Natural Resources Canada
98/03 (a)

BACKGROUNDER

ENERGUIDE LABEL FOR VEHICLES

Since 1978, Canadians have relied on the EnerGuide label as a credible source of information on the energy consumption of major electrical appliances.

Today, EnerGuide is more than just a label for appliances. Room air-conditioners have carried EnerGuide labels since 1995, and EnerGuide ratings can now be found in the manufacturers' brochures for central air-conditioners, gas furnaces and heat pumps. Labelling has become a way to help consumers make energy-wise purchases.

Building on the strengths of the EnerGuide program and consumers' recognition of the EnerGuide brand name, NRCan is adding more energy-using products and services to the EnerGuide family of labels.

Through the partnership between the Government of Canada and the motor vehicle industry, an EnerGuide label for vehicles has been developed. Beginning in early 1998, the voluntary EnerGuide label for vehicles is being introduced for new cars, vans and light-duty trucks. The EnerGuide label for vehicles identifies city and highway fuel consumption ratings, and the estimated annual fuel cost of the vehicle. The source of the information on the label will be the Fuel Consumption Guide, which is published annually by Natural Resources Canada in cooperation with the vehicle industry and based on data provided by Transport Canada.

Information on this new EnerGuide label and in the Fuel Consumption Guide is based on standardized test procedures and calculations. Consumers can then be confident that they can make a fair comparison from one product to another and make an informed decision. For example, calculations to determine estimated fuel costs are based on an average distance travelled of 20 000 kilometres (55 percent city and 45 percent highway), using an average national price for regular and premium gasoline and diesel fuel. For 1998, a price of 58 cents per litre for regular unleaded gasoline, 67 cents per litre for premium unleaded gasoline and 55 cents per litre for diesel fuel was used in the calculation of the annual fuel cost.

EnerGuide will expand to housing in April 1998 when the EnerGuide Rating for Houses is officially launched. This new NRCan initiative, which is designed to help Canadians make informed, energy-wise home purchase and renovation decisions, will help reduce the environmental impact of Canadian low-rise housing and encourage improved energy efficiency.

Over time, EnerGuide will expand to include other energy-using equipment and continue to help consumers make wise energy-related purchasing decisions.

For more information:
Colleen Paton
Transportation Energy Use Division
Natural Resources Canada
(613) 996-0765