TORONTO, ONTARIO--(CCNMatthews - Sept. 14, 2005) -
Restaurants can start saving with a $450 rebate on installation of new natural gas tankless water heaters
Restaurants can save space and money by installing tankless hot water heaters that provide an efficient, reliable source of hot water when needed. Enbridge Gas Distribution (TSX:ENB) (NYSE:ENB), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and five participating manufacturers will provide restaurants in Enbridge's franchise area with a combined rebate of $450 for each natural gas tankless water heater installed by January 31, 2006.
Tankless hot water systems only use energy to heat water when there is a demand for it, providing instantaneous hot water. Conventional tank systems use energy to keep the water in the storage tank hot so that it is available when needed. Heating water on demand, rather than storing hot water, reduces the amount of energy used, resulting in ongoing financial savings and environmental benefits.
Enbridge Gas Distribution's customers are eligible for the $450 rebate on each qualified natural gas tankless water heater manufactured by Bosch, Rinnai, Noritz, Takagi or Waiwela that is installed to replace existing natural gas or electric water heating systems in restaurants between July 15, 2005 and January 31, 2006. The rebate offer is available only through contractors who have attended product training from Enbridge and manufacturers participating in the program. The rebates will be credited to eligible customers' natural gas accounts.
"With this rebate program, restaurants have a great opportunity to trim their water heating costs and, at the same time, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change," said the Honourable R. John Efford, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. "These savings go right to the bottom line - for both businesses and the environment."
"The new tankless water heaters are a terrific solution for small businesses like restaurants, where space is at a premium, hot water is in high demand and profit margins can be tight," said Lino Luison, Vice President, Enbridge Gas Distribution. "In addition to the environmental benefits, reducing annual operating costs can help restaurant owners improve their overall profit. And, supporting the continued use of natural gas by successful restaurants is good for our business."
Compact tankless hot water systems, measuring about 2-feet (61 centimetres) high and 1.5-feet wide (46 centimetres), are generally smaller than conventional water tanks and can usually be hung on a wall, saving valuable floor space. A natural gas tankless hot water system can reduce energy use for hot water by approximately 40 per cent when compared to a conventional natural gas hot water heater.(1)
Customers interested in finding out more about installing a natural gas tankless water heater or obtaining details about the rebate can visit the Enbridge Gas Distribution website at www.enbridge.com/tankless or the manufacturers directly at:
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Manufacturer Contact Information
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Takagi Steve Bagshaw
(877) 877-4953
www.takagi.com
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Rinnai Glorie Gale
ggale@redmondwilliams.com
(905) 602-4588
www.redmondwilliams.com
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Noritz Brian Morgan
(905) 477-9332
www.noritzamerica.com or
MITS Airconditioning Inc.
(905) 564-2221
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Bosch Robert Jenkinson
bob.jan.jenk@sympatico.ca
(416) 722-4399
www.protankless.com
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Waiwela Yuri Fedoulov
sales@waiwela.ca
1-888-443-3847
www.waiwela.ca
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Additional tankless natural gas hot water heater manufacturers interested in participating in the program can contact Erika Lontoc, Program Manager, Enbridge Gas Distribution at (416) 495-5356.
Since 1995, Enbridge Gas Distribution's energy efficiency programs have saved more than 1.8 billion cubic metres of natural gas - enough to supply more than 620,000 homes with space and water heating for a year. This has kept 3.4 million tones of carbon dioxide out of the air - equal to taking 750,000 cars off the road for one year.
Enbridge Gas Distribution has a more than 155-year history and is Canada's largest natural gas distribution company. It delivers safe, reliable natural gas to about 1.7 million customers in many Ontario communities. Enbridge Gas Distribution is a leader in promoting energy efficiency programs. Enbridge Gas Distribution is owned by Enbridge Inc., a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution. For more information about Enbridge Gas Distribution, visit www.enbridge.com/gas.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) puts innovative science and technology to work so Canada's natural resources sector can continue to contribute to our quality of life, now and in the future. Visit www.nrcan.gc.ca to learn more.
(1) The 40 per cent improvement efficiency was determined by comparing the traditional natural gas water heater, with storage tank efficiency of 0.58 and the efficiency of an instantaneous unit of 0.82. The improvement in efficiency is (0.82 - 0.58) ÷ 0.58 = .41 or approximately 40 per cent. Verified by NRCan.
For more information please contact:
Enbridge Gas Distribution
Lisa McCarney-Warus
Manager, Media and External Relations
(416) 495-5662
Email: lisa.mccarney@enbridge.com
Website: www.enbridge.com/gas
or
Natural Resources Canada
Ghyslain Charron
Media Relations
Ottawa
(613) 992-4447
or
Natural Resources Canada
Tom Ormsby
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
(613) 996-2007
Website: www.nrcan.gc.ca
