Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is committed to sharing data and research that is supporting the National Approach to Home Labelling (NAHL) and is listed below.
EnerGuide Rating System open data
NRCan makes EnerGuide Rating System data available on the federal open data portal. EnerGuide Rating System Open Data includes over 400 fields of home specific information and a sample set of EnerGuide evaluations completed since 2004. The data is provided by calendar year at the Forward Sortation Area level (the first 3 digits of the postal code). Monthly and annual climate data for 403 locations in Canada that is used for EnerGuide ratings is available on the portal’s HOT2000 Climate Map. The climate map is intended for all users of the HOT2000 software under the EnerGuide Rating System, including energy advisors, service organizations, regulatory agencies, builders, utilities and governments.
Behavioural science research
NRCan worked with the Privy Council Office’s Impact Canada on a collaborative program of research to investigate home energy labelling through the lens of behavioural science to help inform labelling policies and programs. Using a data-driven, behavioural science approach helps to ensure that home energy labels provide clear, useful and actionable information for Canadians. The main objectives of the research were to explore: drivers and barriers of home energy label adoption, Canadians’ perceptions, motivations, and decision-making related to home energy labels, and the impact of different label design features and information presentations. Research findings are available on Impact Canada’s Program of Applied Research on Climate Action website.
Home labelling program research
NRCan commissioned a study that explored of home labelling program requirements and how to support Canadians who are under-resourced. The report on this research offers a detailed analysis of key program design elements and evidence-based strategies for a national home energy labelling program. The analysis focuses on ensuring equitable outcomes for under-resourced populations and includes a set of actionable recommendations to consider as NRCan develops and updates the National Approach to Home Labelling and the EnerGuide home rating and labelling program. The final report on the Study of Home Energy Labelling Requirements was completed in 2024.
Virtual home labelling benchmarking research
NRCan worked with CanmetENERGY on a benchmarking study to assess the consistency of virtual labelling services, and their alignment with EnerGuide ratings. This study developed a test suite for comparing results from virtual services with one another, and to EnerGuide. A group of Canadian companies who offer virtual home labelling services participated in an advisory team for this research and three of the services anonymously submitted their virtual home labelling data. This study provided a foundation for the development of voluntary guidelines for virtual home labelling. The final report on the Virtual Home Labelling Benchmarking Study was completed in 2024.