Environmental Indicators

Management Approach We constantly look for ways to improve and grow our company while reducing our impact on the environment.
INDICATOR TOPIC RESPONSE
Materials    
EN1 Weight or volume of materials Most high volume materials are purchased by length, reel, pole, transformer, case, truckload or other measure with no consistent relationship to weight or volume. See EN3 for fuel quantities.
EN2 Materials used that are recycled content Very little of the material we use to provide electric and natural gas service comes from recycled sources. A portion of steel, aluminum, other metals and plastics may come from recycled sources but overall, the proportion relative to virgin material (e.g., fuel) is small.
Energy    
EN3 Direct fossil fuel consumption for electric generation in 2007 Coal = 46.8 million tons; Oil = 23.0 million gallons; Natural Gas = 33.7 million decatherms. See EN 29 for vehicular fuel consumption.
EN4 Indirect energy consumption We do not centrally track this data.
EN5 Energy saved due to conservation and energy efficiency efforts We have a goal to reduce energy usage at our largest commercial buildings 10% by 2012. In 2007, our customers saved an estimated 81.3 gigawatt-hours as a result of company programs in our five-state service area.
EN6 Providing energy efficiency products and services Energy efficiency programs vary by state.
EN7 Reducing indirect energy consumption Teleconferences, videoconferences, online meetings and other travel-reducing measures are widely used but savings are not quantified. Duke Energy also subsidizes bus passes to encourage use of mass transit in our main office cities.
Water    
EN8 Water withdrawal Approximately 4.3 trillion gallons withdrawn per year, with an estimate of more than 95% returned to the source.
EN9 Water sources & habitats affected by withdrawals Water for various aspects of electric generation is drawn from underground and surface sources. Large volume withdrawals are regulated by state or federal permit conditions that are designed to prevent adverse impacts on aquatic species and communities.
EN10 Water recycled or reused The volume is not recorded.
Biodiversity    
EN11 Land adjacent to protected areas We own or manage land adjacent to a number of sensitive biological areas. Specific permits and licenses regulate our operations in such areas.
EN12 Impacts on high biodiversity value areas Environmental analyses performed during planning stages of new facilities are used to identify potential areas of high biodiversity value. If such areas are found, permit conditions are designed to prevent or minimize impacts.
EN13 Habitats protected or restored We manage and protect various habitats surrounding our facilities and along our rights-of-way.
EN14 Programs to manage biodiversity Duke Energy is a strong partner with many wildlife and biodiversity management organizations.
EN15 Special species habitats At times, species of special concern to state and/or federal agencies are found on company land. We work closely with agency personnel to protect the species.
Emissions, Effluents, and Waste    
EN16 GHG emissions in 2007 CO2 equivalents = 111.6 million tons. See also our response to the Carbon Disclosure Project.
EN17 Other relevant indirect GHG emissions Not significant relative to direct emissions.
EN18 Initiatives to reduce GHG emissions, and reductions achieved See Global Climate Change
EN19 Ozone depleting emissions, by weight We do not centrally track this data.
EN20 NOx, SO2, & other significant air emissions by type and weight in 2007 NOx = 131,000 tons; SO2 = 684,000 tons; Chemicals released to air under the Toxics Release Inventory = 37,876 tons in 2006. See also Environmental Health and Safety Metrics.
EN21 Total water discharges Given our combinations of once-through cooling systems, recirculating systems and other water discharges, we do not record a total quantity.
EN22 Total weight of waste by type and disposal method in 2007 Coal combustion byproducts produced = 6.02 million tons. Of that, approximately 2.05 M tons was beneficially reused. Total weight of office and other waste is not recorded.
EN23 Total number and volume of significant spills 79 spills for a total of 28,864 gallons in 2007.
EN24 Transported haz waste None of our facilities are routinely classified by the EPA as Large Quantity Generators of hazardous waste. Most, even large power plants, are Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators, which means they produce less than 100 kilograms (approximately 220 pounds) of hazardous waste per month. Waste is shipped to licensed treatment or disposal facilities.
EN25 Water discharge impacts Discharges are to rivers and lakes by regulatory permits. Those permits and our operating practices are designed to protect the environment and aquatic species.
Products and Services    
EN26 Environmental impact mitigation We have a number of initiatives to help customers be more energy efficient and also protect sensitive habitats on our property.
EN27 Percentage of product that is recycled Electric and natural gas cannot be recycled in the usual sense. We have, however, recycled more than 115,000 tons of concrete, metals, wood and other materials from our operations in 2007.
Compliance    
EN28 Incidents and fines for environmental non-compliance Total of 12 citations resulting in fines of $15,500 in 2007.
Transport    
EN29 Transportation impacts for logistical purposes in 2007 Gasoline = 3.58 million gallons; Diesel = 2.38 million gallons; Biodiesel = 231,000 gallons; E 85 = 4,900 gallons.
Overall    
EN30 Environmental protection expenditures There is no centralized accounting for such a broad range of expenditures. We describe a number of our larger projects, from building cleaner power plants to investing in renewable energy sources, in our 2007/2008 Sustainability Report. All such projects will result in reduced environmental impacts.