Natural Resources Canada
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BACKGROUNDER
CRUCIAL STEPS TOWARD MEETING GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSION REDUCTION TARGETS
By building a foundation for action against climate change, four new
programs introduced by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) will help Canada take
its first steps toward meeting the climate change commitments made in Kyoto.
NRCan has more than 20 years of involvement in energy efficiency and
renewable energy programs, and is investing $71 million in these fields in
1997-98 to help address climate change.
In the 1997 federal budget, the Government committed to set aside an
additional $60 million over the next three years to increase energy efficiency
in buildings and the use of renewable energy. The money will fund four new
programs that are scheduled to start on April 1, 1998. By the year 2010, it is
estimated that the effects of the new measures could reduce carbon dioxide
emissions by more than one million tonnes per year. They will also help
Canadians save nearly $200 million per year on their energy bill
Federal funding of $10 million per year has been allocated to provide
financial incentives through the Commercial Buildings Incentive Program. This
program will encourage building owners to incorporate energy-efficient
technologies and practices in designs for new commercial and institutional
buildings.
To qualify, a building design must demonstrate that the new building will be
at least 25 percent more efficient than a reference building that complies with
the Model National Energy Code for Buildings. Up to $80,000 in
contributions from the Program will be used to reimburse applicants for building
design costs. The reimbursements will be an amount equal to twice the savings
in annual energy costs relative to the reference building.
Energy Innovators Plus
Starting April 1, 1998, $3 million per year will expand the Energy
Innovators Initiative to allow more organizations to take action to reduce their
energy operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The main program elements
of Energy Innovators Plus are:
- increased partnerships with sector associations to set the pace for
increased energy efficiency adoption among their members;
- funding for pilot retrofit projects to illustrate the benefits of
investing in energy efficiency; and
- the development of sectoral energy efficiency benchmarks and best practices
programs for targeted sectors. Benchmarks under the Energy Innovators Plus
will be developed with tools from the Model National Energy Code for
Buildings and NRCan's C-2000 Program.
EnerGuide for Houses
Funding of $3 million per year has been allocated to the EnerGuide for
Houses program, which will encourage Canadians to improve the energy performance
of their houses. Expanding on the well-known EnerGuide Labelling Program for
home appliances and equipment, EnerGuide for Houses will provide homeowners with
the facts they need to make informed decisions about energy efficiency, whether
they are making improvements to their home or buying a new home.
Licensed professional energy evaluators will produce a detailed report on
energy consumption, calculate an energy efficiency rating, and list recommended
energy efficiency upgrades and their estimated costs. After energy improvements
have been made, a final EnerGuide for Houses rating will offer visible,
impartial evidence of the homeowner's investment. Home buyers can use the
rating to compare the energy performance and energy efficiency upgrade potential
of similar houses. This effort is expected to stimulate growth in the home
renovation industry and increase the demand for energy-efficient products and
services.
Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative
The Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative (REDI) will substantially
increase NRCan's renewable energy market development initiatives. Renewable
energy refers to energy sources that can produce usable energy without
necessarily depleting resources. REDI will focus on promoting renewable energy
systems for space and water heating and cooling, such as:
- active solar hot water systems
- active solar air heating systems
- high efficiency biomass combustion systems
- ground-source heat pumps
REDI will provide $12 million over three years to stimulate the demand for
these systems. The program will help increase the base of architects, building
engineers, energy service companies and building managers knowledgeable about,
and comfortable with, these systems. This will assist suppliers of these
systems to continue competing for a growing share of the energy market once the
program has ended.
To encourage the private sector to gain experience with active solar and
large biomass systems, businesses and corporations will be eligible for a
contribution of 25 percent of the purchase and installation cost of a qualifying
system, up to a maximum of $50,000. NRCan will be releasing the specific
eligibility criteria for types of systems, facilities and businesses shortly.
The Department will provide a similar incentive to federal departments that
purchase and install qualifying renewable energy systems in their facilities.
Funding for this component of the program will be limited to a maximum of
$400,000 a year.
For more information, please contact:
Sunni Locatelli-Pollex
(613)
992-4447
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