The State of Energy Efficiency in Canada, Office of Energy Efficiency Report 2006

Government Operations

The Government of Canada is committed to "getting its own house in order" by setting a target of 31 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its own operations by 2010.

Since 1990, through building retrofits, better fleet management, strategic "green power" purchases and the downsizing of operations, the Government of Canada has already achieved a 26 percent emissions reduction (see Figure 21).

GHG Emissions Reductions From Federal Operations, 1990 to 2010.

The Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) plays an important role in helping to achieve this reduction by providing programs targeted to improving the efficiency of energy use in government operations. The OEE's goal is to assist Government of Canada organizations in implementing energy efficiency improvements, leading to reductions in energy use, GHG emissions and operating costs. It offers two initiatives in this area - one for federal buildings and one for federal vehicles.

The OEE also contributed to the development and implementation of the Federal House in Order (FHIO) initiative. This initiative formally centralizes the Government of Canada's efforts to monitor, track and reduce its own GHG emissions.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.fhio.gc.ca [This link opens a new window].

The Federal Buildings Initiative (FBI) is a voluntary initiative that helps Government of Canada departments and agencies improve the energy efficiency of their facilities. It provides them with a model framework for updating their facilities with energy-saving technologies and practices. FBI energy management service contracts with private-sector energy management firms have financed $250 million in energy efficiency improvements, resulting in $35 million in annual energy savings and about 250 kilotonnes of GHG emissions reductions. The energy intensity improvement has averaged more than 20 percent per project undertaken.

For more information, visit the Web site at oee.nrcan.gc.ca/fbi.

The Federal Vehicles Initiative (FVI) assists Government of Canada departments and agencies in reducing operating costs by increasing the energy efficiency of their motor vehicle fleets and making greater use of alternative transportation fuels. This initiative provides federal fleet managers with information and tools to improve the operational efficiency of their fleets and increase their use of alternative fuels. In 2004-2005, the Government of Canada acquired 125 "leadership vehicles," of which 64 were alternative fuel vehicles, in compliance with the Alternative Fuels Act, and 61 were hybrid vehicles (see Figure 22).

Purchases of Alternative Fuel Vehicles (Including Hybrids) for the Federal Fleet, 1997-1998 to 2004-2005.

For more information, visit the Web site at oee.nrcan.gc.ca/communities-government/transportation.cfm.

Government Operations Initiatives

Federal Buildings Initiative - The FBI provides project facilitation, planning advice and contracting help to secure energy management services for projects in federal facilities.

Federal Vehicles Initiative - The FVI promotes life-cycle costing, best-in-class vehicle identification and greater use of alternative fuels. It also supports increased penetration of ethanol-blended fuels in the federal fleet.

Federal House in Order - The OEE, together with Environment Canada and Public Works and Government Services Canada, plays an important role in helping departments meet the Government of Canada's GHG emissions reduction target.

• Eleven key departments are responsible for 95 percent of Government of Canada GHG emissions. They have been assigned specific targets and must report annually on their progress. The task of target sharing entails assigning specific targets to these departments based on the emissions reduction opportunities identified within each organization.
  
  
• The FHIO's Leadership Challenge component, led by Environment Canada, encourages all Government of Canada departments and agencies to participate in emissions reduction efforts by engaging the active participation of the departments, agencies and Crown corporations that were not designated with a target.