Carleton-Based Energy Efficiency Think Tank Launches National Campaign to Showcase Workers Behind the Boom in Green Jobs

Carleton University-based Efficiency Canada has launched a national campaign to put energy efficiency on the map.

The national campaign, Our Human Energy, positions energy efficiency as a fast-growing, emerging sector — not only a government or utility program — by showcasing stories of Canadians making a living doing energy efficiency work.

More than 436,000 people are employed in the energy efficiency sector, and this sector is growing at three times the rate of the rest of the economy.

“We know energy efficiency workers help families save money, enable small businesses to create jobs, and even improve learning environments at schools,” said Corey Diamond, executive director for the national organization. “Right now, policy-makers don’t recognize that many of the people they represent are part of the energy efficiency industry. We need to raise our voice!”

“Our goal is to establish and grow an authentic and engaged community composed of diverse energy efficiency workers, professionals and industry allies. Our plan is to create opportunities for energy efficiency workers to connect with each other around shared pride and shared challenges.”

The campaign demonstrates the human impact of energy efficiency work, enabling workers to take pride in the work they do to make communities healthier, affordable, more comfortable and part of something bigger.

To demonstrate the importance, size and strength of their community, Efficiency Canada is asking energy efficiency workers across Canada to join the movement and show their pride in contributing to Canada’s economy.

Visit www.ourhumanenergy.org to see worker stories from across Canada.

Key Facts

From the 2019 ECO-Canada Energy Efficiency Employment in Canada study:

• The energy efficiency sector employed 436,000 workers across six key industries in 2018 – that is about 2.3 per cent of all jobs in Canada. For comparative purposes, 204,000 people are employed in mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction, and 123,000 are employed in telecommunications.
• Across six key industries, 51,000 Canadian businesses generated an estimated $82.6 billion in energy efficiency operating revenues.
• All direct and permanent energy-efficiency workers generated an estimated $14.9 billion in employment income.
• The majority of employers (52 per cent) expect their energy-efficiency revenues to increase over the next 12 months. Forty-one per cent expect revenues to remain the same or do not know, and only 7 per cent expect a decrease.

From the 2018 Clean Energy Canada Economic Impact of Improved Energy Efficiency in Canada report:

• Implementing the energy efficiency actions in the Pan-Canadian Framework will add 118,000 jobs (average annual full-time equivalent) to the Canadian economy, and increase GDP by one per cent, between 2017 and 2030.

About Efficiency Canada: Efficiency Canada is the national voice for an energy efficient economy. Our mission is to create a sustainable environment and better life for all Canadians by making our country a global leader in energy efficiency policy, technology, and jobs. We conduct rigorous policy analysis; communicate compelling narratives; and convene and mobilize Canada’s dynamic energy efficiency sector. Efficiency Canada is housed at Carleton University’s Sustainable Energy Research Centre.

In late 2019, we will publish a comprehensive report card that will assess the energy-efficiency policies of all provinces and territories, accompanied by a regularly updated database.