Columbia Gas of Virginia Customers Help Plant 22,900 Trees
4/22/2010 9:32:49 AM
Contact: Bob Innes
(804) 768-6410
(804) 512-1425 - cellular
rinnes@nisource.com
Columbia Gas of Virginia Customers Help Plant 22,900 Trees
Ceremonial Check of recycled material, wildflowers planted on Earth Day
Chester, VA - April 22, 2010 – A ceremonial check for $22,900 was presented by Columbia Gas of Virginia to the Virginia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and planted in a ceremony to mark the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. The symbolic check, made of 100% recycled materials and imbedded with wildflower seeds, was used to celebrate their partnership which will result in 22,900 trees being planted due to many of Columbia’s customers switching from paper to electronic billing.
The check planting culminated a campaign that Columbia and its parent company NiSource Inc. conducted in partnership with The Nature Conservancy to rebuild the Atlantic Forest through the Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees program and encourage customers to make a new year’s resolution to go green. Overall, the nine NiSource local utilities, have contributed to helping plant more than 190,000 trees as part of the paperless billing promotion.
“This partnership will not only result in the planting of thousands of trees in the Atlantic Forest, it will create additional significant impacts on the overall environment,” said Carl Levander, president, Columbia Gas of Virginia. ”Because our customers have embraced Direct e-Bill, moving away from paper billing, Columbia and NiSource will be able to, on an annual basis, reduce solid waste in landfills by 9,705 pounds, curb the release of greenhouse gases by 25,290 pounds, and save 82,250 gallons of water.”
Levander added that this is another example of Columbia’s commitment to building a cleaner, more efficient and affordable energy future. Recently, Columbia launched WarmWise, a program to reduce residential and commercial natural gas use by providing cash rebates to install high-efficiency appliances.
“Columbia Gas of Virginia and NiSource’s commitment to build a sustainable company through environmental programs like these, as well as non-environmental programs, is commendable,” said Michael Lipford, executive director, Virginia Chapter for The Nature Conservancy. “The dedication of the company’s utility customers will have a profound effect on the Conservancy’s efforts to rebuild the Atlantic Forest.”
According to the Conservancy, the Plant a Billion Trees reforestation effort would remove approximately 10 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year, equivalent to taking two million cars off the road.
For every customer who enrolled in the company’s Direct e-Bill paperless billing service between January 1 and April 1, 2010, NiSource and Columbia contributed $10 to The Nature Conservancy to help rebuild the Atlantic Forest through their Plant a Billion Trees program.
Columbia’s free electronic billing service is a convenient way customers can manage their account and help the environment at the same time. Instead of getting a paper bill in the mail, customers receive an e-mail notification that their Columbia Gas of Virginia bill is available to view on the company’s Web site the same day it’s rendered. The e-mail provides a link to the Web site, where customers can also pay their bill at no charge and perform other business on their account, such as signing up for the Budget Payment Plan. The e-mail notification also includes a link to electronic versions of bill inserts and other important account information.
Earth Day is also a good reminder that as you plan to plant trees, improve the landscaping around your home or install a deck, Virginia law requires every person to always call Miss Utility at 811 to have all underground utilities marked. This no cost service helps you know the location of all underground utilities and adjust your digging away from these important facilities.
For more information about Columbia Gas of Virginia’s Direct e-Bill paperless billing service and other online self-service options, visit www.columbiagasva.com or call 1.800.543.8911. Go to www.nature.org to learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s campaign to Plant a Billion Trees or contact Monica Dean at 434.987.0980.