Mission

The GREEN TEAM was formed as a collaboration of natural gas companies for the purpose of developing messaging, graphic elements and collateral materials for an industry-wide Joint Advertising and Marketing effort based around the ecological advantages of using natural gas as a preferred energy source. Additionally, the GREEN TEAM is tasked with developing an Emissions Calculator which will accurately reflect the impact of generation emissions on the electric side and facilitate a full-cycle comparison of natural gas vs. electric homes. Lastly, the GREEN TEAM is developing a set of Model Corporate Policies and Best Practices for natural gas companies to consider adopting to enable them to "walk-the-walk" when it comes to environmental issues in their communities and service territories.

GREEN TEAM Roster

Here is the latest SGA GREEN TEAM roster. If you would like to join the GREEN TEAM, contact a current member or contact Larry Farthing by clicking here.

NEW!! American Gas Foundation's Study on Direct-Use of Natural Gas

There has been an unprecedented growth in the use of natural gas for power generation over the past ten years. Electric power generation has the option of using a diverse fuel mix which consists of coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear and renewables. No one fuel can provide all the electric generation needed, and a diverse fuel base has helped to provide a stable supply of electricity. The availability, price, and reliability of the supply as well as the government regulations applicable to the fuel are important factors that determine the fuel mix used for electric generation. Since the mid-90s, more than 90% of the generation capacity added has been gas-fired units for peaking and intermediate loads. Some of this growth in the use of natural gas for power generation was driven by environmental regulations and the high costs of coal-based generation plants. During this time frame there was a belief that the North American market had an unlimited supply of a relatively cheap and environmentally-friendly fuel available. Read the entire study...

The Messaging Sub-Team Update

Following a process of reviewing RFP responses and narrowing the field of potential candidates down from 10 firms, the GREEN TEAM selected Porter Novelli as the advertising agency to carry the gas industry messaging effort foward.  The renowned agency, which boasts such clients as: Abundant Forests Alliance, the Center for Disease Control, Dow Chemical, Hewlett Packard, Procter & Gamble and the Propane Education and Research Council, exhibited the best combination of experience with the energy industry, collaboration with association-type clients and creation of effective messaging for green campaigns.

Porter Novelli is expected to deliver unique creative advertising elements, assist with media buys, coordinate a dynamic public relations campaign and develop a dedicated micro website for the natural gas industry. The deliverables will be designed to stand alone or for incorporation into any GREEN TEAM member's existing advertising and communications programs. Check back often for new developments in this exciting process!

The Emissions Sub-Team Update

SGA offers the following emissions calculator tools for use by natural gas companies in comparing electric equipment to natural gas equipment.

ESC Applicance Calculator

Emissions Calculator Tool

The Emissions Sub-Team is working on a modified Emissions Calculator with a user-friendly interface for LDCs to place on their web sites. End-use customers will then be directed to this calculator to perform basic emissions calculations to determine their own environmental impact.

 

The Policy Sub-Team Update

Deliverable #1:   Create an avenue for gas companies to communicate with their employees regarding reducing their carbon footprint from both an individual perspective and corporately.  This could be delivered a couple of different ways:  

• Produce a webpage that can be delivered to each company for use on their intranet.  This would be updated monthly.
• Produce an "e-newsletter" quarterly that can be e-mailed either to individual employees or to an administrator at each company for distribution
• Provide content quarterly/monthly to each company for use as they see fit

 

Deliverable #2:   Collect best practices and other "thought starters" that gas companies can implement to become a greener company.  These ideas will be posted on the SGA website with periodic reminders to gas respective companies to visit the website.

Deliverable #3:   This deliverable deals with going beyond the simple things that we can do to reduce our carbon footprint.  It will deal with developing an industry standard for stewardship and sustainability which gas companies will be able to use as a benchmark for their own environmental performance.  The information provided will be filled with resources to move member companies significantly and continuously along the green path.

Events

SGA GREEN TEAM Meeting

Members of the GREEN TEAM met at the SGA Management Conference in Atlanta, GA.

April 21-22 , 2008   Atlanta, GA

Next SGA GREEN TEAM Meeting

The next meeting of the GREEN TEAM will be held at the TECO/Peoples Gas Company Offices in Tampa, FL. The meeting date has not yet been determined.

 

Presentations

Click the links below for presentations made at the January 2008 GREEN TEAM meeting in Charlotte, NC.

• Peeples - Green Team Update at the SGA Management Conference
• Moskitis - Marketing Round Table
• RKS - Market Research Presentations Committee
• Moskitis - AGA 08 Green Building Standards

 

For more information about the SGA GREEN TEAM or to add your name to the official GREEN TEAM Roster, contact Larry Farthing by clicking here.