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318 results
Codes to Cleaner Buildings: Effectiveness of U.S. Building Energy Codes
The study finds that U.S. building energy codes lead to a 10% decrease in energy use per housing unit and a 16% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, outperforming the 5% savings predicted by engineering simulation models.
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Document type: Research paper
SPACE COOLING
The document outlines a hierarchy for space cooling, prioritizing the minimization of heat gain through passive measures before investing in mechanical systems. It details various cooling technologies, including fans, evaporative coolers, heat pumps, and air conditioners, providing guidance on their efficiency, costs, and appropriate climatic applications.
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Document type: Guide
Online Appendix: Full results of the report Climate-health messages engender support for climate action
The appendix details the effects of various health-related messages on public perception of climate change, concern levels, and support for specific climate policies in four countries. It uses a scoring system to identify which messages most effectively increase the salience of climate change and support for mitigation efforts.
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Document type: Report
THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE DISINFORMATION ON PUBLIC PERCEPTION
The report finds that between 55% and 85% of surveyed populations in six countries believe at least one piece of climate misinformation, with the highest prevalence in India and the lowest in the UK. Significant portions of the public hold beliefs contrary to scientific consensus, such as the idea that natural gas is a climate-friendly energy source or that net-zero targets are unaffordable. The study identifies a strong correlation between high-frequency news consumption and a higher likelihood of believing misinformation, highlighting specific media outlets like Fox News in the US and the Daily Mail in the UK as being associated with higher rates of misinformation belief.
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Document type: Report
Briefing note: Future-proofing BC buildings toward net-zero
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment calls for British Columbia to update its Building Code and Energy Step Code to prohibit new gas connections by 2022 and set deadlines for existing buildings to switch to clean energy. The briefing highlights that buildings cause 12% of the province's greenhouse gas emissions and that natural gas use contributes to health risks, including childhood asthma from indoor nitrogen dioxide and lung disease linked to hydraulic fracturing in the Peace region. It notes that retrofitting a home from gas to electric currently costs over $20,000, making the 'future-proofing' of new buildings a cost-effective necessity to meet the province's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
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Document type: Briefing
Climate Change Solutions with Immediate Health Benefits
The document outlines how climate mitigation strategies in Canada—such as phasing out coal, reducing building energy use, transitioning transportation, and shifting to plant-based diets—can simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve health outcomes by reducing air pollution and obesity.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Application for Inquiry into the Canadian Gas Association´s false and misleading representations about natural gas
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and other applicants argue that the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) has engaged in greenwashing by marketing natural gas as a clean and affordable energy source. The document asserts that natural gas has a lifecycle climate impact comparable to coal, causes significant indoor and outdoor pollution, and is less affordable than heat pumps, especially as carbon pricing increases. The applicants request a Competition Bureau inquiry, a public retraction of the claims, and a $10 million fine.
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Document type: Report
Beyond Sustainability: The Power of Indigenous Healthy Energy Homes
The report examines how substandard housing in Indigenous communities in Canada contributes to poor health outcomes and energy poverty. It proposes 'Healthy Energy Homes' as a holistic solution to reduce healthcare costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve affordability. The authors argue that overcoming current governance and funding barriers requires a national, Indigenous-led approach to housing.
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Document type: Report
Enabling broader decarbonization through Energy Systems Integration
The document argues that while Canada has made progress in decarbonizing power supply, achieving net-zero requires Energy Systems Integration (ESI)—the coordination of energy systems across multiple pathways and scales. It examines five key ESI technologies (electric vehicles, heat pumps, demand response, distributed generation, and hydrogen) and finds that Canadian policy is currently too siloed, relying on voluntary 'soft' incentives rather than systemic market reforms or mandatory legislation. The author highlights significant gaps in information, governance, and implementation, suggesting that a holistic, pan-system approach to modelling and planning is essential to avoid sub-optimal infrastructure lock-in.
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Document type: Research paper
ÉCHANGE DE CHALEUR
The report argues that achieving a cost-optimal net-zero building sector in Canada requires a significant shift toward electrification and a reduction in gas use. It warns that current regulatory inertia and the continued expansion of gas networks risk increasing costs for taxpayers and jeopardizing climate goals. The document recommends that provincial governments legislate net-zero targets, move away from gas as the default heating option for new buildings, and provide regulators with the tools to manage a phased contraction of gas infrastructure while ensuring affordability and equity.
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Document type: Executive summary
HEAT EXCHANGE
The report argues that Canada's cost-optimal path to net zero requires a significant shift from gas to electricity for building heat. It warns that continued expansion of gas networks and a 'business-as-usual' approach to utility regulation create financial risks for ratepayers and threaten climate goals. The authors recommend that provincial governments legislate net zero targets, end the default expansion of gas infrastructure, and provide clear energy roadmaps to guide regulators and utilities.
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Document type: Executive summary
Favoriser la décarbonisation par l’intégration des systèmes énergétiques
The report examines the current state of Energy Systems Integration (ESI) in Canada, focusing on five key technologies: electric vehicles, heat pumps, demand response, distributed generation, and hydrogen. It argues that while Canada has successfully decarbonized its electricity grid, further progress requires coordinating energy vectors and scales. The author identifies significant barriers, including fragmented governance, a lack of integrated modeling, and a policy landscape dominated by voluntary 'soft' incentives rather than systemic mandates. The document recommends replacing sectoral subsidies with market reforms that remunerate grid flexibility and implementing integrated modeling platforms to guide coordinated infrastructure investments.
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Document type: Report
MANITOBA : Risques et opportunités de la transition mondiale vers la carboneutralité
Manitoba is well-positioned for the energy transition due to its low-cost clean electricity, critical mineral deposits, and established ag-tech sector. However, the province lags behind other jurisdictions in public and private R&D investment and lacks a comprehensive government strategy to attract innovative companies. Economic risks include a high debt-to-GDP ratio and a workforce in vulnerable sectors, particularly affecting visible minorities and Indigenous peoples. While some companies are electrifying operations, the province's overall adoption of electric vehicles and heat pumps remains below national and provincial averages.
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Document type: Report
MANITOBA: Risks and opportunities in the global low-carbon transition
Manitoba possesses significant competitive advantages for the low-carbon transition, including low-cost clean electricity, critical mineral deposits, and a strong agricultural sector. However, the province faces fiscal risks due to a high debt-to-GDP ratio and a lack of supportive policy frameworks, resulting in a low number of transition-opportunity companies compared to other provinces. While some sectors like agricultural technology and alternative proteins are growing, Manitoba lags in clean hydrogen, batteries, and storage. Additionally, the report highlights the disproportionate exposure of visible minorities to transition-vulnerable sectors and the need to address historic harms to Indigenous communities to ensure equitable development in mining and energy.
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Document type: Report
The Future of Building Heat and the Natural Gas Network in a Net Zero Canada
The report details the use of the North American TIMES Energy Model (NATEM) to identify the most cost-effective technology combinations for decarbonizing Canada's building sector. It establishes a core 'Optimal NZ50' scenario targeting 440 Mt of emissions in 2030 and 10 Mt by 2050, while outlining seven sensitivity analyses covering heat pump costs, retrofit levels, and hydrogen integration. The modelling accounts for regional differences across 13 jurisdictions, incorporating detailed load curves, climate change temperature forecasts, and a comprehensive database of over 7,000 technologies.
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Document type: Report
WILD CARDS SAFE BETS
The document distinguishes between 'safe bets'—commercially available solutions with few constraints—and 'wild cards'—solutions with uncertain prospects. It asserts that safe bets will drive most reductions by 2030, while wild cards will increase in importance by 2050.
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Document type: Fact sheet
PARIS RISQUÉS VALEURS SÛRES
The document distinguishes between 'safe bets'—technologies available commercially without major implementation constraints—and 'risky bets'—solutions with uncertain prospects that could still be significant for carbon neutrality. It notes that safe bets provide the majority of reductions by 2030, while risky bets increase in importance by 2050.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Ensuring an Ambitious Implementation of ETS2
The document argues that the ETS2 is essential for Europe's climate objectives and competitiveness, warning that delays and revisions risk weakening the instrument's effectiveness. The signatories call for the operationalisation of ETS2 in 2028, the implementation of complementary social and fiscal policies, and transparency in the management of the resulting revenues to support vulnerable households and clean technology investments.
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Document type: Statement
Help My House Loan Pilot Program
The Help My House (HMH) Loan Pilot Program provided on-bill financing (OBF) for energy efficiency upgrades in 125 homes across South Carolina. The program demonstrated that low-interest loans tied to the electric meter could significantly reduce residential electricity use and costs while maintaining high member satisfaction. On average, participating homes reduced electricity use by 34%, with an average annual savings of nearly 11,000 kWh. The pilot's financial model showed that energy savings exceeded loan repayments, providing participants with immediate annual net savings and long-term financial benefits.
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Document type: Report
China Cleantech Exports Data Methodology
The document specifies that Ember's China Cleantech Exports Data Explorer utilizes data from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC), categorized into six main clean tech groups: Solar PV, EVs, Batteries, Heating and cooling systems, Grid, and Wind. It provides the specific HS codes used for sub-categories, such as solar cells (85414300) and lithium ion batteries (850760), while noting that the reported export values may be lower than the total value chain as they exclude certain parts and raw materials.
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Document type: Guide