A win for our economy, consumers and the climate? It may sound like an elusive unicorn, but energy efficiency checks all of the above boxes. Although they are under-reported, measures to help homes, small businesses and industry save on energy are a win-win for Canada: good for the climate and for Canadian competitiveness.<\/p>\n
The federal government\u2019s Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change has introduced a number of energy-saving measures as a way to cut carbon pollution and help Canada meet its Paris Agreement targets. These forthcoming federal policies<\/a> (some of which require provincial support to be implemented) will update building codes for existing and new buildings, requiring them to use less energy. These measures also include new standards for appliances and heating equipment.<\/p>\n What does a more energy efficient future mean for Canadians?<\/p>\n Clean Energy Canada and Efficiency Canada hired Dunsky Energy Consulting to model the net economic impacts of energy efficiency measures in the pan-Canadian framework. Our research<\/a> considers how multiple industries will be affected \u2014 both positively and negatively \u2014 and how those effects in turn impact Canada\u2019s GDP and employment levels. We also modelled what the impacts would be if Canada went a step further, implementing the most ambitious efficiency goals found in jurisdictions across North America.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what we found.<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s GDP will get a 1 percent boost over 14 years thanks to energy efficiency measures in the pan-Canadian framework (see figure). This growth comes partly from spending on upgrades, but mostly it comes from all the money households and businesses will save on energy over time \u2014 money that\u2019s then reinvested in local economies.<\/p>\n