Energy Use Inside and Outside the Dwelling – 2007 Survey of Household Energy Use – Supplemental Report

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Introduction

Dwelling versus household

SHEU-2007 covers 12.9 million households across Canada. The data were collected for 2007. In addition to covering the subject matter of previous SHEUs, such as energy use and the factors affecting energy use inside the dwelling, SHEU-2007 was the first survey to gather information on household energy use outside the dwelling.

The difference between a household and a dwelling must be defined to comprehend the difference between household energy use inside and outside the dwelling.

Dwelling

A dwelling refers to a separate set of living quarters with a private entrance either from outside or from a common hall, lobby, vestibule or stairway inside the building. The entrance to the dwelling must be one that can be used without passing through the living quarters of someone else.

In SHEU-2007, dwellings are classified as

• single detached houses
• double/row houses¹
• apartments within an apartment building
• mobile homes

Household

A household is the person or group of people living within a dwelling. Therefore, the number of households in Canada is equal to the number of occupied dwellings.

Energy use inside versus outside the dwelling

Household energy use depends on the behaviour of the person or group of people living within a dwelling. However, a household’s energy use can occur either inside or outside the dwelling that the household occupies.

Inside the dwelling

For this report, household energy consumption inside the dwelling consists of energy consumed for

• residential heating
• air conditioning
• appliances
• home electronics
• hot water
• lighting

Outside the dwelling

For this report, household energy consumption outside the dwelling consists of energy consumed for

• transportation
• outdoor equipment

Survey documentation

See 2007 Survey of Household Energy Use – Detailed Statistical Report, Appendix A, for the survey methodology.

See Appendix A in this publication for a glossary of terms used in this report.

See 2007 Survey of Household Energy Use – Detailed Statistical Report, Appendix C, for the survey questionnaire about energy use inside the dwelling.

See Appendix B in this report for the survey questionnaire about energy use outside the dwelling.

¹ Duplexes are included in the double/row house category.

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