The Province’s Energy Efficiency Act (EEA) sets energy performance standards for devices that use, control or affect the use of energy such as:
- household appliances (washes, fridges)
- heating systems (furnaces, boilers, heat pumps)
- cooling systems (air conditioners)
- lighting (ballasts and fluorescent bulbs), and
- some industrial equipment (motors and transformers).
Click here to view the Energy Efficiency Act legislation
Click here to view the Energy Efficiency Standards Regulation
Enforcement Bulletins for EEA Regulations
The following enforcement bulletins summarize recent Energy Efficiency Act regulatory standards, compliance standards and penalties for non-compliance: Thermostats & CSA Verification; Furnace; Ballasts.
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The following regulatory amendments are proposed:
Standby Losses for Electronics and Equipment
Regulations are proposed for 5 product families: Compact Audio Products, Televisions, Video Products, Printers and Multi-function Devices. They are harmonized with Natural Resouce Canada's proposed regulations. See the Regulatory Assessment Report for more details, along with a Market Study on these and other products.
The proposed regulations are now open for public comment. Consumers, manufacturers, distributers, retailers, re-sellers, energy utilities and other governments and public interest organizations are invited to provide written comments on the proposed regulations by October 30, 2009 to:
Erik Kaye, Acting Manager, Energy Efficiency Policy
Email: Erik.Kaye@gov.bc.ca
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From November 2008 to January 2009, staff from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources consulted stakeholders on potential new energy efficiency standards for general service lighting, refrigerators and freezers, gas and electric water heaters and industrial motors, as well as technical amendments to the current standards for windows, doors and skylights and furnaces.
The Ministry has made the following decisions with respect to the proposals:
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The proposed amendments for windows, doors and skylights, as well as housekeeping amendments for the furnace standard to harmonize with recent federal regulations, are in the final review stage, and a decision is expected in the coming weeks.
- The proposed amendments for general service lighting, gas and electric water heaters and industrial motors will be reviewed by the government in the coming months, and a decision is expected in mid-2009.
- The proposed amendments for refrigerators and freezers are not proceeding at this time. Ministry staff will work with utilities and industry participants on market transformation programs to increase the share of ENERGY STAR fridges and freezers sold in British Columbia, particularly for Type 3 refrigerators that currently have a modest ENERGY STAR market share. Future regulatory changes for refrigerators and freezers will be considered after reviewing the results of the market transformation efforts.
The Ministry remains committed to supporting B.C.'s role as a North American leader in advancing energy efficiency standards for equipment and manufactured building components. Ministry staff will continue to work with utilities, provincial and federal agencies, industry and consumer representatives, environmental organizations and other stakeholders to develop sound regulatory proposals that are cost-effective and support B.C.'s ambitous targets for energy conservation and climate action.
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On March 13, 2009 an Order-in-Council was signed which brought into effect revised standards for windows, doors, skylights and commercial glazing and refined the regulations for gas furnaces to differentiate through-the-wall furnaces and furnaces with an integrated cooling component. The following information circular provides the overview of the final regulations for fenestration products:
On June 26, 2008, an Order-in-Council was signed which brought into effect three new or updated energy-efficiency regulations and one updated testing standard for an existing regulation. The products regulated, along with the performance requirements, new testing standards and effective dates are summarized in the following Information Circulars:
On July 13, 2006 an Order-in-Council was signed which brought into effect the five new or updated energy-efficiency regulations. The products regulated, along with the performance requirements and effective dates are summarized in the following Information Circulars:
The EEA applies to products that are manufactured, sold, offered for sale, or leased within the Province of B.C. and includes products that are manufactured outside of BC. The Federal Energy Efficiency Act also applies to products that are imported into British Columbia.
The Energy Efficiency Standards Regulation lists the energy efficiency requirements of the above products. The standards are regularly reviewed and product upgrades are done when new energy efficient technologies become available.
Any changes will be phased in and will take effect from 2008 to 2010. The approach and timing will depend on industry and consumers voluntarily adopting the new energy performance targets.
Regulations will achieve energy efficiency gains in the marketplace for future generations of buildings.
Last Updated: September 16, 2009
