- Energy
Energy
Today, much of the energy we use in the course of our business is generated through hydro, thermal or nuclear means, each with its own impact on the environment. Finding new ways to improve energy efficiency reduces the need for energy to be produced. At Bell, energy is required to power our telecommunications equipment, to operate our buildings and to run our vehicles.
As a responsible corporate citizen, we are committed to helping achieve Canada's Kyoto Protocol objectives by optimizing the energy we consume. We strive to increase our use of renewable energy such as wind and solar power while minimizing our consumption of non-renewable resources.
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Type of energy used by Bell
In 2005, we used electricity, natural gas and fuel oil to power our network operations, real estate, automotive fleet, as well as for vehicles used by employees for company business. Electricity was produced by utility companies in Québec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. In Québec, most of the electricity came from renewable hydro sources. In Ontario and Western Canada, electricity was produced from nuclear, coal, hydro, natural gas and wood waste sources.
The following diagram illustrates the percentage of each type of energy we used, and the breakdown of sources of electricity produced by public utilities.
Approximately 79% of our total energy consumption was required to manage Bell's real estate and to operate our telecommunications equipment, 19% was required to run Bell's automotive fleet, and 2% was used for rental or employee-owned vehicles used for company business.
Real estate and network operations
The following table highlights Bell's energy consumption and performance indicators for real estate and network operations.
| 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumption (millions kWh)* | 1,033.7 | 1,004.3 | 995.1 |
| Customer connections** (millions) | 27.90 | 26.65 | 25.57 |
| Bell Canada Operating Revenues ($ millions) | 17,250 | 16,787 | 16,614 |
| Indicator: kWh / customer connections | 37.1 | 37.7 | 38.9 |
| Indicator: kWh / (000 $) | 59.8 | 59.8 | 59.9 |
*Bell Canada (excluding Aliant and including Telesat); 2003 and 2004 data were standardized to include the same subsidiaries as in 2005.
**The total number of Bell local, wireless, Internet, video and data subscribers.
Our consumption remained stable despite an increase in energy-intensive high-speed telecommunications equipment in our network, and an increase in the number of customer connections. The improvement in our performance can be attributed to the success of our numerous energy saving initiatives.
Automotive Fleet
The following table highlights Bell's energy consumption and performance indicators for our automotive fleet operations.
| 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of vehicles (yearly average) | 7,342 | 7,573 | 7,999 |
| Energy consumption (millions kWh) | 253,3 | 266,5 | 264,6 |
| Fuel consumption (1,000 litres) | 25,976 | 27,336 | 27,152 |
| Distance travelled (1,000 km) | 144,366 | 145,782 | 145,720 |
| Indicator: Litres / Vehicle | 3,538 | 3,610 | 3,394 |
| Indicator: Km / Vehicle | 19,663 | 19,250 | 18,236 |
| Indicator: Litres / 100 km | 18.0 | 18.8 | 18.6 |
*For Bell Canada (excluding Aliant)
In 2005, we improved the energy consumption of our fleet (litres /100 km) by 4.3%. The positive result can be attributed to a vehicle anti-idling campaign and to other successful initiatives such as the use of telematics with our TelePodT and AutoVisionT units as described below.
ENERGY SAVING INITIATIVES
In the last ten years, we have introduced measures to improve the energy efficiency of our telecommunications network, building equipment and systems. The measures include:
- installing motion sensors and more efficient lighting fixtures
- modifying operating times of fans and lights to reflect actual building occupation
- optimizing digital control sequences including humidification, temperature settings, and outdoor air supply
- re-commissioning digital control systems to ensure proper operation
- optimizing heating and cooling systems through the use of cooling towers and heat exchangers
- replacing air conditioning units with units incorporating free cooling
- replacing electric motors used in ventilation systems with high-efficiency models
- benchmarking building consumption to identify buildings with energy-savings potential
- increasing insulation thickness during roofing projects
- installing energy-efficient versions of standard T8 lighting tubes
- installing high pressure humidifier systems
The following sustainable energy solutions have brought further savings to Bell of 3.37 million kWh in 2005.
Wind and solar power
In 2005, we had six wind turbines and 12 solar panels installed at remote northern sites in Québec, Labrador and the Northwest Territories where energy was previously provided by diesel generators.
These hybrid systems resulted in a reduction of 9,000 litres of diesel in 2005 per site, which represents savings of approximately 90,960 kWh per site. In addition, significant amounts of energy were saved in fuel transport. The surplus power generated from the combined wind and solar systems was used to heat the on-site building where equipment is stored.
Hydrogen fuel cells
Fuel cells convert chemical energy from hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy to produce power. Hydrogen is clean-burning; the only by-products of hydrogen fuel cells are water and heat.
In 2005 Bell participated in a pilot project involving the use of hydrogen fuel cells as a new option to ensure power reliability for our telecommunications equipment. Early in 2006, we installed a hydrogen fuel cell powered back-up generator at a central office in Burlington, Ontario, that will replace the combination of lead-acid batteries and diesel generators that we currently use for our backup power.
flexSPACET
Launched in 2004, the flexSpaceT program allows employees to give up their dedicated offices for the flexibility of working from home or a shared workstation in a Flex Centre. As 25% of our energy consumption is related to building occupation, reducing our office space will have a significant impact on Bell's total energy needs and related costs. Reduced travel for employees will also mean fewer clogged highways and lower air emissions.
As targeted in 2005, seven work sites were converted into flexSpacesT centers, bringing annual reductions in energy consumption of approximately 502,000 kWh.
TelePodT
Bell has developed a telematics solution consisting of the TelePodT and AutoVisionT units that transmit real-time operating information on a vehicle using a satellite interface and a terrestrial wireless network. The Bell Fleet telematics solution allows our fleet managers to obtain remote maintenance diagnostics and other information on our fleet, such as vehicle positioning, idling time or excessive engine revolution. Once installed on all vehicles, the solution is expected to reduce fuel consumption and air emissions by approximately 10%, or 2,800 tons of CO2e.
3,750 vehicles and 333 mobile generators are now equipped with fully active TelePodT units to monitor location, movement, runtime and fuel levels. Since it was necessary to invest in fine-tuning the solution in 2005 for maximum benefit, no new units were installed last year.
Anti-idling Campaign
Developed by Bell Fleet Solutions in February 2005, this campaign helps employees take action to stop unnecessary engine idling to reduce energy consumption, air emissions and save money.
A number of materials were produced under the banner, "Idling gets you nowhere", to educate employees about the myths of vehicle idling and benefits to human health and the environment of avoiding it. Posters were distributed at all Bell buildings where there are fleet operations such as maintenance facilities. In addition, customers could call the Bell Fleet Customer Service Centre toll-free to receive an information card, brochure and windshield decal.
Repair our Air Fleet Challenge
24 fleet participants from telecommunications and power utilities as well as heavy truck users, each with 10 selected vehicles, competed in this eight week challenge during which weekly reports of vehicle idle times were compiled.
Bell Fleet Solutions provided the technology of the TelePodT 4-based solution to capture and measure the idle times from each of the participating vehicles. Frequent communications were sent to drivers with suggestions on how to reduce idle time.
The Repair our Air Challenge demonstrates how reducing vehicle idle time not only brings energy savings but also diminishes a substantial amount of greenhouse gases into our environment.
