Better Energy Management Practices Yield Climate Change Results for Canadian Industry

OTTAWA – Canadian industry continues to contribute to the climate change solution, saving 25.2 megatonnes in greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency by 8.1 percent between 1990 and 2002. That is one of the findings in the 2002-2003 Annual Report of the Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) released today.

The report also shows that, through better energy management, CIPEC industries saved $3.4 billion in energy costs during 2002.

"Canadian industry, through CIPEC, continues to demonstrate that ingenuity combined with a commitment to energy efficiency yields results," said the Honourable R. John Efford, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. "The actions of its members help Canada meet its climate change goals and bolster the Canadian economy by improving competitiveness, creating new jobs and opening up business opportunities."

"CIPEC's role is to make energy efficiency more accessible for Canada's industrial companies, and these latest results illustrate the industry-government partnership's effectiveness at promoting better energy management practices," said Doug Speers, President and CEO of EMCO Limited and CIPEC Executive Board Chair. "These results are only the beginning. With the right signals and support from government, I am convinced we could double these savings over the next three years."

CIPEC – a voluntary partnership between the Government of Canada and industry to improve Canada's industrial efficiency – has been industry's first point of contact for ideas and innovation since 1975. Led by industry and administered through Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency, CIPEC is committed to promoting and encouraging energy-efficient practices. It offers an array of cost-cutting tools and services to all facets of Canadian industry – from mining and manufacturing to energy supply and construction. CIPEC's network includes 47 trade associations that represent more than 5,000 companies and approximately 98 percent of secondary industrial energy demand in Canada.

The Government of Canada's approach to climate change is focused on making the right choices for Canada. This will ensure that the actions taken contribute to the long-term goals of building a sustainable economy for the 21^st century, a healthier environment and strong communities, while affirming Canada's place in the world.

To view the CIPEC Annual Report 2002-2003, visit oee.nrcan.gc.ca/Publications/infosource/Pub/cipec/AnnualReport02-03/