Energy Efficiency Initiatives
There are a number of energy efficiency initiatives offered to help consumers, decision-makers and industry members, purchase, maintain and implement the most energy efficient technology, vehicles, and homes for your home or business. Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency offers a wide range of programs and services to improve energy conservation and energy efficiency at work, at home and on the road.
EnerGuide is a Natural Resources Canada initiative that helps you compare and purchase the most energy-efficient equipment and vehicles, and build an energy-efficient new home.
- Equipment: EnerGuide-qualified appliances have a label showing how much energy they consume in a year of normal service, while heating and cooling products (gas and oil furnaces and central air conditioners) are given an EnerGuide energy efficiency ratio in the manufacturer's product brochure.
- Vehicles: All new passenger vehicles, light-duty vans, pickup trucks, and special purpose vehicles are required to have an EnerGuide label displayed in the window. The label shows each car's city and highway fuel consumption ratings and an estimated annual fuel cost for that particular vehicle.
Existing Homes: Improving your home's energy efficiency is one of the best investments you can make, paying tax-free dividends immediately in the form of lower heating costs. Retrofitting a house is upgrading it so that it will keep the heat in. It also means including energy efficiency measures in all your renovation and repair activities. Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency can tell you everything you need to know, whether you’re doing the work yourself or hiring a contractor.
- New Homes: The EnerGuide for New Houses service provides independent expert advice on energy-efficient home construction to homebuilders and new home buyers.
- Industry: The OEE works hand in hand with industry to encourage the sector to invest in, develop and use methods and industrial processes that are more energy efficient.
- Buildings : Facilities that are energy efficient are good for the environment, keep workplaces healthy, boost productivity and save money. An energy-efficient design for a new building or an energy retrofit of an existing building can substantially reduce your building's operating costs.
- Energy Savings Calculators : Natural Resources Canada has developed online calculators that you can use to determine what energy savings you can achieve.
- ENERGY STAR®:The international ENERGY STAR symbol has been developed to help you identify the most energy efficient products on the market. Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency promotes the international ENERGY STAR symbol across Canada.
- R-2000 housing initiative: Natural Resources Canada, in partnership with Canada's residential construction industry, developed the R-2000 Initiative more than 20 years ago to improve the level of energy efficiency and environmental responsibility in the new housing sector. Building to the R-2000 Standard will achieve energy-efficiency of approximately 40% above building code requirements and result in your home using at least 30% less energy than conventional new houses.
- By bringing together leaders in government, industry and public interest organizations, the Clean Air Foundation implements strategic approaches that reduce emissions, improve air quality and protect the climate. The Foundation manages six public engagement programs:
The Foundation also manages Climate-Air Connections, the climate change and air quality public education and outreach hub for Ontario.
- TheRETScreen International Clean Energy Decision Support Centre helps planners, decision-makers and industry implement renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The Centre develops decision-making tools that reduce the cost of pre-feasibility studies, provides information to help people make better decisions, and offers training in analysis of the technical and financial viability of possible projects.
For more information, visit Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) or the OEE directory of Energy Efficiency and Alternative Energy Programs in Canada.
