Energy Efficiency Programs See All

Energy efficiency programs secure energy savings through various strategies such as audits, retrofits, training for building tradespeople, “people-centred” or behavioural efficiency strategies, and customized industrial programs.

Energy Efficiency Program Administration

Efficiency strategies are run under the Climate Change Secretariat created in 2016.

The Qulliq Energy Corporation (QEC) operates standalone power systems sized to meet municipal demands. In 2005, QEC created the Nunavut Energy Center to run energy efficiency programs, which closed in 2009.

Nunavut Housing Corporation administers a Home Renovation Program.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Energy Efficiency Targets

No targets identified.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Energy Efficiency as a Resource

No activities identified.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Efficiency Potential Study and Energy Planning

No potential studies or energy efficiency plans identified.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Cost-Effectiveness Testing

No cost effectiveness testing information identified.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Evaluation, Measurement and Verification

No EM&V activities identified.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Program Innovation

No program innovation funding identified.

Last reviewed: October 2020

Support for low-income energy efficiency programs

The Nunvaut Housing Corporation administers a Home Renovation Program.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Enabling Policies See All

Enabling policies refer to policies, regulations, and other activities that build supportive infrastructure and policy frameworks to advance energy efficiency in a province. 

Support for Financing

Under the Nunavut Housing Corporation’s Home Renovation Program participants can receive a forgivable loan to cover the cost of materials, freight and labour, to a maximum contribution of $65,000, depending on household income, and provided that any amount exceeding $50,000 is used specifically for energy efficient improvements.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Research and Development

In December 2021, work on the Nunavut Arctic College Student Residence Deep Energy Retrofit demonstration project in Iqaluit was completed. Qikiqtaaluk Properties Incorporated partnered with NRCan to demonstrate the feasibility of deep retrofits in Northern Canada. The project aims to reduce energy consumption by more than 50%. Measurement and verification of energy savings will seek to confirm projected energy savings. 

Last reviewed: November 2022

Lead by example

Buildings
Nunavut Energy Management Program creates a 20% reduction target in energy consumption in buildings owned by the Department of Community and Government Services. The 2007 Energy Strategy also calls for retrofitting all government owned in Iqualuit, followed by other territorial communities, and retrofits in municipal buildings and buildings owned by the Nunavut Housing Corporation.

The Good Practices Energy Guide provides guidance on energy management in government buildings.

The Government of Nunavut New Commercial Building Program discussed in the 2007 Energy Strategy calls on the government to seek ways to mandate a minimum rating in all new buildings, referencing LEED and the need to consider arctic conditions.

Vehicle Fleets
The 2007 Energy Strategy discussed a 5% reduction target for government-related travel.

Last reviewed:  November 2021

Grid Modernization

Advanced metering
The Qulliq Energy Corporation (QEC) launched the Iqaluit Smart Grid program in 2016. The program installed over 4,000 smart meters and QEC also installed a specialized smart meter transformer, a server to store smart meter data, and software, which allows for the transmission of smart meter data between the smart meter database and QEC’s billing system. Over the next 5 years, the performance of the Iqaluit Smart Grid program will be monitored to determine if its targets (1-2% demand reduction and 1% energy savings) are met. This program received $1,350,000 in funding from Natural Resources Canada’s ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative.

QEC identifies the Iqaluit Smart Grid project as something to replicated in other Nunavut communities in the future.

Non-wires alternatives
Nunavut energy system is comprised of a series of isolated grids. As such the Qulliq Energy Corporation has no regional electricity transmission capacity or transmission assets.

Rate design
The Qulliq Energy Corporation has a “community based rate design” with rates differing across Nunavut’s 25 communities to reflect costs in different territories. These area-based rates to do not necessarily reflect local costs.

The Nunavut Electricity Subsidy Program (NESP) subsidizes electricity consumption for small commercial and residential customers. The subsidies are removed after a threshold level of electricity consumption.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Carbon Pricing

In July 2019, an output-based pricing system was implemented for emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries, and a charge on fuel producers and distributors was applied. In recognition of unique circumstances, special provisions are made for fuels used for aviation within the territory and for diesel-fired electricity generation in remote communities.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Buildings See All

Buildings are a significant and often neglected component of Canada’s infrastructure, and high-performance buildings are important for our quality of life, physical and mental health, and economic productivity

Building Codes

Housing and Small Buildings
Nunavut adopted the 2015 National Building Code through regulation R-009-2018 made under the Building Code Act. The code was adopted on March 29, 2018 and in force September 1, 2018. This includes section 9.36 related to energy efficiency in homes and small buildings.

Large Buildings
The territory has not adopted a version of the National Energy Code for Buildings or implemented specific energy efficiency provisions for large buildings.

Note that there might be very few multi-story buildings in the territory.

Stretch or Step Codes
No stretch or step code.

Net-zero energy ready commitment
No commitment to net-zero energy ready codes.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Building Code Compliance

No code compliance activities identified. 

Last reviewed: November 2022

Home Energy Rating and Disclosure

Mandatory home energy rating and disclosure: None identified
Home energy labelling voluntary or pilot program: None identified

The 2007 Nunavut Energy Strategy calls for introducing Energy Star labels for New Buildings.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Building Energy Rating and Disclosure

Mandatory large building energy rating and disclosure: None identified
Voluntary building benchmarking and transparency program: None identified

Last reviewed: November 2022

Appliance and Equipment Market Transformation

No market or equipment market transformation activities identified.

Last reviewed: August 2020

Appliance and Equipment Standards

Nunavut harmonizes with harmonizes with federal appliance and equipment energy efficiency regulations.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Efficiency Requirements for Government Supported Housing

The 2007 Energy Strategy calls for a strategy to retrofit all economically appropriate, existing housing units owned by the Nunavut Housing Corporation.

The Housing New Buildings Program, discussed in the 2007 Energy Strategy, discusses a 10-year housing program being negotiated with the federal government that will mandate new housing to be built at a level 25% above code requirements.

Announced in September 2018, The Nunavut Housing Corporation is undertaking retrofits and installing district heating systems in the communities of Sanikiluaq and Taloyoak. This is a $12 M investment, using the $31 M for Nunavut under the federal Low-Carbon Leadership Fund.

Last reviewed: August 2019

Transportation See All

Policies tracked in the transporation area reflect the potential energy savings of closer integration of private transportation with buildings and electricity grids. 

Zero-Emission Vehicles Mandate

There is no zero-emission vehicle mandate in Nunavut.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Electric Vehicle Charging Program

No electric vehicle charging support program identified.

Last reviewed: November 2021

EV and PHEV Financial Incentives

No financial incentives for EV/PHEV vehicles identified.

Last reviewed: November 2022

“EV Ready” Building Code

No provisions in building codes for EV/PHEV charging infrastructure identified.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Industry See All

In recognition that the industrial sector is highly varied across Canada, this database tracks policies that are broadly applicable to all industrial subsectors and provinces.

Energy Management

The Qulliq Energy Corporation, Nunavut’s primary utility, notes that they do not have any industrial customers.

Last reviewed: November 2022

Co-generation / Combined Heat and Power

No activities identified. 

Last reviewed: August 2019

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