A new study published today by the Pembina Institute highlights the key features of successful energy efficiency policies among leading US States and in the European Union. Successful Strategies for Energy Efficiency makes recommendations on how the experiences of these jurisdictions can be applied in Canada at both the provincial and federal level.
Drawing on experiences in California, New York, the Pacific Northwest states, Texas, Vermont and the United Kingdom, Successful Strategies for Energy Efficiency identifies five crucial elements for success:
- Making clear decisions by governments and electricity planning agencies to make energy efficiency a priority in energy policy
- Setting legally binding targets for energy savings, with financial penalties for utilities that fail to meet the targets.
- Providing financial and institutional structures to deliver energy efficiency. The most successful strategies have clear institutional focal points to lead and deliver energy savings, and stable, long-term funding sources for energy efficiency programs.
- Employing a comprehensive set of approaches, including regulatory standards and codes that are updated regularly to phase inefficient equipment and practices out of the marketplace, financial incentives and assistance to help consumers become more energy efficient, and training for building and equipment operators and retailers.
- Establishing measurement and verification protocols to provide an ongoing assessment of what approaches are working, and where changes are needed.
"Pembina's report comes at an important time for Canada" said Roger Peters, one of the authors of the report. "The federal government and many Provinces are making far reaching energy decisions and need to make energy efficiency the cornerstone of energy policy. Our study illustrates that with the right efficiency strategies we can secure both economic prosperity and environmental sustainability."
Successful Strategies for Energy Efficiency is available at www.pembina.org.
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For more information contact:
Alison Bailie, Vancouver 604-874-8558, ext 222
Roger Peters, Ottawa 819 483-6288 ext 22
Mark Winfield, Toronto 416-978-3486