B.C. ranks first as the most energy efficient province in Canada for the fourth consecutive time, according to the annual report by Efficiency Canada, a research group based at Carleton University.
The Canadian Energy Efficiency Scorecard benchmarks all Canadian provinces and territories across 54 metrics, such as energy savings from public utility programs, electric vehicle registrations, building code adoption, and industrial energy management.
The top five rankings for 2022 are:
- British Columbia
- Nova Scotia
- Quebec
- Prince Edward Island
- Ontario.
According to the Scorecard, provinces and territories spent nearly $1.14 billion in 2021, up from around $1.13 the year prior but still short of the high in 2018, nearly $1.22 billion.
British Columbia has remained on top since the introduction of the scorecard in 2019. This is the first year that Nova Scotia has reached the second spot, having increased its position on the scorecard from fourth in 2019.
One of the biggest impacts on energy efficiency in 2021 was the official release of the federal government’s 2020 National Model Codes, which include performance levels that progress towards making new buildings so energy efficient they can easily supply their own energy needs (net zero energy-ready).
So far, British Columbia, Yukon, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick have committed to this goal. Few jurisdictions have plans to adopt the codes on an accelerated timeline.
Researchers say much more is needed, and quickly. “Provincial energy saving goals still lag far behind leading American states. Canada needs a coherent and collaborative national vision to realize the potential of energy efficiency if we are going to achieve net-zero emissions and make life more affordable,” says Alyssa Nippard, research associate and co-author of the report.
