Energy Efficiency Act

Act: Energy Efficiency Act, S.C. 1992, c.36
Regulation: Energy Efficiency Regulations, SOR/94-651, as amended

To Whom Does This Apply?

To dealers who import into Canada or ship from one province or territory to another energy-using products. The Act defines a dealer as a manufacturer of energy-using products in Canada, an importer or a person who sells or leases products obtained directly or indirectly from the manufacturer or importer.

Summary

The Energy Efficiency Act and the Energy Efficiency Regulations set minimum energy-efficiency standards for specified energy-using products and provide descriptions of the responsibilities of dealers in these products. The Act also sets out labelling standards for energy-using products, as well as the collection of statistics and information on energy use and alternative energy.

What is an Energy-Using Product?
The Regulations name the following energy-using products: automatic ice-makers; clothes dryers; clothes washers; dehumidifiers; dishwashers; electric motors from 1 to 200 horsepower; electric ranges; electric water heaters; fluorescent lamp ballasts; general service fluorescent lamps; general service incandescent reflector lamps; freezers; gas boilers; gas furnaces; vented gas fireplaces; gas ranges; gas water heaters; ground- or water-source heat pumps; integrated over/under washer-dryers; internal water-loop heat pumps; large air conditioners, heat pumps and condensing units; oil-fired boilers; oil-fired furnaces; oil-fired water heaters; packaged terminal air conditioners and heat pumps; refrigerators and combination refrigerator-freezers; room air conditioners; single-package central air conditioners and heat pumps and split-system central air conditioners and heat pumps; split-system central air conditioners and heat pumps and dry-type transformers. Additional products are added on a regular basis. The Regulations apply to an energy-using product, even when it is a component of a larger product. You may visit the Web site at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca

EnerGuide Labelling (see the document )
For household appliances (clothes dryers, clothes washers, dishwashers, electric ranges, freezers, integrated over/under washer-dryers, refrigerators, combination refrigerator-freezers) and room air conditioners, the Act and Regulations also require dealers to attach an EnerGuide label to their product. The label must remain on the product until it is sold to the consumer at the retail level or leased.

Energy Efficiency Verification Marks
Since February 1995, all energy-using products must carry an energy efficiency verification mark. These are not the same as safety certification marks.

The energy efficiency verification mark indicates that the energy performance of the product has been verified. This mark must be the mark of either a certification organization or a province. It must be put on the exterior of the product.

Energy Efficiency Report
Section 5 of the Energy Efficiency Act requires that an energy efficiency report be sent to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) before an energy-using product is imported into Canada or shipped between provinces and territories. Although this report only has to be made when the product is not already listed in the NRCan database, it does need to be updated to reflect any changes in mandatory information. For example, a resubmission could be triggered by a change in the energy efficiency certification organization, in the test standard or in a component that affects energy efficiency.

Importing
Since February 1995, a dealer who imports an energy-using product into Canada, or ships an energy-using product from one Canadian province to another, must be sure that the product meets energy efficiency standards. The dealer must also, at the time of release, include on the customs release document specific information regarding the product, as well as the purpose of importation.  Dealers who import energy-using products or ship them between provinces must also ensure the product is listed in the NRCan database.

Exemptions from the Regulations
In limited circumstances, a dealer may be exempt from the requirements but only if the following conditions apply:

• if the energy-using product being shipped or imported will be modified to meet the standards;
• if the energy-using product is being shipped or imported so that it my be incorporated into a product and then shipped from Canada;
• if the energy-using product is being imported or shipped only to be directly exported out of Canada.

• Office of Energy Efficiency

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Quebec Contact(s):
See National Contact.

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National Contact(s):
Mr. John Cockburn
Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE)
Natural Resources Canada
Building No. 1, 2nd floor
1 Observatory Crescent
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0E4
Telephone: (613) 996-4359
Toll-free (information): 1-800-387-2000 (OEE Publications) 1-877-633-0733 (OEE Information)
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-996-4397
E-mail: jcockbur@NRCan.gc.ca