Households and the Environment Survey (phase 1, phase 2 and phase 3)

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Start your survey

Have you been invited to participate in this survey via email or mail? To log in to the survey, complete the following steps.

Step 1: Visit the electronic questionnaire portal and select Start my survey.

Step 2: Enter your secure access code (you will find this code in the invitation letter or email you previously received from Statistics Canada).

Step 3: Complete the survey.

Are you missing your secure access code, or do you need help?

Phone:

1-877-949-9492
(TTY: 1-800-363-7629)
Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eastern time

If you use an operator-assisted relay service, you can call us during regular business hours. You do not need to authorize the operator to contact us.

Email:

 

This survey is conducted in three phases.

Phase 1 and phase 2

In order to fully understand the impacts that Canadian households have on our environment and natural resource use, we need information relating to the characteristics and energy use of your dwelling as well as other household practices related to the environment. The survey results will be valuable in the development of environmental policy and energy conservation initiatives in Canada.

The information you provide may be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes. In addition, information from partially completed or unsaved questionnaires may be retained and used.

Collection period:

Phase 1
From October 22, 2021 to January 23, 2022

Phase 2
From March 23 to May 29, 2022

Collection methods:

Phase 1
Self-administered electronic questionnaire and telephone interview

Phase 2
Paper questionnaire

Survey participation:

Voluntary

Your participation in the Household and the Environment Survey is voluntary. However, since every respondent in this survey represents many other people in your province and in Canada, it is important that each respondent participate in order to ensure that the collected information is as precise and accurate as possible.

  • Block Information Confidentiality

    Confidentiality

    Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.

  • Block Information on Data sharing agreements and record linkage

    Data sharing agreements and record linkage

    Data sharing agreements

    To avoid duplication of surveys, Statistics Canada has signed agreements with Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the British Columbia Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and National Research Council Canada to share the information collected during this survey. They have agreed to keep the information confidential and use it only for statistical purposes.

    The information you provide to us can only be shared with your consent.

    Record linkage

    To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada may combine the information you provide with data from other surveys or administrative sources.

  • Block Information on Topics covered in the survey

    Topics covered in the survey

    Phase 1

    This survey asks questions about

    • home heating and cooling
    • use of firewood
    • water quality concerns of households
    • consumption and conservation of water
    • consumption and conservation of energy
    • pesticide and fertilizer use on lawns and gardens
    • use of household lawn and garden equipment
    • use of gasoline-powered recreation equipment
    • composting and household hazardous waste disposal practices
    • household interactions with nature
    • purchasing decisions.

    Phase 2

    This survey asks questions about

    • dwelling characteristics
    • energy consumption
    • energy provider information
    • consent to contact the dwelling's energy provider.
  • Block Information on Brochure

    Brochure

    2021 Households and the Environment Survey

    An important survey

    The environment is important to Canadian households. Statistics Canada's Households and the Environment Survey measures the environmental practices, behaviours and awareness of Canadian households. It provides key indicators of how we are doing when it comes to the environment.

    Your response is important to us

    Your household has been selected for this survey. Because it is a sample survey, you and the members of your household could represent hundreds of other Canadians. As a result, your participation has an importance that extends far beyond your household.

    The survey covers these general themes:

    • Consumption and conservation of water
    • Consumption and conservation of energy
    • Home heating and cooling Indoor environment
    • Household hazardous waste
    • Gasoline-powered equipment use
    • Interactions with nature
    • Use of wood for heating at home
    • Purchasing decisions

    The 2019 Households and the Environment Survey found…

    • 25% made purchases to feed or shelter birds
    • 57% grew fruit, herbs, vegetables or flowers
    • 86% has at least one type of energy-saving light (excluding LED holiday lights)
    • 3% that had unwanted medications flushed them down the toilet
    • 63% that had heard of radon could correctly describe it
    • 42% that had dead or unwanted compact fluorescent lights put them in the garbage
    • 90% had a park or green space close to home
    • 62% composted kitchen waste
    • 21% drank primarily bottled water
    • 61% had an air conditioner

    Your confidentiality is protected

    Statistics Canada protects the confidentiality of the information you provide. We will not release any information that could identify you or your household without your consent.

    Every Statistics Canada employee is sworn to secrecy. Your information is kept strictly confidential and is used only for statistical purposes only.

    For more information

    Visit www.statcan.gc.ca/HES

    Call toll-free: 1-800-263-1136

    Email: statcan.environ-environ.statcan@statcan.gc.ca

    Results from the 2019 Households and the Environment Survey can be found on the Statistics Canada website in the publication Environment Fact Sheets (Catalogue no. 16-508-X) and in other publications.

    Note of appreciation

    Canada owes the success of its statistics system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada, the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued cooperation and goodwill.

    Printed on Rolland Enviro Print. This paper contains 100% post-consumer fiber, is manufactured using renewable energy - Biogas and processed chlorine free. It is FSC® and Ancient Forest FriendlyTM certified.

  • Block Information on Published data

    Published data

    Statistics Canada publishes the results of its surveys in many formats. To find all the documents related to this survey, follow the links below and type the name of the survey in the search engine located at the left of your screen to filter the results.

    Data: You will find tables, profiles of a community or region, thematic maps, public use microdata files, and data visualization tools.

    Analysis: You will have direct access to Stats in brief (e.g., releases from The Daily, fact sheets), articles and reports, and journals and periodicals.

  • For more information about this survey

Phase 3 - Energy Use Data Collection

The Households and the Environment Survey:  Energy Use phase III (HEUS phase III) is a follow up on the Households and the Environment survey. The objective of this administrative data gathering is to provide a precise account of how much energy is consumed by households in Canada. The target population is private dwellings in all provinces. (Households in Northern Canada are excluded).

During HEUS phase II respondents are asked about their energy providers for each energy sources used by their household in their dwelling (electricity, natural gas, propane, and/or heating oil). For each of these types of energy that the household uses, the form collected account information and consent to contact their energy providers in HEUS phase III.

Phase III consists in contacting the energy providers and sending them a list of their clients who consented to provide their energy consumption information to Statistics Canada. They are then asked to send back the appropriate data regarding the listed clients.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.  In addition, information from partially completed or unsaved questionnaires may be retained and used.

Collection period:
From August 2 to October 25, 2022 
Collection methods:
Other (informational e-mail including a link to and EFT vault for data transfer)
Survey participation:
Voluntary
  • Block Information Confidentiality

    Confidentiality

    Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

    By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

  • Block Information on Data sharing agreements and record linkage

    Data sharing agreements and record linkage

    Data sharing agreements

    To avoid duplication, Statistics Canada has entered into an agreement with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, the British Columbia Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and National Research Council Canada to share the information that you provided on this survey. This includes the information obtained during the electronic questionnaire and/or telephone interview, the information provided on this questionnaire, and if you gave Statistics Canada the authorization to do so, the information obtained directly from the energy supplier(s). Names, addresses, telephone numbers and account numbers will not be shared. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada. the British Columbia Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and National Research Council Canada have agreed to keep your information confidential and use it only for statistical purposes.

    Record linkage

    To enhance the data from this survey and reduce response burden, Statistics Canada may combine the information you provide with data from other surveys or administrative sources.

  • Block Information on Topics covered in the survey

    Topics covered in the survey

    The 2021 HEUS phase III is an administrative data collection process. The data collected is the energy consumption of participants to HEUS phase II who consented for their data to be shared with Statistics Canada. No other information is collected from the energy providers.

  • Block Information on Published data

    Published data

    Statistics Canada publishes the results of its surveys in many formats. To find all the documents related to this survey, follow the links below and type the name of the survey in the search engine located at the left of your screen to filter the results.

    Data: You will find tables, profiles of a community or region, thematic maps, public use microdata files, and data visualization tools.

    Analysis: You will have direct access to Stats in brief (e.g., releases from The Daily, fact sheets), articles and reports, and journals and periodicals.

  • For more information about this survey
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