When you are providing fuel for farmers and rural communities, you want to be sure that it’s available at all hours of the day to support the schedules of hardworking Albertans. With that in mind, you want to be sure your fuel stations are well-lit, safe, and energy efficient. That’s the challenge UFA took on with its UFA Petroleum lighting upgrades.
For the past 113 years, UFA has supported the economic and social wellbeing of Alberta’s farming community. On top of farm and ranch supply stores, fertilizer plants, bulk deliveries of petroleum products and an agricultural depot, the organization offers over 110 petroleum agencies and cardlocks, allowing farmers to fuel up whenever they need.
UFA Petroleum benefited recently from funding through ERA’s Energy Savings for Business (ESB) program. The ESB application process is one that the UFA team now knows well. In August 2022, they submitted 24 post-project applications for LED lighting upgrades. That brings the total to over 44 applications to ESB, totalling almost $90,000 in incentive requests.
“We first heard about the ESB program through one of our contractors,” says Joel Kosa, Project Engineer for UFA. “It was helpful to be able to apply for projects for funding to support the budget for the work and make these important changes to our infrastructure.”
UFA used the project estimates, signed purchase orders, product specification sheets, and other documentation as part of the application process. The funding received is applied to the upgrades and indirectly helps fund future sustainability advancements.
“We are expanding our network and adding more locations to serve Western Canada, as well as upgrading and retrofitting our current locations with greener, sustainable technologies,” says Kosa. “The use of these technologies ensures that UFA meets its customers’ everchanging outlook on sustainability, as well as its own internal outlook on sustainability.”
Since 1909, UFA has grown from a small-scale local co-operative into one of Canada’s largest and most dynamic fuel suppliers serving over 120,000 members-owners. UFA has continuously adapted to changing times and technology by expanding product and service offerings, and its geographical footprint, to better serve farmers, ranchers, consumers, and commercial customers. In 2021, UFA introduced Sustainability as a new focus area, including reducing environmental impacts through emissions reduction programs.
“At UFA, we have been serving our members and customers for over 100 years,” said UFA’s President and CEO, Scott Bolton. “We demonstrate sustainable leadership by integrating social, environmental, and economic practices into every decision we make so we can be sure we are here for another 100.”
The Government of Alberta committed up to $30 million for the Energy Savings for Business suite of funding through the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction fund. Up to $25 million in additional funds was made available from the Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund.