Government Energy Efficiency Initiatives in Canada

The following excerpts from the National Report Card on Energy Efficiency: 3rd Annual Report Card on Government Activities, produced by the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance, provide a good overview of provincial government energy efficiency initiatives.

The objective of the Report Card is to identify government commitments to energy efficiency and to raise the awareness and importance of providing the necessary mechanisms that support energy efficiency in the marketplace.

The Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance is Canada's leading non-governmental energy efficiency advocate. The not-for-profit organization was established in 1995 to respond to the lack of a coordinated multi-stakeholder effort to promote energy efficiency in Canada, to enhance competitiveness and to protect the environment. It is supported by a range of energy corporations, private sector and not-for-profit organizations and is located in Toronto, Ontario. www.energyefficiency.org

Manitoba
Manitoba Conservation, formerly known as Manitoba Department of Energy and Mines, continued establishing minimum standards for houses. In January 2001, the Manitoba Climate Change Action Fund (four-year, $1 million) was established to support projects related to education and outreach, impacts and adaptation research, technology innovation and energy efficiency, and alternative forms of energy.

Saskatchewan
While most governments appeared to be approaching energy efficiency as an effective tool to address climate change, the Saskatchewan government continues to show little progress in this arena. Continued emphasis is placed on crown corporations to implement energy efficiency. SaskPower and SaskEnergy are implementing effective programs and are engaged in renewable energy.

British Columbia
British Columbia has shown considerable progress in energy efficiency activities since the Alliance released its first report card in 1999. Under the Climate Change umbrella, the province is budgeting $6.3 million in climate change activities focused on key areas such as transportation, energy and industry, communities and buildings, forests and agriculture. Its major focus is on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. With a strong commitment to regulating energy efficiency (the provincial Energy Efficiency Act has 31 regulations with the intention to include additional products next year) and increasing staff, policy and program capacity, the Alliance finds BC the most improved jurisdiction in Canada this year.

Alberta
The Alberta government has impressively and consistently met its own greenhouse gas targets. However, with approximately 30 percent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions, the Alberta government will need to help industry in order to effect significant energy efficiency changes. The development of an energy efficiency plan this year is a positive step. Increased attention on regulating energy products and program delivery will be required to encourage energy conservation and mechanisms that support cleaner power, as in wind generation, solar power and landfill gas recovery.
The Alliance was disappointed that the Alberta government chose to ignore energy efficiency in its electricity deregulation efforts and furthermore did not capitalize on the opportunity to fund energy efficiency as part of the significant energy rebates that were returned to customers.

Ontario
The Ministry of Energy, Science & Technology has focused most of its attention on ensuring that the province is prepared to open the market to electricity competition in May 2002. Priority has been placed on implementing an Environmental Disclosure Program, which is aimed at informing consumers on the nature of their electricity choices, providing reliable information and promoting demand for renewable energy and other alternative sources of power. Continued efforts to increase product and appliance regulations under the Ontario Energy Efficiency Act and the possible harmonization of an Objective-Based Ontario Building Code and National Building Code, provide Ontario with a solid foundation. Additionally, regulations supporting energy efficiency in the natural gas industry have been very effective. The uncertainty on how energy efficiency and renewable energy will be positioned and supported in the emerging deregulated marketplace is a serious concern for the Alliance.

Québec
With an office of approximately 30 staff, a diversified seven member Board of Directors, and an operating budget of between $4.5-7 million annually, the Agence de l'efficacité Énergétique du Québec (Agency) has proven to be a leader in energy efficiency. The Agency continues to see the importance of regulating products by expanding the categories under their 1992 Loi sur l'efficacité Énergétique d'appareils fonctionnant à l'Électricité et aux hydrocarbures from eight in 1992 to eighteen in 1999 with interest in increasing this number to twenty-six within the next year. New programs are being launched that support residential, commercial and institution sectors with tough targets and assigned budgets. Mandatory adoption of the Model National Energy Code for Buildings for municipalities ensures that all new buildings are meeting conservation standards.

Newfoundland and Labrador
Energy Performance Contracting remains the focus for energy efficiency operations within the Department of Works, Services & Transportation. With an estimated budget of $10 million, the government is retrofitting more than 600 of its owned or occupied buildings. Approximately 50 per cent of the major buildings have already undergone extensive retrofits. Efficiency in these buildings has improved approximately 20 per cent, with projected annual savings of $600,000 in energy bills.

Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island continues to run its $MART Energy Management Program which is designed to assist manufacturers and process through training, on-site energy analysis and by a comprehensive report from the government. This year, the PEI Department of Development and Technology, Energy and Minerals Section introduced the $MART Energy Management Interactive CD-Rom to assist businesses in performing energy analyses of their own facilities. Efforts are still focused on bringing a natural gas pipeline to the island and on the 5 MW Wind Farm at the Atlantic Wind Test Site. The Alliance will be looking forward to seeing PEI's Provincial Energy Plan next year.

Nova Scotia
Additional funding support (a 20 per cent increase) has been allocated to the Nova Scotia Energy Utilization section to support the actions identified in the provincial Climate Change Strategy and the Energy Strategy for Nova Scotia. In addition, Energy Utilization received a one-time allocation amounting to 40 per cent of the section budget for climate change related activities. Increases in program delivery and the establishment of a public education and outreach centre have resulted.
Regulations and requirements for new building standards keep Nova Scotia ahead of most jurisdictions. With its success, the government continues to raise the bar with respect to new public building energy performance targets. With its heavy reliance on coal-fired generation, the Alliance is encouraged to see interest in renewable energy and the possible adoption of green procurement policies.

New Brunswick
As a follow-up to last year, the New Brunswick government released its ten year Energy Policy in January 2001. Included in the policy are 22 energy efficiency action items, including implementation of regulatory initiatives such as performance codes and standards, promotion of proper price signals, determination of energy efficiency funding and financing mechanisms, and public education and outreach.
The Provincial Buildings Initiative (PBI), the R-2000 HOME Program, and Destination Conservation continue to be among the best in Canada and have resulted in significant reductions in electricity and oil use.

Northwest Territories
Major initiatives have been launched within the Northwest Territories during the past year that indicate a stronger interest and commitment to energy efficiency. Specifically, the Government of the Northwest Territories released its NWT Greenhouse Gas Strategy in March 2001 which is not only a Ôhouse in order' document, but also a strategy for action by all sectors in the Northwest Territories.
The ÔEnergy and Utilities Study', has received cabinet approval and an appropriate allocation of funds for six of the 13 energy efficiency initiatives.
Commitments have also been made to ensure a long-term strategy with the Arctic Energy Alliance, a group traditionally responsible for GNWT's energy management programs and public awareness programs.

Yukon
This year the Assistant Deputy Minister of Corporate Policy issued a special report to the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance on their progress on energy efficiency throughout 2000 and early 2001. The report details new and existing programs and identifies expenditures, energy savings and third party investments, that are part of the 56-point energy strategy released in 1999. New or expanded programs include, but are not limited to the Commercial Energy Management Program, House Calls Program, Domestic Hot Water Timer Pilot Project, internal energy efficiency projects and an implementation strategy for the $3-million Green Power Initiative.
The Mayo-Dawson City Transmis-sion Line Project will displace diesel electric generation at Dawson with surplus, renewable electricity. Once completed, the transmission line is expected to displace 40 per cent of all diesel electricity in the territory Ñ helping the Yukon Development Corporation (YDC) and Yukon Energy meet its commitment to meet all of the Yukon's electricity needs through renewable sources. This will require new projects to be planned and permitted in advance of expected demand.

Through its integrative and partnership approach to energy efficiency, the Yukon continues to lead by example. With close relationships with the Yukon Housing Corporation, YDC, Yukon Energy and the establishment of the Northern Climate Exchange (2000) and the Energy Solutions Centre (March 2001), the Yukon government has proved that fifty heads are better than one. It appears they are aiming to show the rest of the country that energy efficiency is a win-win situation through results (greenhouse gas reductions and savings) and through their public awareness delivery agents.

Nunavut
As Nunavut is a new territory and has only just begun to develop its government, no rating of its energy efficiency commitments or activities was done for this Report Card. The establishment of the Sustainable Development Department is encouraging and we will be grading their activities next year.

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