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Federal Government drops on Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance Energy Efficiency ‘Report Card’

"We’re pleased that all jurisdictions received passing grades and remain optimistic that the Federal government is beginning to move in the right direction," said Ken Elsey, President of the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance. "With a majority of Canadians expecting a more aggressive approach toward energy efficiency technologies and solutions, I remain confident that Ottawa will recognize the value and necessity in supporting energy efficiency in time for the next report card."

The National Energy Efficiency Report Card is completed every two years and scores 14 Canadian jurisdictions on 9 parameters, including how the jurisdiction supported activities such as energy efficiency and public outreach, the existence of public/private partnerships to support energy efficiency and responsiveness to energy efficiency issues in key legislation, such as building codes and energy efficiency acts.  The report also examined whether the government led by example and how it regulated the energy market.

This year’s highlights include British Columbia, which went from a B+ in 2005 to an A+ in 2007, Ontario from a B+ to an A and the Northwest Territories from a C to a B+.

The evaluation for the report card is done within parameters that continue to evolve as energy market conditions in Canada fluctuate, said Elsey.

"Due to the unpredictability of energy prices and the difficulties associated with supply, many energy efficiency initiatives have spurred the adoption of new policy and regulations among the provinces and territories. Hopefully, governments will soon see the benefit in being more proactive and less reactive when dealing with energy issues."

Robert Colman, editor of Energy Management, was a member of the review committee for the report card. For more on the report, watch for a full feature in the September issue of Energy Management.