NRCan Releases Energy Efficiency Report

Natural Resources Canada Minister Herb Dhaliwal, Mexican Energy Secretary Ernesto Martens and US Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham released the report North American Energy Efficiency Standards and Labeling. This is the second report of the North American Energy Working Group, a group of senior energy officials from Canada, the United States and Mexico.

"Improving energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to meet our energy demands, while ensuring the quality of life in our communities, a healthy environment and continued economic prosperity," said Minister Dhaliwal. "Energy-efficiency standards and labelling programs in all our countries have been helping consumers and industry do their part to face the challenge of climate change."

The report, North American Energy Efficiency Standards and Labeling, highlights that, as a result of Mexico's recent adoption of new standards for energy efficiency, the three countries will have harmonized minimum-efficiency requirements and test procedures for refrigerators, freezers, electric motors and window air conditioners before the end of the first quarter of 2003, strengthening the market for high-efficiency products in North America.

North American Energy Efficiency Standards and Labeling provides an update on the Group's progress on energy efficiency, describes why standards and labelling programs are effective instruments in meeting energy-efficiency goals, explains the different processes and institutional contexts for these programs in each country, and identifies where commonalities and differences exist. The report will serve as an important reference document and guide for participants in international trade and research.

At the Summit of the Americas held in Quebec in April 2001, Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Mexican President Vicente Fox and US President George W. Bush committed to expanding energy trade among the three nations and strengthening the energy market in North America. Building on this commitment, the Minister of Natural Resources Canada, the US Secretary of Energy and the Mexican Secretary of Energy agreed to establish the North American Energy Working Group (NAEWG).

NAEWG released its first report entitled North America - The Energy Picture in June 2002. The report presented a range of energy information for the three countries, including an economic overview, energy data, supply and demand trends, energy projections and descriptions of infrastructure, laws and regulations. All three countries agree that this second report represents another step in fulfilling the goals of the North American Energy Working Group - to foster communication and cooperation among the three countries on energy-related matters of common interest, and to enhance North American energy trade and interconnections, consistent with the goal of sustainable development, while respecting the domestic policies, divisions of jurisdictional authority and existing trade obligations of each country.

In addition to releasing the two reports, the Working Group is examining a broad range of issues, including energy science and technology, natural gas trade and interconnections, critical infrastructure protection and electricity regulatory issues.

North American Energy Efficiency Standards And Labeling is available at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/NAenergyefficiency.