Association, commercial and industrial customers have saved more than $500 billion over the last decade by using natural gas. Those financial savings are part of the reason why our customers choose Atmos Energy’s SmartChoice rebate programs to help conserve energy, save money, and reduce their environmental impact through lower emissions.  

A few years ago, voters in Eaton, Colorado approved a $128 million construction bond to build a new high school and remodel the elementary and middle schools. Recognizing this as an opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and save on the cost and use of natural gas, the Eaton School District designed all three buildings to incorporate advanced energy efficiency measures. The school district also leveraged Atmos Energy’s incentive program for energy-efficient construction, which provided incentives totaling $48,500 to complete the three projects. 

The new high school was built from the ground up, which represented the best opportunity to incorporate innovative solutions like high-efficiency boilers and hot water equipment, advanced boiler controls, demand-controlled ventilation, and destratification fans. Meanwhile, the existing Eaton Middle School and Eaton High School were retrofitted to serve as the town’s new elementary and middle schools, respectively. Those projects included updating the buildings’ heating systems and installing destratification fans in their gymnasiums to improve occupant comfort and prevent heat loss through the roof. 

The three projects are estimated to reduce annual GHG emissions by 462 metric tons of carbon dioxide, 8.7 kg of methane, and 0.9 kg of nitrogen oxide. Just as importantly, the Eaton School District expects to save more than 87,000 therms per year in natural gas usage, which equates to annual savings of over $150,000 on their natural gas bill. 

More than 1,000 miles away in Louisiana, several healthcare facilities that recently leveraged Atmos Energy’s SmartChoice incentive program are beginning to realize significant savings.  

Ochsner Health operates 46 hospitals and 370 health and urgent care centers and provides impeccable care for over a million patients annually. Thanks in part to SmartChoice incentives, three of its facilities were able to install high efficiency boilers that optimize performance with consistent and precise temperature control, as well as a condensate return system that improves the boilers’ performance by minimizing heat loss, scaling, and corrosion, among several other upgrades.  

Across the three locations, the enhancements have reduced the facilities’ estimated annual energy use by a combined 98,153 therms which qualified Ochsner for $83,988 in SmartChoice incentives from Atmos Energy. Encouraged by significant cost savings and performance improvements, Ochsner is already planning more energy efficiency modernizations that will also leverage the SmartChoice program. 

Over in Monroe, St. Francis Medical Center identified safety and operational improvements like steam trap replacements, piping insulation, and high efficiency upgrades to its natural gas-powered kitchen equipment that would reduce energy costs while improving service. After learning about the incentives available through Atmos Energy’s SmartChoice program, the facility’s construction project manager decided to move forward – and the results speak for themselves.  

Altogether, the upgrades have reduced St. Francis Medical Center’s estimated annual energy use by 144,957 therms, which earned $47,311 in SmartChoice incentives from Atmos Energy. These savings will go a long way to ensuring the facility continues to provide best-in-class care for years to come. 

To learn more about Atmos Energy’s comprehensive environmental strategy and the ways it supports a lower carbon future, please review our Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Report at https://www.atmosenergy.com/sustainability/environmental-and-operational-sustainability.