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

Outreach

In addition to delivering sector-specific programs, the Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) manages Outreach measures on all energy-using sectors of the economy.

The OEE's Outreach Program provides Canadians with information on reducing energy use and directs them to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) programs that can help them improve energy efficiency in their transportation and home energy choices. Outreach supplements program communications activities with publications, exhibits, joint projects and the OEE Web site.

The Public Education and Outreach shift from raising awareness to motivating action has raised the profile of OEE Outreach and led to increasing integration with the One-Tonne Challenge (OTC). Launched in March 2004, the OTC initiative is co-led by NRCan and Environment Canada. It is a call on all Canadians to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by one tonne, or about 20 percent.

Selected Progress Indicators

• Each year the OEE distributes more than 300 energy efficiency and alternative energy publications to individuals and program partners. More than 75 percent of these publications are available on-line.
  
  
• Interest in and demand for energy efficiency information has continued to increase - a 53 percent increase in the volume of publications distributed (5.6 million) and a 30 percent increase in visits to the Web site (2 million).
  
  
• The introduction of the OTC to the Canadian public and potential partners included an advertising campaign noted by over 50 percent of Canadians. As of March 31, 2005, activity levels were high, with over 1.7 million Web site visits and the distribution of 900 000 OTC guides.
  
  
• Twenty private-sector partners, representing retail, utilities and manufacturing sectors, are involved in outreach activities to support the One-Tonne Challenge initiative. More than 400 companies have registered on-line to access the One-Tonne Challenge Employee Awareness Toolkit and bring the OTC to their workplace.

Outreach Initiatives

Public information activities increase awareness of the environmental impact of energy use. They also encourage consumers to adopt energy-efficient practices and to switch to alternative forms of energy. Numerous publications are available on-line at oee.nrcan.gc.ca.

The OEE's work in youth and education seeks to create a greater awareness of climate change and the need for energy efficiency among young Canadians. The kindergarten to Grade 12 stream builds around the annual Energy and the Environment calendar, which is produced in cooperation with stakeholders and the education community. An educators' on-line resource site and an information kit for teachers at the elementary and secondary levels are also available. At the post-secondary level, the OEE's Outreach Program builds links using such tools as its Energy Ambassadors competition.

For more information, visit the following Web sites:
oee.nrcan.gc.ca/calendarclub
climatechange.gc.ca/onetonne/english/educators.asp
oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/awards/ambassadors/index.cfm

The One-Tonne Challenge is co-managed with Environment Canada, with input from and coordination with other departments, such as Transport Canada. Canadians are challenged to use less energy, reduce waste and conserve water and other resources. Reduced emissions will protect the climate and result in cleaner air and healthier communities for all Canadians.

For more information, visit the Web site at climatechange.gc.ca/onetonne.