History of ENERGY STAR Canada

2026

• ENERGY STAR Canada’s 25th anniversary

2025

• Over 60,000 buildings are captured in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, representing about 50% of the commercial and institutional sector.
• Toronto Hydro becomes the first utility in Ontario to join Portfolio Manager Web Services, offering easy, automatic reporting to their clients to comply with recent city regulations.
• Fire stations, community centres and universities/colleges/CEGEPs are made eligible for a 1-100 ENERGY STAR score in Portfolio Manager, bringing the total number of eligible building types to 22.
• The “Canada Only” verification testing protocol launches, performing post-market verification testing on certified products that are only sold in Canada.
• A heat/energy recovery ventilator (H/ERV) verification testing program is launched, as well as a verification testing pilot program for fenestration products. H/ERVs and fenestration products follow unique Canadian specifications.
• NRCan launches the ENERGY STAR for New Homes (ESNH) Advisory Committee to advise NRCan on the updated ESNH program.
• The non-integrated paperboard sector and non-integrated sanitary tissue sector join ENERGY STAR for Industry certification.

2024

• With high efficiency lightbulbs now standard for most household applications and no further leaps in energy savings expected, NRCan retires ENERGY STAR certification and labelling for light bulbs and other common light fixtures.
• Libraries, museums, pre-school/daycares, vehicle dealerships and restaurants become eligible for ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager scores.
• More than 5,900 homes are certified in 2024, bringing the cumulative total to approximately 123,000 homes since launch in 2005.

2023

• In 2023 alone, the ENERGY STAR for Products program achieved an estimated 37.03 PJ of cumulative annual energy savings and avoided about 2.12 Mt of greenhouse gas emissions. This is equivalent to the energy consumed by 763,948 passenger vehicles in a year!
• ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager celebrates its 10-year anniversary.
• 222 buildings earn ENERGY STAR certification, including 165 buildings recertified from the previous year, signaling an enduring commitment to energy efficiency.
• ENERGY STAR certification for Buildings expands eligibility for Portfolio Manager scores to include bank branches, mailing centres and post offices and worship facilities.
• The distilled spirits sector and cookies and cracker bakeries join ENERGY STAR for Industry certification.
• 16 industrial facilities earn ENERGY STAR certification, including the first 3 facilities of the cement sector.
• By 2023, 56 participants have joined the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry.
• ENERGY STAR New Homes certification is awarded to 4,016 new homes.
• Residential electric cooking products become eligible for ENERGY STAR certification.

2022

• In 2022, 182 buildings earn ENERGY STAR certification.
• The City of Vancouver uses ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to receive energy performance data through mandatory reporting from the private building sector.
• The City of Montreal uses Portfolio Manager in their by-law on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission disclosures and ratings of large buildings.
• The first ENERGY STAR certification for a newly constructed multifamily high-rise in Canada is issued.
• Eleven industrial plants earn ENERGY STAR certification, including the first successful entry from the fertilizer sector.
• Over 3,500 new homes are awarded ENERGY STAR certification.

2021

• NRCan signs a new 5-year agreement with EPA to continue collaboration on Portfolio Manager.
• ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager introduces a new feature to track and compare greenhouse gas emission intensity in buildings.
• Mid-large multifamily housing is eligible for a 1-100 ENERGY STAR score in Portfolio Manager.
• The fertilizer sector joins ENERGY STAR for Industry certification.
• Seven industrial plants earn ENERGY STAR certification.
• Over 6,400 new homes constructed in 2021 earn ENERGY STAR certification.

2020

• ENERGY STAR Canada launches Pinterest and LinkedIn social media channels.
• The ENERGY STAR symbol is recognized by 92% of survey respondents, the highest figure to date.
• ENERGY STAR for Buildings expands eligibility for ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager scores to include hotels.
• The frozen fried potato sector joins ENERGY STAR for Industry certification.
• Canada simplifies and strengthens the ENERGY STAR rating for windows and doors by applying a single national standard.
• The 2020 edition of the Canada Greening Government Strategy mandates that all new domestic government office leases and lease renewals for space over 500 square meters are required to use ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to report building energy and water usage, greenhouse gas emissions and waste generated.

2019

• The cement sector joins ENERGY STAR for Industry certification.
• The first ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry Achiever Award is granted.
• The first ENERGY STAR for Industry certification earned by an auto engine facility is issued.
• ENERGY STAR for Buildings expands eligibility for ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager scores to include warehouses and non-food retail.
• The Province of Ontario adopts ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to receive mandatory energy performance data reporting from the private building sector.

2018

• The first “12 Days of ENERGY STAR” promotional giveaway campaign launches on social media.
• The ENERGY STAR certification for Buildings program launches, offering certification based on Portfolio Manager scores. A building achieving an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher on a scale of 1-100 can earn ENERGY STAR certification. Eight building types are initially eligible to apply for certification.
• ENERGY STAR certification for Buildings issues a "Who Will Be the First?" challenge, distinguishing buildings that are among the first certified buildings in Canada.
• A pilot program for certifying ENERGY STAR multifamily high-rise buildings (new construction) launches in Ontario.
• ENERGY STAR for Industry grows to include auto assembly, auto engine and auto facilities as well as commercial bakery facilities.

2017

• The Government of Ontario enacts new energy benchmarking and reporting legislation. Buildings larger than 50,000 square feet are required to benchmark using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and report the results to the Ontario government on an annual basis.
• The ENERGY STAR score for ice/curling rinks is released in Portfolio Manager.
• FortisBC offers Web Services, begins offering its clients automatic utility data uploads to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
• The ENERGY STAR for Industry program launches with both a certification and a challenge component.
• The integrated steel sector becomes the first industry whose facilities can earn ENERGY STAR certification.
• The 75,000th home in Canada is certified and labelled under the ENERGY STAR for New Homes program.

2016

• The program celebrates its first annual ENERGY STAR Day in Canada on October 25, 2016.
• ENERGY STAR Canada launches its own Twitter (now X) and Facebook accounts to promote energy efficiency on social media.
• NRCan signs a new 5-year agreement with the EPA to continue collaborating on enhancing ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager with scores for new building types, the addition of a certification program, updates to technical metrics and other enhancements.
• Senior care communities and residential care facilities (now senior living community and residential care facilities) become the sixth building type in Canada that can compare energy performance using the 1–100 ENERGY STAR score system in Portfolio Manager.

2015

• In 2015 alone, ENERGY STAR certified products deliver 3.4 PJ in energy savings – the equivalent of taking 66,000 cars off the road for the year. This same year, ENERGY STAR for New Homes delivers additional savings of 0.45 PJ.
• ENERGY STAR New Homes celebrates 10 years in Canada with more than 50,000 ENERGY STAR certified homes, including almost 9,000 in 2015 alone.
• ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager reaches 13,229 registered buildings in Canada, representing about 162 million square meters of floor space or 20% of all commercial floor space in Canada.
• ENERGY STAR scores for supermarkets/food stores, hospitals and medical offices become available in Portfolio Manager.

2014

• A French language version of the online searchable product list tool is introduced.
• The number of product types eligible for ENERGY STAR certification passes 70.
• ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager reaches 7,400 registered buildings, representing more than 16% of the commercial/institutional sector in Canada.
• Since launching in 2005, more than 50,000 ENERGY STAR certified new homes have been built in Canada, with over 9,000 homes certified in 2014 alone.

2013

• An agreement is signed between the EPA and NRCan relaunching the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager energy benchmarking tool with Canadian content. The tool was also enhanced to allow building owners/managers to better track, compare energy performance with other similar buildings, monitor and report on energy, emissions and water usage. The revamped tool includes a 1-100 energy performance benchmarking rating system (e.g. 1-100 ENERGY STAR Scores) that is initially applicable for two building types: offices and K-12 schools.
• Under their Green Energy Act, the Province of Ontario adopts the use of ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for their broader public sector building reporting.
• ENERGY STAR Most Efficient criteria for products becomes a full-fledged offering after a 2-year pilot program.
• ENERGY STAR Canada harmonizes most of its technical specifications for certification with those used by EPA for the ENERGY STAR program in the United States. Canada retains specific technical specs for residential fenestration products and heat/energy recovery ventilators.

2012

• ENERGY STAR for Products has grown to encompass more than 50 product types.
• The first ENERGY STAR Award for a builder of new homes is awarded.
• The first national ENERGY STAR for New Homes Standard is published, establishing a new technical requirement for new home construction, transitioning the program from a regional initiative in Ontario to a nationally delivered program.

2011

• In collaboration with the EPA, ENERGY STAR Canada launches an ENERGY STAR Most Efficient pilot project open to select product categories.
• Canada and the United States sign an agreement to adapt the EPA’s existing ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool for use by Canadian commercial/institutional buildings.

2010

• ENERGY STAR certification for LED lighting expands to include all residential uses, including integrated LED lamps which are mostly used outdoors.

2009

• Dalhousie University in Halifax is the first university in Canada to become an ENERGY STAR Participant.
• ENERGY STAR certified models now constitute most new appliance shipments in Canada in three categories, growing from negligible levels in 2001 to 53% of refrigerators, 69% of clothes washers and 90% of dishwashers in 2009.

2008

• ENERGY STAR continues to push the market towards higher efficiency as technical requirements for certification are updated for many products including light bulbs, clothes washers and televisions.

2007

• Decorative light strings become the first LED lighting product to join the ENERGY STAR family.
• The debut of commercial kitchen equipment greatly expands the product categories for commercial equipment.

2006

• NRCan begins conducting public opinion research on the general public’s awareness of ENERGY STAR. In 2006, 81% of respondents recognize the ENERGY STAR symbol.

2005

• The ENERGY STAR for New Homes program launches in Canada, initially in Ontario, focusing on certifying the construction of new energy efficient homes.
• Entry doors and skylights become eligible for ENERGY STAR certification, increasing options for Canadian consumers seeking to purchase high performing fenestration products in Canada.

2004

• NRCan coordinates a national “Switch and Save” campaign with more than 30 manufacturers, retailers, utilities, governments and service organizations to promote the benefits of ENERGY STAR certified compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).
• Canadians are encouraged to choose ENERGY STAR certified products as part of the One-Tonne Challenge, a government initiative calling on Canadians to reduce their individual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by one tonne.

2003

• Compact fluorescent lamps or light bulbs (CFLs), the now iconic spiral light bulbs, become certifiable products in the ENERGY STAR program.
• The first ENERGY STAR Canada Participants’ Meeting is held in Toronto, bringing together participants from across the country. The meeting also hosts the first ENERGY STAR Recognition Awards.
• The ENERGY STAR Canada logos are updated to the now-familiar ones used today, reflecting Canada’s official languages and a modernized appearance of the marks.
• Windows and sliding glass doors become the first fenestration products to be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification in Canada.

2002

• The list of product types eligible for certification in Canada expands to approximately 24.

2001

• The ENERGY STAR program is introduced in Canada as an international partnership with the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency.
• The first version of the agreement between the Canadian and U.S. government covers the promotion of five product categories: home appliances, heating and cooling equipment, office equipment, consumer electronics, lighting and signage.

1992

The EPA launches the ENERGY STAR label in the United States, with an initial focus on lighting, desktop computers and displays.