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2007 Survey of Household Energy Use (SHEU-2007) – Detailed Statistical Report

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Section 11 – Energy consumption and intensity

Definition of energy consumption for the SHEU-2007

For SHEU-2007, energy consumption is the sum of household electricity, natural gas, heating oil, propane and wood consumption in terms of energy during 2007. For this survey, household energy consumption excludes energy consumed for transportation and gas-powered equipment requirements.

Household energy consumption data for SHEU-2007 are presented in gigajoules of energy.

What is a gigajoule?

A unit of energy

A gigajoule (GJ) is a common unit used to measure energy consumption.

Many types of energy consumption can be measured in gigajoules, including

  • electricity
  • natural gas
  • heating oil
  • propane
  • wood

All of these energy sources are consumed by Canadian households. Therefore, the gigajoule is a useful unit of measure for the sum of various types of energy consumed by households.

A gigajoule in plain terms

One gigajoule is approximately equivalent to the energy consumed by

  • using ten 60-watt light bulbs for eight hours a day for two months
  • the average Canadian personal vehicle in 5.5 days5
  • the average digital television used in Canadian households in a year6
  • the average Canadian household (excluding transportation and gas-powered equipment requirements) in approximately 3.5 days7

Gigajoules of energy consumed by households, by region/by type of dwelling

Table 11.1  Total energy consumption (includes electricity, natural gas, heating oil,
propane and wood use)

Table 11.2  Total energy intensity (includes electricity, natural gas, heating oil, propane
and wood use)

Table 11.3  Electricity consumption

Table 11.4  Electricity intensity

Table 11.5  Natural gas consumption

Table 11.6  Natural gas intensity

5 Calculations based on 2007 data from Natural Resources Canada, Energy Use Data Handbook – 1990 to 2007.
6 Natural Resources Canada, Office of Energy Efficiency, Residential End Use Model, 2007.
7 Calculations based on data from the 2007 Survey of Household Energy Use.

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