OTTAWA - Canadian industry and the Government of Canada are celebrating 30 years of energy-efficiency improvements. The Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) is marking its anniversary with Energy 2005, a conference that will include an awards dinner for leaders in energy efficiency. The Honourable R. John Efford, Minister of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), joined CIPEC chairman Doug Speers of Emco Corporation in congratulating industry on its accomplishments and challenging it to do more. The release of CIPEC's annual report highlights the long-term success, while also noting that improvements in energy efficiency have levelled off in recent years. CIPEC has a membership of 49 associations representing 5,000 companies that make up 98 percent of Canadian industry. "Canadians can be proud of the steps Canada's industrial companies have taken to become more energy efficient and improve competitiveness since 1990," said Minister Efford. "While Canadian companies were the first ones off the mark in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we also know industry needs to do more. The Government of Canada's plan to address climate change shows we are prepared to work with industry to achieve further reductions." The annual report states that CIPEC companies improved energy intensity (the amount of energy required per unit of production) by 8.7 percent between 1990 and 2003. These energy-efficiency gains resulted in savings of $3.4 billion in energy costs and avoided 27.8 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2003. Despite this record of energy - efficiency gains, the rate of energy intensity has remained constant over the last three years. "We're working hard, but as the CIPEC annual report shows, we've got to be working harder," said Mr. Speers. "We know that effective energy management helps to strengthen our bottom line and make us more competitive. The issues are not easy, but Canadian industry has the courage, conviction and expertise to see itself return to a pattern of improving energy intensity." Administered through NRCan's Office of Energy Efficiency, CIPEC is a voluntary partnership between government and industry that has been industry's first point of contact for ideas and innovation since its inception in 1975. CIPEC success as a champion of industrial energy efficiency has added to its momentum. To date, the partnership has grown to over 5,000 companies in the manufacturing, mining, construction and energy-producing sectors. FOR BROADCAST USE: Canadian industry and the Government of Canada are celebrating 30 years of energy-efficiency improvements. The Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation is marking its anniversary with Energy 2005, a conference that will include an awards dinner for leaders in energy efficiency. For more information, media may contact: Ghyslain Charron Tom Ormsby Media Relations Director of Communications Natural Resources Canada Office of the Minister Ottawa Natural Resources Canada (613) 992-4447 Ottawa (613) 996-2007
