Natural Resources Canada
98/98 (a)
BACKGROUNDER
SECTORAL ACHIEVEMENTS IMPROVE ENERGY
EFFICIENCY IN CANADA
From 1990 to 1996, Canada's consumption of energy sold and used commercially
rose by 11%, but would have risen by 15% without energy efficiency improvements.
The difference translates into a $4 billion saving on energy costs for
Canadians.
The Kyoto Protocol and energy efficiency
The Kyoto Protocol represents a significant challenge for the Canadian
economy. NRCan's latest update on greenhouse gas emissions projections for 2010
indicates that by 2010, Canada will have to reduce greenhouse gas by about 25%
to meet the Kyoto target.
Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) uses five basic
policy tools to improve energy users' behaviour: regulation, fiscal incentives,
voluntary commitment, information and leadership.
Canada's achievement in improving energy efficiency since 1990 is the
combined result of success in the residential, commercial, industrial and
transportation sectors.
Residential sector
The 12% growth in residential energy use between 1990 and 1996 would have
been 19% without improvements in energy efficiency.
The OEE helps develop model national energy codes that specify minimum
thermal performance levels for new homes and helps provinces implement these
codes. The OEE is responsible for the R-2000 voluntary standard of energy
efficiency for new homes. This involves training builders to meet the standard,
certifying that homes comply with the standard, and encouraging buyers to
purchase more efficient houses.
NRCan's Reno$ense program encourages and assists homeowners to
improve the energy efficiency of their house when undertaking renovation or
maintenance. Energuide for Houses provides homeowners with the facts
they need to make informed decisions about energy efficiency, whether remodeling
or buying a home. It also provides a comparative rating of the energy
efficiency of the house. A new home that meets the Model National Energy Code
for Houses would cost about 30% less to heat than a conventional new house; an
R-2000 home costs about 60% less to heat.
NRCan also sets energy performance regulations for equipment under the Energy
Efficiency Act. Moreover, through various labeling initiatives, such as the
EnerGuide, the department encourages consumers to buy, and producers to
develop, more energy-efficient household appliances and equipment.
Regulations under the Energy Efficiency Act apply to more than 20
residential energy- using products. In the 1990s, the energy use of new
appliances has decreased by about 20% for clothes washers and dryers, and
between 30% and 40% for refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers.
Commercial sector
The 12% growth in commercial energy use between 1990 and 1996 would have
been 16% without improvements in energy efficiency.
As it does in the residential sector, OEE helps develop model national
energy codes that specify minimum thermal performance levels for new buildings
and assists provinces in implementing them. The Commercial Building Incentive
Program provides financial incentives to encourage developers and builders to
use energy-efficient technologies and practices in the design and construction
of new commercial and institutional buildings.
Through the Federal Buildings Initiative (FBI) and the Energy Innovators
Initiative, the OEE works closely with other federal government departments,
provincial governments, municipalities and the private sector to improve the
energy efficiency of their existing buildings and heating equipment.
On April 1, 1996, minimum performance requirements for incandescent
reflector lamps came into effect. NRCan estimates that these lighting
regulations will result in an annual net reduction in carbon dioxide emissions
of 5.3 megatonnes by the year 2000. This is equivalent to the annual carbon
dioxide emissions of more than one million cars.
Industrial sector
NRCan/OEE promotes energy efficiency by encouraging industry to adopt
voluntary energy efficiency targets and helps companies eliminate obstacles to
achieving these targets.
Under the auspices of the Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation,
Canada's manufacturing and mining industries have made significant gains in
energy intensity, resulting in stabilization of energy-related emissions of CO2.
The 1997 amendments to the motor efficiency regulations raised the
efficiency level for 1-200 horsepower motors by 5% to 10%. It is estimated that
the annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from this regulation will
exceed 2 megatonnes by the year 2010. Over half of the projected energy savings
are expected to come from the industrial sector.
Transportation sector
The growth in transportation-related energy use between 1990 and 1996 was
10% rather than 19% due to improvements in energy efficiency.
NRCan/OEE encourages motor vehicle manufacturers to produce cars that meet
voluntary average fuel consumption targets for new automobiles sold in Canada.
Through vehicle labelling, driver education and vehicle maintenance programs,
motorists are encouraged to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicles and to use
them more efficiently. NRCan provides government and private-sector fleet
managers with information, workshops, technical demonstrations and training
programs on energy-efficient practices for vehicles. For a detailed description
of these programs, please consult the documentation enclosed in this press kit.
For more information please contact:
Pierre D'Amour
Tel: (514) 393-1378
Fax: (514) 875-7505
pdamour@marcon.qc.ca
or
Emmanuelle Géhin
Tel: (514) 393-1378
Fax: (514) 875-7505
egehin@marcon.qc.ca
|
