A market transformation roadmap for windows, space heating and water heating technologies

Paving the road to a low carbon economy

The 2017 Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference released a series of aspirational goals for energy performance in the building sector. These goals focused on three key areas – windows, space heating and water heating – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the adoption of clean technology. Governments promised a road map to achieve these goals. That road map has arrived.

Buildings and homes in the low carbon economy

Over the last year, Governments consulted with stakeholders in the building sector to create the road map. Together, we defined a way to bring new technologies to market and encourage their wider adoption, then clarified Governments' and stakeholders' roles and responsibilities in supporting this effort. The resulting joint plan will help establish a more competitive building sector and a cleaner future.

Energy-efficient equipment in the building sector

Energy use in Canadian homes and buildings can be greatly reduced (over 35%) when next-generation window, space heating and water heating technologies are installed.

Image of a house and building, highlighting residential windows, space heating devices and water heating devices

1. Residential windows

Windows do not consume energy, but are important in determining how much energy is needed to heat and cool a home. Windows can account for up to 35% of heat loss by a home during the heating season.

2. Space heating

Space heating is the largest source of energy consumption in Canada's building sector. It accounts for 64% of energy used in homes and 56% of energy used in commercial buildings.

3. Water heating

Water heating is the second largest source of energy consumption in Canada's building sector. It accounts for 19% of energy used in homes and 8% of energy used in commercial buildings.

The Challenge

Governments need to guide Canada towards a low carbon economy.

The Road Map

Paving the road to a low carbon economy can be achieved when Governments and stakeholders work together. We all have a role. This table shows the key steps in the road map.

Leaders perform the key activities. Supporters provide guidance and expertise.

The Roadmap table
Stakeholder Group	Product Development R&D	Lab and Field Testing R&D	Demonstration	Information & Awareness	Training	Incentives	Codes & Standards
NRCan	NRCan has a leading role	NRCan has a leading role	NRCan has a leading role	NRCan has a leading role	NRCan has a supporting role	NRCan has a supporting role	NRCan has a leading role
Provincial/Territorial Governments	Provincial and Territorial Governments have a supporting role	Provincial and Territorial Governments have a supporting role	Provincial and Territorial Governments have a leading role	Provincial and Territorial Governments have a leading role	Provincial and Territorial Governments have no role	Provincial and Territorial Governments have a leading role	Provincial and Territorial Governments have a leading role
Federal Labs	Federal Labs have a leading role	Federal Labs have a leading role	Federal Labs have no role	Federal Labs have no role	Federal Labs have no role	Federal Labs have no role	Federal Labs have no role
Researchers	Researchers have a leading role	Researchers have a leading role	Researchers have no role	Researchers have no role	Researchers have no role	Researchers have no role	Researchers have no role
Utilities/Efficiency Orgs	Utilities and Efficiency Organizations have a supporting role	Utilities and Efficiency Organizations a leading role	Utilities and Efficiency Organizations have a leading role	Utilities and Efficiency Organizations have a leading role	Utilities and Efficiency Organizations have a supporting role	Utilities and Efficiency Organizations have a leading role	Utilities and Efficiency Organizations have no role
Manufacturers	Manufacturers have a leading role	Manufacturers have a supporting role	Manufacturers have a supporting role	Manufacturers have a supporting role	Manufacturers have a leading role	Manufacturers have no role	Manufacturers have a supporting role
Builders/Contractors	Builders and Contractors have no role	Builders and Contractors have no role	Builders and Contractors have a supporting role	Builders and Contractors have a supporting role	Builders and Contractors have a supporting role	Builders and Contractors have no role	Builders and Contractors have no role
Industry Orgs	Industry Organizations have a supporting role	Industry Organizations have no role	Industry Organizations have a supporting role	Industry Organizations have a leading role	Industry Organizations have a leading role	Industry Organizations have a supporting role	Industry Organizations have a supporting role
Code/Standards Orgs	Codes and Standards Organizations have no role	Codes and Standards Organizations have no role	Codes and Standards Organizations have no role	Codes and Standards Organizations have a leading role	Codes and Standards Organizations have no role	Codes and Standards Organizations have no role	Codes and Standards Organizations have a leading role

The Steps

There are 7 sequential steps^{Footnote *} to reach our goals. Each step is contributed to by a different combination of stakeholders.

Product Development R&D

Designing products to improve their performance, lower costs, and make them easier to install and control.

Lab and Field Testing R&D

Simulating the operation of products in a lab or in real-life conditions to assess how well they work.

Demonstration

Demonstrating product performance and solutions to installation challenges.

Information & Awareness

Educating the marketplace on how new technologies work and their benefits, to enable wider adoption.

Training

Ensuring a trained and certified workforce to install and maintain new products.

Incentives

Ensuring that financial and non-financial measures are in place to make high performance products more affordable.

Codes & Standards

Establishing high-performance specifications to drive innovation. Ensuring building codes and standards are harmonized.

Outcomes

Canadians have access to high-performance technologies that are cost-effective and work in Canada's climate.
R&D investments properly support emerging building sector technologies.
Canada develops strong contractor expertise and a stronger manufacturer base to supply, install and maintain new technologies in homes and buildings.
Canadian manufacturers have new international growth opportunities.
Canadians use clean energy efficiently.
Industry has a level playing field across Canada.

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