Canada Hosts IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency
Earlier this week, HRAI’s Vice President of Government and Stakeholder Relations Martin Luymes participated in discussions at the 11th Annual IEA Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, hosted in Montreal by NRCan’s Office of Energy Efficiency. The event brought together energy efficiency industry and policy leaders from around the world to exchange ideas and report on progress.
The IEA event is the leading international forum for advancing energy efficiency. Each year, it brings together ministers, CEOs, and senior leaders from government, finance, and business sectors across the globe.
The conference opened with IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol sharing the progress in energy productivity that the world has seen over the past 50 years with homes, automobiles and appliances using only a fraction of the energy they did in 1970, which he attributed in part to energy crises. He suggested that the current energy crisis stemming from geopolitical uncertainties will almost certainly drive further efficiency gains.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol
The final conference “Outcome Statement” included an acknowledgement of need for continuous improvement in the efficiency of heating and cooling systems:
Heating and cooling in buildings play a key role in improving people’s lives. Space and water heating account for up to 70% of home energy use in some countries, while rising incomes and increasingly extreme temperatures drive up cooling demand. Energy affordability issues have been exacerbated in some countries due to the current crisis. Buildings account for around 30% of energy demand globally, and household appliances are responsible for about 45% of total electricity demand in buildings, with rising temperatures and growing ownership of air conditioners (ACs) pushing up demand in recent years. We note that buildings and the heating and cooling technologies within them are often much less efficient than they could be, and we recognise that energy performance standards for buildings and appliances, and financial incentives can play a crucial role improve their efficiency. We also acknowledge the importance of heat pumps and deploying efficient heating and cooling district networks. We commit to regularly reviewing and updating our relevant policies and we ask the IEA to help governments through its analysis and best practice advice.
Click HERE for the full Conference Statement.
Click HERE for access to recordings of some of the sessions, including an interesting session focused on Business Leadership.
Ministers of Energy from around the World meet with Industry Representatives
While in Montreal, HRAI was invited to join a small group of stakeholders to engage with Minister or Environment, Climate Change and Nature Julie Dabrusin to articulate key priorities for the advancement of energy efficiency and electrification. HRAI pointed to the need for clear, consistent and sustained signals to industry that will encourage the confidence to invest, as well as a need for significant supports to ensure development of a sufficient skilled workforce to aid in the transition.
In the fall Minister Dabrusin will assume responsibility and oversight of NRCan’s Office of Energy Efficiency.
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