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The World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF-Canada) is calling on the new Minister of Natural Resources, The Hon. Gary Lunn, to use the national Energy Efficiency Act to upgrade and expand minimum energy performance standards for both domestic and commercial equipment, including appliances, that draws close to a quarter of the country's energy.
WWF-Canada's research shows that energy-efficient models of appliances, consumer electronics, lighting, electric motors, heating/cooling systems and other appliances and equipment are available but do not dominate market share.
According to the organization, driving innovation and market uptake by making EnergyStar(R) and other current markers of 'premium' energy efficiency the baseline would:
Cut at least 25 megatonnes per year of greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal-fired electricity and natural gas; almost 10 percent of Canada's Kyoto target.
Reduce energy bills, helping to counter rising fossil fuel and electricity prices. The average Canadian household could cut energy use from appliances by close to 40 percent using EnergyStar(R) models shaving $170 off their annual energy bill, according to the Canadian Appliance Manufacturers Association.
Decrease demand for energy supply, eliminating the need to build expensive and ecologically questionable power plants, pipelines and transmission lines.
"New technologies with better energy performance are percolating into the market but, in the face of dangerous climate change, government regulation is the fastest and cheapest way to make big gains in energy conservation," said Julia Langer, WWF-Canada's director of Global Threats.
Under the United Nations Kyoto Protocol, Canada is committed to reducing greenhouse gases to 6 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, yet emissions have actually risen by 24 percent.
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