Energy Efficiency Trends in Canada
A comprehensive summary of secondary energy use and related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada
The Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada has changed the base year from 1990 to 2000. This change was made to ensure that our data reflects developments in trends and structures of Canada's energy end use and efficiency across sectors. It also synchronizes reporting on Canada's energy use data with changes recently made by the International Energy Agency.
Energy intensity and efficiency trends from 2000 to 2018
Total economy key highlights
Over the 2000 to 2018 period,
- Energy efficiency improved 12.3% over the 2000 to 2018 period.
- Secondary energy use (final energy demand) in Canada increased 19.0% between 2000 and 2018. It would have increased 31.3% without energy efficiency improvements.
- Canadians saved 1,002.3 PJ in energy and $26.2 billion in costs and avoided 54.7 Mt of GHG emissions in 2018 as a result of energy efficiency improvements since 2000.
Residential sector key highlights
Over the 2000 to 2018 period,
- Energy efficiency in the residential sector improved 28% over the 2000 to 2018 period.
- Secondary energy use (final energy demand) in Canada increased 8.4% between 2000 and 2018. It would have increased 36.1% without energy efficiency improvements.
- Canadians saved 412 PJ in energy and $7.8 billion in costs - averaging $44 per household per month and avoided 16.7 Mt in GHG emissions in 2018 because of energy efficiency improvements since 2000.
Commercial/institutional sector key highlights
Over the 2000 to 2018 period,
- Energy efficiency in the commercial/institutional sector improved 15% over the 2000 to 2018 period.
- Secondary energy use (final energy demand) in Canada increased 19%Footnote 1 between 2000 and 2018. It would have increased 33% without energy efficiency improvements.
- The Canadian commercial/institutional sector saved 142.7 PJ in energy and $3.4 billion in costs and avoided 6.0 Mt in GHG emissions in 2018 as a result of energy efficiency improvements since 2000.
Industrial sector key highlights
Over the 2000 to 2018 period,
- Energy efficiency in the industrial sector (excluding the resource extraction industry) improved by 9.1% over the 2000 to 2018 period.
- Secondary energy use (final energy demand) in Canada decreased 13.7% between 2000 and 2018. It would have decreased only 4.6% without energy efficiency improvements.
- Canadian industries saved 241.1 PJ in energy and $2.7 billion in costs and avoided 10.0 Mt in GHG emissions in 2018 as a result of energy efficiency improvements since 2000.
Transportation sector key highlights
Over the 2000 to 2018 period,
- Energy efficiency in the transportation sector improved 23% over the 2000 to 2018 period.
- Secondary energy use (final energy demand) in Canada increased 26% between 2000 and 2018.
- Canadians saved 505.7 PJ in energy and $15.6 billion in costs in 2018 as a result of energy efficiency improvements since 2000.
- Energy efficiency improved 20% over the 2000 to 2018 period.
- Secondary energy use (final energy demand) in Canada increased 19% between 2000 and 2018. It would have increased 38% without energy efficiency improvements.
- Canadians saved saved 252.6 PJ in energy and $7.1 billion in costs and avoided 17.0 Mt in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2018 as a result of energy efficiency improvements since 2000.
- Energy efficiency improved 28% over the 2000 to 2018 period.
- Secondary energy use (final energy demand) in Canada increased 33% between 2000 and 2018. It would have increased 61% without energy efficiency improvements.
- Canadians saved saved 253.2 PJ in energy and $8.5 billion in costs and avoided 17.9 Mt in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2018 as a result of energy efficiency improvements since 2000.
Passenger transportation
Freight transportation