{"id":51352,"date":"2018-11-02T13:58:57","date_gmt":"2018-11-02T17:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&p=51352"},"modified":"2025-10-01T15:44:55","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T19:44:55","slug":"carleton-launches-efficiency-canada","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/carleton-launches-efficiency-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"Carleton Launches Efficiency Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Carleton Launches Efficiency Canada\n <\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/path>\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

Amid the contentious debates about carbon taxes, pipeline construction and the most pragmatic approach to weaning ourselves off fossil fuels, there\u2019s an often-overlooked step that Canada could take to address climate change and, at the same time, improve the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Energy efficiency \u2014 reducing the energy required to run our homes and commercial and industrial buildings, as well as our transportation systems \u2014 is increasingly recognized as the cheapest and most abundant energy resource in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A unique new national organization, based at Carleton University, aims to bring together a diverse array of allies, from academic researchers and private-sector businesses to utilities and governments, to advocate for public policies that move us toward a more energy-efficient future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance, meets Carleton President Benoit-Antoine Bacon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThink of energy efficiency as an invisible source of energy,\u201d says Corey Diamond, executive director of Efficiency Canada<\/a>, which was formally launched at a reception at Carleton on Nov. 1, 2018. \u201cImproving our energy efficiency is by far the fastest way to reach our climate change commitments, but it will also create jobs and grow the GDP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFantastic work has been done across the country for the past couple decades. Now we have the momentum to do so much more. Having a full-time voice for energy efficiency is a huge move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been focused since day one on the fact that the environment and economy go hand-in-hand,\u201d says federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau<\/a>, who spoke at the launch on behalf of Minister of Natural Resources Amarjeet Sohi<\/a>. \u201cOne of the best ways to ensure that these things go together \u2014 and that our environmental footprint is smaller \u2014 is energy efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re going to spend less on energy, and have more money for other stuff \u2014 that\u2019s what we\u2019re talking about today. This message is entirely aligned with what Canadians want to see in the long term. Energy efficiency is one of the cornerstones of our plan for a cleaner economy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Efficiency Canada has ties to both Carleton\u2019s Faculty of Engineering and Design<\/a> and the Faculty of Public Affairs<\/a> (FPA). Shaping and implementing new public policies is its ultimate goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday, we launch a partnership to build a more productive economy and a more sustainable environment,\u201d says Carleton President Benoit-Antoine Bacon<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCarleton researchers are doing groundbreaking research on energy efficiency in numerous areas, including policy, regulations, engineering and business,\u201d he continues, citing the university\u2019s Urbandale Centre for Home Energy Research<\/a>, Energy and Emissions Research Lab<\/a> and Northern Nomad<\/a> tiny house project. \u201cEfficiency Canada will be right at home in this diverse research community focused on fostering sound public policy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Filling the Energy Efficiency Gap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Efficiency Canada evolved out of the 20-year-old Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance (CEEA), an industry association comprised of companies that sell energy efficiency products and services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a group of funders sought to become more strategic about using their giving to help Canada cut carbon emissions, they saw a gap and led the push to create a national energy efficiency advocacy and policy organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carleton alumnus Jay Nordenstrom, executive director of NAIMA Canada<\/a> representing the country\u2019s mineral fibre insulation manufacturers, was on both the CEEA board and the university\u2019s Board of Governors, and was the bridge that brought the newly minted Efficiency Canada to Carleton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The organization\u2019s goals mesh perfectly with the university\u2019s \u201cHere for Good\u201d<\/a> ethos \u2014 Carleton\u2019s commitment to contribute to social, economic and common good. FPA Dean Andr\u00e9 Plourde and Prof. James Meadowcroft in the School of Public Policy and Administration are both on its governing council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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