We’re all big energy wasters, says Lunn

As energy ministers from the U.S., Mexico and Canada met in Victoria yesterday to sign an agreement to co-operate on energy science and technology, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn pointed at private homes as pools of energy waste.

Appliances such as microwaves and televisions, left on 24 hours a day, are one of Canada’s largest untapped sources of energy, Lunn said.
While the three governments work on developing clean energy technologies, ranging from nuclear power to wind power, typical citizens can do their bit by turning off appliances, Lunn said.

The typical Canadian home has 25 devices that use standby power and, if all were turned off, it would save five to 10 per cent of household electricity consumption, Lunn said.

The savings would be enough to power 400,000 homes, he said.

“That’s pretty spectacular.” The three countries are working on aligning energy-efficiency standards for appliances. Canadians will face new regulations next year and more stringent rules in 2010, Lunn said.

Times Colonist