Backgrounder
Natural Resources Canada: Energy efficiency programs and technologies
Energy is vitally important to all Canadians, and plays a significant role in the Canadian way of life, given our geography, climate, and resource-intensive economy. These circumstances and the demands of an increasingly competitive marketplace have motivated Canadians to become world leaders in energy efficiency. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) encourages and facilitates energy efficiency and the use of alternative energy sources in all sectors of the economy and in all regions of the country.
NRCan has more than 20 years of involvement in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. In 1997-98, the Department is investing $71 million in these fields to help address climate change. The majority of this amount – $44 million – is invested in energy efficiency programs (leadership, information, voluntary actions, regulation, and research and development). Another $14 million goes to renewable energy, $6 million to alternative transportation fuels and technologies, and $7 million on climate change-related research.
Efficiency and Alternative Energy Program and Technologies
In 1991, NRCan initiated a comprehensive Efficiency and Alternative Energy Program that encompasses more than 40 initiatives aimed at all end-use sectors – residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation.
Canada also has a world-class capability in energy technology and state-of-the-art energy research facilities. For example, in order to help develop integrated and more energy efficient pollution control technologies, NRCan has developed a comprehensive combustion and environmental emissions research facility at its laboratories in Ottawa.
Through industry support and participation, NRCan ensures that the environmental energy technologies that are being developed respond to the needs of the market. For example, Stackpole Ltd., working with NRCan, has developed an energy efficient process for manufacturing auto parts that uses 50 per cent less energy and has provided 20 per cent cost savings to the company. Stackpole has doubled the size of its plant and created 250 new jobs.
NRCan supports the development of standards and, under the Energy Efficiency Act, prescribes performance requirements for 22 energy-using products, including household appliances, residential heating and cooling equipment, domestic hot water heaters, lighting products, and electric motors.
NRCan's support of energy efficiency in the home doesn't end with appliances. Under NRCan's Advanced Houses Program, 10 state-of-the-art energy efficient and environmentally friendly houses have been built. This program has increased the energy efficiency standards established under the R-2000 Home Program, which is contributing to Canada's reputation as a world leader in energy efficient housing.
Like the R-2000 program for home builders, the C-2000 Program for commercial buildings also supports state-of-the-art building construction. The first building completed under this program uses 50 per cent less operating energy and 28 per cent less water than a conventional building.
For more information on energy efficiency at home and on the road, NRCan has an extensive consumers' information program that includes a web site (http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca) with links to hundreds of organizations and more than 300 energy efficiency related publications.
NRCan also has programs targeted to improve energy efficiency in public and private sector organizations. The Federal Buildings Initiative (FBI) and Energy Innovators Initiative (EII) provide organizations with a full package of products and services to help plan, finance, and implement comprehensive energy-efficiency improvements. The package includes how-to guides, technical fact sheets, a list of qualified energy service companies, and project financing options.
Through the FBI, NRCan is improving the energy efficiency of its own buildings and helping other federal departments and agencies make energy efficiency improvements in their facilities. Of the more than 300 private sector companies that have joined the EII, almost half have implemented cost-savings measures. For example, Sears Canada Inc. saved $1.7 million per year through retrofit activities undertaken between 1993 and 1995, and the savings continue.
Over the past six years, NRCan and the National Research Council, with cooperation from provincial and territorial energy ministries and electric utilities, developed Canada's first comprehensive energy efficiency codes, the Model National Energy Code for Buildings and Houses, to establish acceptable levels of energy efficiency.
For more than 20 years, NRCan has worked with industries such as manufacturing, mining, and forestry to improve their energy efficiency through voluntary programs. One such program is the Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC), which includes a broad range of industrial associations and groups. In 1995, the Climate Change Voluntary Challenge and Registry Program (VCR) was launched, and many CIPEC members joined this initiative. The VCR's members are encouraged to develop and implement plans to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Today, a total of more than 700 organizations are registered with the VCR, which was officially incorporated in 1997 as a not-for-profit corporation.
To help Canadian communities become more energy efficient, NRCan has established a Community Energy Systems Program. Through this program, the Cree Nation community of Ouje-Bougoumo has installed a district heating system that uses wood waste from area saw mills to meet over 80 per cent of its energy requirements. The system serves over 150 homes, and has won an award from the United Nations for Best Practices for sustainable communities.
NRCan is also delivering initiatives to increase the efficiency of motor vehicles and encourage the use of alternative transportation fuels. For example, the Fleetwise program was launched in October 1995 to encourage sound fleet management practices throughout the federal government fleet, and reduce the costs and environmental impact of vehicle operations. FleetSmart is a parallel program that encourages other Canadian fleet operators to reduce costs through energy-efficient practices and the use of alternative fuels.
The Auto$mart Program helps the motoring public understand how vehicle purchasing, driving, and maintenance habits affect the environment. It also offers information on energy efficiency and opportunities for alternative fuels. Through Auto$mart, NRCan produces and promotes the annual Fuel Consumption Guide, which provides the fuel consumption rating of new vehicles.
Canada is one of the few countries in the world gathering comprehensive national energy use data. Through its National Energy Use Database, NRCan has established processes for collecting detailed data on energy use and the characteristics of energy-using equipment and buildings in all sectors of the Canadian economy. The Department has established five Data and Analysis Centres across the country, each of which specializes in a specific sector of energy use.
These are just a few of the programs and technologies NRCan is pursuing to help Canada find solutions to the climate change challenge. By working together with all Canadians, NRCan believes that Canada can meet its climate change objectives as we enter the next century.
