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Energy consumption on the rise
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Although we had smaller families in the 1990s, Canadians acquired a taste for bigger houses. We bought bigger refrigerators, more televisions, more computers and more appliances. In many garages, sport utility vehicles and minivans have replaced smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. And as our population has aged, the average temperature in our homes has also increased, although older Canadians still use less hot water than younger Canadians.
Such shifts in consumer tastes and demographics mean that our demand for energy has also grown. On average, Canadians consumed 341 gigajoules of energy each in 2002, compared with only 222 gigajoules in 1967. Among G8 countries, per capita Canadian consumption almost equalled that of the United States, the world’s biggest consumer of energy. Canadians consumed almost three times more energy than Italians, the lowest energy consumers among the G8.
The adoption of new technologies and energy conservation efforts have offset some of the increased consumption. From 1990 to 2002, total energy consumption in Canada rose 18%. But without improvements in energy efficiency, it is estimated that the total would have been about 13% higher.
Governments have also created incentives to conserve energy. The EnerGuide program provides energy ratings on consumer goods, such as cars and appliances. In addition, the EnerGuide for Houses evaluation service provides homeowners with information on energy-efficient improvements for their homes. Advisors can analyse how energy is used and what can be done to improve comfort and reduce energy bills.
