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Improving Energy Performance in Canada – Report to Parliament Under the Energy Efficiency Act For the Fiscal Year 2005-2006

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Chapter 3: Housing

Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The residential sector includes four major types of dwellings: single detached, single attached, apartments and mobile homes. Energy is used in dwellings for space heating and cooling, heating water, and operating appliances, electronic equipment and lights. This sector accounts for 16.6 percent (1421 petajoules) of secondary energy use and 15.2 percent (77 megatonnes) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Most dwellings in Canada are single detached houses, followed by apartments, single attached dwellings and mobile homes (see Figure 3-1). Because single detached and attached houses predominate, most Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) residential building programs focus on these types of dwellings.

Space and water heating make up 81.6 percent of residential energy use, followed by the shares devoted to operating appliances, lighting and space cooling (see Figure 3-2).

Between 1990 and 2004, residential energy use increased by 10.2 percent, or 131 petajoules (from 1289 to 1421 petajoules). From 1990 to 2004, GHG emissions from the residential sector increased by 10.3 percent. GHG intensity changed little because fuel switching towards less GHG-intensive fuels offset an increase in the GHG intensity of electricity production over the period.

Four main factors tended to influence residential energy use – activity, weather, structure and energy efficiency:

  • activity – the increase in the number of households and the size of dwellings (the principal measures of residential activity) increased energy use by 25.7 percent (331 petajoules).
  • weather – the difference in temperature in 2004 compared to 1990 resulted in a 2.0 percent (26 petajoules) increase in energy use in 2004.
  • structure – the percentage shares of energy end-uses changed over the period such that they increased energy use by 3.6 percent (46 petajoules).
  • energy efficiency – improvements in energy efficiency decreased energy use by 21.0 percent (271 petajoules).

Canadian Households by Type of Dwelling, 2004.

Residential Energy Use by Purpose, 2004.

Growth in residential energy use was driven in large part by growth in activity. This increase was partially offset by significant improvements in energy efficiency. Structural changes had a minor impact on residential energy use.

The change in overall residential energy use from the years 1990 to 2004, as well as the estimated energy savings due to energy efficiency, is shown in Figure 3-3. Figures 3-4 and 3-5 show how energy consumption differs for houses built to different standards and in different periods, reflecting improvements in building construction. Figure 3-6 shows how average energy consumption of new appliances has improved by comparing 1990 and 2004 models.

NRCan delivers initiatives to increase energy efficiency in the following residential sub-sectors:

  • new houses
  • existing houses
  • residential equipment (refer to Chapter 2)

Residential Energy Use, Actual and Without Energy Efficiency Improvements, 1990 to 2004.


Annual Heating Consumption for Houses Constructed to Different Standards.


Average Energy Consumption per Household, Pre-1946 to 2001-2006 Construction.


Average Energy Consumption of New Appliances, 1990 and 2004 Models.

New Houses: R-2000 Standard and EnerGuide for (New) Houses

Objective: To increase market adoption of energy-efficient new houses by promoting changes in construction practices and by labelling houses for energy performance.

The R-2000 Standard is a voluntary technical performance standard that encourages Canadian builders to build, and Canadian consumers to purchase, houses that are more energy efficient and environmentally responsible than is required by current Canadian building codes. NRCan trains and licenses R-2000 homebuilders and other professionals in R-2000 Standard construction techniques and practices, and it provides third-party quality assurance by testing and certifying R-2000 homes.

EnerGuide for (New) Houses is an energy-performance rating and labelling scheme designed to encourage the industry to build, and consumers to purchase, more energy-efficient houses. The EnerGuide for Houses scheme is based on the R-2000 Standard and training, and it targets large-volume, mass-market builders.

Number of Eligible R-2000 Housing Starts, 1990 to 2005.

Key 2005-2006 Achievements

  • Sixty tract builders and 75 new professionals received training in revisions to EnerGuide for New Houses and R-2000 Standard. Over 3000 builders and industry professionals were trained. Over 172 000 publications about the R-2000 Standard, ENERGY STAR® and EnerGuide for New Houses were distributed.
  • ENERGY STAR technical specifications were finalized in cooperation with industry and other stakeholders. Methodology for multi-unit application of the R-2000 Standard was completed.
  • In 2005–2006, 480 homes were certified R-2000, and 8700 homes across Canada were built under provincial and territorial initiatives that use the R-2000 Standard and training – for example, Built Green Alberta, Novo climat in Quebec and the Yukon Green Home.

For more information:
oee.nrcan.gc.ca/r-2000/english

R-2000 is an official mark of Natural Resources Canada.

National Trends in Air Leakage in Houses, Pre-1945 to 2000-2006 Construction.

New Houses: Housing Energy Technology Program

Objective: To accelerate the development and market adoption of energy-efficient housing technologies.

Working in partnership with associations, government and industry, the CANMET Energy Technology Centre (CETC) manages this program to develop and deploy highly specialized solutions to help achieve cost-effective reductions in the energy consumption and GHG emissions of Canadian houses. Progress to date includes the identification, accelerated development and broader deployment of a number of promising technologies, such as advanced integrated mechanical systems (now trademarked eKOCOMFORTTM) and electronically commutated motors.)

In whole-house design, development and technical support of the R-2000 Standard has led to extensive technology development and deployment throughout the housing sector. Through its associated Building Energy Simulation Program, CETC's software tools are widely used to assess energy use in a home. CETC also develops more energy-efficient frames for windows and is a lead managing agency for the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology (CCHT), an advanced testing facility for assessing whole-house impacts of emerging technologies.

Key 2005–2006 Achievements

  • eKOCOMFORTTM integrated mechanical systems were adapted for use in the Drake Landing Solar Community to make use of the lower-temperature heat delivered from its innovative seasonal storage residential district system. The project is bringing together whole-house design expertise from the housing program, R-2000 construction practices, and technologies like its eKOCOMFORTTM systems.
  • Through accelerated research, development and commercialization with industry partners, a new zoned comfort system has been fast-tracked into the marketplace. This system delivers heating and cooling directly to spaces when and as required, and it is already attracting interest from builders and utilities.
  • Innovative lighting research on compact fluorescent lights was undertaken at the CCHT, demonstrating the energy-saving potential of this technology and its impacts on whole-house energy consumption.

For more information:
sbc.nrcan.gc.ca/housing/housing_e.asp

eKOCOMFORT is a Trademark of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources.

New Houses: Super ETM Program

Objective: To build capacity for exporting energy-efficient, durable and environmentally friendly Canadian housing technology to foreign markets.

The Super E House Program is a technology transfer initiative that has successfully increased the demand for Canadian energy-efficient housing technologies and building practices in international markets. Canadian companies have adapted their products and services to meeting increasingly higher environmental standards of energy efficiency demanded by foreign markets. The program adapts world-leading Canadian energy efficiency standards to foreign markets and identifies appropriate technologies for them to create unique market opportunities for Canadian housing technology companies. Launched in 1998, the Super E House Program has facilitated partnerships between Canadian builders and their foreign counterparts to increase market penetration of Canadian energy-efficient technologies internationally.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Canadian Forest Service and CETC financially support the Super E U.K. program. The Super E Japanese program is financially supported by CETC with in-kind support from CMHC. In both cases, there is strong support from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Industry members also contribute to the success of the program through in-kind and financial contributions (member fees).

CETC has facilitated and provided expert advice to Canadian housing exporters to redesign wall systems to incorporate high levels of insulation and airtightness for markets unfamiliar with energy-efficient wood frame construction; to redesign wall systems to reduce cooling loads in hot humid climates; to establish optimal specifications for high performance windows for both heating and cooling climates; and to develop strategies to incorporate innovative mechanical heat recovery ventilation systems into the design. In-house tools such as HOT2000TM have been used to optimize and position Super E packages as an attractive energy-efficient option for foreign markets.

The Super E House Program is attracting demand and generating real economic benefits for Canada – at least $35 million to date. There are 85 Canadian and international companies involved in the program and over 345 houses have been built or are under construction. Future orders are in the range of 1500 units over the next four years, amounting to well over $150 million in potential sales. Super E is active with projects in Japan, the United Kingdom, Ireland, China and Iceland. Interest has been expressed by French, Spanish, Korean and Taiwanese concerns.

Key 2005-2006 Achievements

  • Delivery of the first 100 units under a five-year contract for 1400 Super E units with Berekely homes in the U.K. This represents $100 million in revenue to the Canadian supplier.
  • Nine new Canadian members and 11 new foreign members joined the Super E consortium, which now has 39 Canadian members partnered with 46 overseas companies. In 2005, 138 houses were registered as completed or under construction, raising the total number of registered units from 207 at the end of 2004 to 345 at the end of 2005 – an increase of well over 50 percent. This included six high profile openings (three in the United Kingdom, one in Japan, one in China and one in Iceland).
  • Demand increased for Super E from other countries such as China, Korea, France, Iceland and Spain. The first Super E project in Iceland was completed, a demonstration Super E initiative was launched in Shanghai, China, and four Chinese developers joined the Super E consortium.

For more information:
www.super-e.com/html/canada/English/about-e.html

Super E is an official mark of Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources.

Existing Houses: EnerGuide for Houses and Retrofit Incentives

Objective: To encourage Canadians to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

EnerGuide for Houses (EGH) provided Canadian homeowners with personalized expert advice on how to best improve the energy performance of their houses, especially when undertaking renovation and maintenance projects. Under EGH, a retrofit incentive was officially launched in October 2003. Under this incentive, homeowners qualified for a non-taxable grant representing 10 to 20 percent of their retrofit expenditures. The grant was based on the differential improvement in the house's energy rating, as measured by a pre- and post-renovation EGH energy evaluation.

The EGH Retrofit Incentive program has been discontinued as of May 12, 2006. Property owners who had a pre-retrofit evaluation performed prior to this date can have a post-retrofit evaluation and still qualify for a grant until March 31, 2007.

Key 2005-2006 Achievements

  • One national promotional campaign was held, reaching 5.7 million Canadians, and many provincial campaigns took place through partnerships with local utilities.
  • Procedures for the application of EGH to multi-unit housing were completed.
  • Over 79 000 houses were evaluated and labelled and more than 31 800 homes completed their energy-related retrofits. Over 30 000 grants totalling $24 million were awarded, reducing energy consumption by an average of 28 percent in post-retrofit homes and GHGs by 4.1 tonnes per house per year. Achieved cumulative GHG reductions of 0.7 megatonnes per year as of March 31, 2006; the target for March 2007 is 0.8 megatonnes per year.

Evaluations Under EnerGuide for Houses, 1998 to 2005.


Residential Energy Use and Energy Savings per Household, Pre-1945 to 2000-2006.