Since the early 1970s, energy efficiency (EE) has been recognized as the most relevant mechanism to optimize the way we meet our energy needs. For the last 25 years, EE has also been identified as a favoured approach to fighting climate change. The introduction of EE building codes, standards and labels, and energy performance contracting schemes are but a few initiatives developed in Canada over the past 40 years.

Canada’s energy sector is overseen by provincial or territorial regulators, which means there are as many distinct legal and regulatory frameworks as there are provinces and territories.

This 60 minute webinar will take a close look at the history and current state of the EE sector across Canada. A quick overview of each province’s or territory’s history related to the EE sector and how legal and institutional frameworks have evolved will enable participants to understand the key success factors supporting the development of the EE field.

A number of case studies will be discussed featuring utilities, non-profits and private associations highlighting key success factors and innovative initiatives. Major players featured in the case studies include: Energy Efficiency Alberta (which has contributed to the fastest CDM market growth in Canada over the past year), Efficiency One (the first electric-utility-operated EE firm in Canada); the Atmospheric Fund (innovative financing mechanism to invest in urban solutions to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution), and the IESO (which has put capacity-building at the core of its CDM initiatives).

• Understand how the EE sector has developed and evolved over the years in different markets, as well as the current status of EE in each Canadian province and territory.
• Draw from best practices and lessons learned, developed in Canada and apply them in the continuous development of the EE market in Canada, the U.S. and abroad.
• Draw inspirations from the case studies that illustrate key success factors and showcase unique initiatives that could be adapted and implemented in various jurisdictions.

About Genevieve

Since 1999, Ms. Gauthier has been providing organizations in both the public and private sectors with specialized energy-efficiency advisory services. Ms. Gauthier is now the National Director—Consulting Services with Econoler, an international consulting firm with 35 years of experience in the design, implementation, evaluation and financing of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and projects.

She is the co-author of The Canadian Energy Efficiency Outlook: A National Effort to Tackling Climate Change, a book to be published by Fairmount Press in the fall of 2018. In addition to co-authoring this book, Ms. Gauthier has spoken at various national and international conferences about energy efficiency. She is also an experienced trainer for the Canadian Institute of Energy Training.