Government of Canada’s Energy Savings Rebate program: acknowledgement guide for participating retailers

The Energy Savings Rebate program provided funding to eligible retailers to support point-of-sale rebates for energy-efficiency products until March 31, 2021. This guide will help facilitate correct acknowledgement by all retailers.

Requirements

As specified in the Energy Savings Rebate program funding agreement, all eligible retail advertising and promotional activities must acknowledge the Government of Canada’s Energy Savings Rebate program. To ensure a clear and consistent implementation of government acknowledgement in the diverse areas and advertising environments, participating retailers are required to use the following:

1. Web and print – acknowledgement graphic

1. The acknowledgement graphic applies to websites, printed media, flyers, one quarter print ads (or larger), window signage, and in-store banners (not associated with a particular product). The acknowledgement should be generally associated with the sale or promotion of items from the eligible categories.
2. The acknowledgement graphic must not be used on appliance/product stickers, pricing tags, product information sheets, etc.

On websites, the acknowledgement graphic may hyperlink to program information on Environment and Climate Change Canada’s website.

Graphics

Vertical option 1

Vertical option 2

Horizontal option 1

Horizontal option 2

2. Radio, television, video, audio, verbal references, and text acknowledgements

1. Radio ads, TV ads, videos, voice-overs, telemarketing, texts, and documents making reference to the program must include the text “Energy Savings Rebate program by the Government of Canada.”
2. Direct references to the rebate program should be in the form “The Government of Canada’s Energy Savings Rebate program.”
3. Television and video advertising shall not include the acknowledgement graphic or Canada wordmark.

Important points to remember

1. Under no circumstances should the name of the province or identity of another level of government be added to the program name (i.e., “Ontario Energy Savings…”).
2. Retailers cannot use an official symbol of the Government of Canada for any purpose aside from those uses detailed above or as stipulated under the Government of Canada EnerGuide program.

Official languages

Acknowledgements may be unilingual English or French, in keeping with the language of the retail advertisement and/or literature.

Effective dates

These changes take effect November 18, 2019 and replace all previous versions of the program acknowledgement guidelines.

All use and application of previous versions of the Energy Savings Rebate acknowledgement graphic must be phased out by December 9, 2019.

Approval

As per the funding agreement, retailers shall not publish or advertise participation in the Government of Canada’s Energy Savings Rebate program without prior approval from Environment and Climate Change Canada. Retailer acknowledgement of the Energy Savings Rebate is required under the program funding agreement and will be verified by Environment and Climate Change Canada as part of the Energy Savings Rebate audit process.

Participating retailers must submit their advertising and/or communications proposals or questions about the application of the guidelines to production@ec.gc.ca.