Appendix C – Glossary of Terms
Activity (Activité):Term used to characterize major drivers of energy use in a sector (e.g. floor space area in the commercial/institutional sector).
AECO-C Hub (Centre de stockage AECO-C):A hub is a market centre where several pipelines interconnect and where many buyers and sellers trade gas, thereby creating a liquid pricing point. The AECO-C hub is the main pricing point for Alberta natural gas and represents the major pricing point for Canadian gas. Prices are determined via the spot market, which includes all transactions for sales of 30 days or less, but most typically refers to a 30-day sale.
Agriculture (Agriculture):The agriculture sector includes all types of farms, including livestock, field crops, grain and oilseed farms, as well as activities related to hunting and trapping. Energy used in this sector is for farm production and includes energy use by establishments engaged in agricultural activities and in providing services to agriculture. Agriculture energy use is included in total secondary energy use for Canada.
Apartment (Appartement):This type of dwelling includes dwelling units in apartment blocks or apartment hotels; flats in duplexes or triplexes (e.g. where the division between dwelling units is horizontal); suites in structurally converted houses; living quarters located above or in the rear of stores, restaurants, garages or other business premises; caretakers’ quarters in schools, churches, warehouses, etc.; and private quarters for employees in hospitals or other types of institutions.
Appliance (Appareil ménager):Energy-consuming equipment used in the home for purposes other than air conditioning, centralized water heating and lighting. Includes cooking appliances (gas stoves and ovens, electric stoves and ovens, microwave ovens, and propane or gas grills); cooling appliances (evaporative coolers, attic fans, window or ceiling fans, and portable or table fans); and refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers and dishwashers. Other appliances include small ones such as televisions, video cassette recorders, digital video disc players, radios, computers and toasters.
Auxiliary equipment (Équipement auxiliaire):With the exception of auxiliary motors (see Auxiliary Motors), “auxiliary equipment” includes stand-alone equipment powered directly from an electrical outlet such as computers, photocopiers, refrigerators and desktop lamps. It also includes equipment that can be powered by natural gas, propane or other fuels, such as clothes dryers and cooking appliances.
Auxiliary motors (Moteurs auxiliaires):Refers to devices used to transform electric power into mechanical energy in order to provide a service, such as pumps, ventilators, compressors and conveyors.
Biomass (Biomasse):Includes wood waste and pulping liquor. Wood waste is a fuel consisting of bark, shavings, sawdust and low-grade lumber and lumber rejects from the operation of pulp mills, sawmills and plywood mills. Pulping liquor is a substance primarily made up of lignin and other wood constituents and chemicals that are by-products of the manufacture of chemical pulp.
Capacity utilization (Utilisation de la capacité):The rates of capacity use are measures of the intensity with which industries use their production capacity. It is the ratio of an industry’s actual output to its estimated potential output.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) (Dioxyde de carbone): A compound of carbon and oxygen formed whenever carbon is burned. Carbon dioxide is a colourless gas that absorbs infrared radiation, mostly at wavelengths between 12 and 18 microns. It behaves as a one-way filter, allowing incoming visible light to pass through in one direction, while preventing outgoing infrared radiation from passing in the opposite direction. The one-way filtering effect of carbon dioxide causes an excess of the infrared radiation to be trapped in the atmosphere; thus it acts as a "greenhouse" and has the potential to increase the surface temperature of the planet (see Greenhouse Gas).
Company average fuel consumption (CAFC) (Consommation moyenne de carburant de l’entreprise [CMCE]):The Government of Canada encourages improvements in the fuel efficiency of the Canadian new vehicle fleet by setting voluntary annual company average fuel consumption (CAFC) goals for vehicle manufacturers and importers.
Cooling degree-day (CDD) (Degré-jour de réfrigération [DJR]):A measure of how hot a location was over a period, relative to a base temperature. In this handbook, the base temperature is 18.0°C and the period is one year. If the daily average temperature exceeds the base temperature, the number of cooling degree-days for that day is the difference between the two temperatures. However, if the daily average is equal to or less than the base temperature, the number of CDDs for that day is zero. The number of CDDs for a longer period is the sum of the daily cooling degree-days for the days in that period.
Cooling degree-day index (Indice des degrés-jours de réfrigération) :A measure of how relatively hot (or cold) a year was when compared with the cooling degree-day (CDD) average. When the CDD index is above (below) 1, the observed temperature is warmer (colder) than normal. The CDD normal represents a weighted average of the 1951-1980 CDDs observed in a number of weather stations across Canada. Its value varies from year to year because of population flow.
Dwelling (Logement):A dwelling is defined as a structurally separate set of living premises with a private entrance from outside the building or from a common hallway or stairway inside. A private dwelling is one in which one person, a family or other small group of individuals may reside, such as a single house or apartment.
Electricity Conversion Loss (Perte de conversion de l’électricité):The energy lost during the conversion from primary energy (petroleum, natural gas, coal, hydro, uranium and biomass) into electrical energy. Losses occur during generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and include plant and unaccounted-for uses.
End-use (Utilisation finale):Any specific activity that requires energy (e.g. refrigeration, space heating, water heating, manufacturing processes and feedstock).
Energy intensity (Intensité énergétique):The amount of energy used per unit of activity. Examples of activity measures are households, floor space, passenger-kilometres, tonne-kilometres, physical units of production and constant dollar value of gross domestic product.
Energy source (Source d’énergie):Any substance that supplies heat or power (e.g. petroleum, natural gas, coal, renewable energy and electricity), including the use of a fuel as a non-energy feedstock.
Gigajoule (GJ):One gigajoule equals 1 x 109 joules (see Petajoule).
Greenhouse gas (GHG) (Gaz à effet de serre [GES]):A greenhouse gas (GHG) absorbs and radiates heat in the lower atmosphere that otherwise would be lost in space. The greenhouse effect is essential for life on this planet, since it keeps average global temperatures high enough to support plant and animal growth. The main GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and nitrous oxide (N2O). By far the most abundant greenhouse gas is CO2, accounting for 70 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions (see Carbon dioxide).
Greenhouse gas intensity (Intensité en gaz à effet de serre):The amount of greenhouse gas emitted per unit of energy used.
Gross domestic product (GDP) (Produit intérieur brut [PIB]):The total value of goods and services produced within Canada during a given year. Also referred to as annual economic output or, more simply, output. To avoid counting the same output more than once, GDP includes only final goods and services – not those that are used to make another product. GDP figures are reported in chained 2017 dollars.
Gross output (GO) (Production brute [(PB)]):The total value of goods and services produced by an industry. It is the sum of the industry’s shipments plus the change in value due to labour and capital investment. Gross output figures are reported in chained 2017 dollars.
Heat gain (Gain de chaleur):Heat gained by a building from the operation of appliances. These heat gains reduce the space heating load in the winter and increase the space cooling load in the summer.
Heat loss (Perte de chaleur):Represents the amount of energy released as heat by an appliance or piece of equipment while it is in operation.
Heating degree-day (HDD) (Degré-jour de chauffage [DJC]):A measure of how cold a location was over a period, relative to a base temperature. In this handbook, the base temperature is 18.0°C and the period is one year. If the daily average temperature is below the base temperature, the number of heating degree-days (HDDs) for that day is the difference between the two temperatures. However, if the daily average temperature is equal to or higher than the base temperature, the number of HDDs for that day is zero. The number of HDDs for a longer period is the sum of the daily HDDs for the days in that period.
Heating degree-day index (Indice des degrés-jours de chauffage):A measure of how relatively cold (or hot) a year was when compared with the heating degree-day (HDD) average. When the HDD index is above (below) 1, the observed temperature is colder (warmer) than normal. The HDD normal represents a weighted average of the 1951-1980 HDDs observed in a number of weather stations across Canada. Its value varies from year to year because of population flow.
Heavy truck (As referred to in the Energy Efficiency Trends in Canada report)(Camion lourd):A truck with a gross vehicle weight that is more than, or equal to, 14,970 kilograms (kg) (33,001 pounds [lb]). The gross vehicle weight is the weight of the empty vehicle plus the maximum anticipated load weight.
Household (Ménage):A person or a group of people occupying one dwelling unit is defined as a household. The number of households will, therefore, be equal to the number of occupied dwellings.
Housing stock (Parc de logements):The physical number of dwellings is referred to as the housing stock. As opposed to the number of households, which refers to the number of occupied dwellings only, housing stock includes both occupied and unoccupied dwellings.
Light truck (Camion léger):A truck of up to 3,855 kg (8,500 lb.) of gross vehicle weight. The gross vehicle weight is the weight of the empty vehicle plus the maximum anticipated load weight. This class of vehicles includes pickup trucks, minivans and sport utility vehicles.
Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG) and Gas Plant Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) (Gaz de pétrole liquéfié [GPL] et liquides de gaz naturel [LGN] des usines de gaz):Propane and butane are liquefied gases extracted from natural gas (e.g. gas plant NGL) or from refined petroleum products (e.g. LPG) at the processing plant.
Medium truck (Camion moyen):A truck with a gross vehicle weight ranging from 3,856 to 14,969 kg (8,501 to 33,000 lb). The gross vehicle weight is the weight of the empty vehicle plus the maximum anticipated load weight.
Megajoule (MJ) (Mégajoule [MJ]):One megajoule equals 1 x 106 joules (see Petajoule).
Mobile home (Maison mobile):A moveable dwelling designed and constructed to be transported by road on its own chassis to a site and placed on a temporary foundation (such as blocks, posts or a prepared pad). If required, it can be moved to a new location.
Model year (Année automobile):An annual period in which a national automotive industry organizes its operations and within which new models are announced. For example, if the “model year” is 2004, it begins September 1, 2003, and ends August 31, 2004.
Multifactor productivity (Productivité multifactorielle):The ratio of output per unit of combined inputs (capital services and labour services).
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) (Système de classification des industries de l’Amérique du Nord [SCIAN]):A classification system that categorizes establishments into groups with similar economic activities. The structure of NAICS, adopted by Statistics Canada in 1997 to replace the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification (CTI), was developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Passenger-kilometre (Pkm) (Voyageur-kilomètre [Vkm]):An activity measure in the passenger transportation sub-sector describing the transportation of one passenger over a distance of one kilometre.
Petajoule (PJ) (Pétajoule [PJ]):One petajoule equals 1 x 1015 joules. A joule is the international unit of measure of energy – the energy produced by the power of one watt flowing for a second. There are 3.6 million joules in one kilowatt-hour (see Kilowatt-hour).
Pulping liquor (Liqueur résiduaire):A substance primarily made up of lignin, other wood constituents and chemicals that are by-products of the manufacture of chemical pulp. It can produce steam for industrial processes when burned in a boiler and/or produce electricity through thermal generation.
Secondary energy use (Consommation d’énergie secondaire):Energy used by final consumers for residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial and transportation purposes.
Sector (Secteur):The broadest category for which energy consumption and intensity are considered within the Canadian economy (e.g. residential, commercial/institutional, industrial, transportation, agriculture and electricity generation).
Single attached (dwelling) (Maison individuelle attenante):Each half of a semi-detached (double) house and each section of a row or terrace are defined as single attached dwellings. A single dwelling attached to a non-residential structure also belongs to this category.
Single detached (dwelling) (Maison unifamiliale):This type of dwelling is commonly called a single house (e.g. a house containing one dwelling unit and completely separated on all sides from any other building or structure).
Space cooling (Climatisation des locaux d’habitation):Conditioning of room air for human comfort by a refrigeration unit (e.g. air conditioner or heat pump) or by the circulation of chilled water through a central- or district-cooling system.
Space heating (Chauffage des locaux):The use of mechanical equipment to heat all or part of a building. Includes the principal space heating unit and any supplementary equipment.
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) (Classification type des industries [CTI]):A classification system that categorizes establishments into groups with similar economic activities.
Waste fuel (Combustible résiduaire):A designation applied to any number of energy sources other than conventional fuels used in the cement industry. It includes materials such as tires, municipal waste and landfill off-gases.
Water heater (Chauffe-eau):An automatically controlled vessel designed for heating water and storing heated water.
Water heating (Chauffage de l’eau):The use of energy to heat water for hot running water, as well as the use of energy to heat water on stoves and in auxiliary water heating equipment for bathing, cleaning and other non-cooking applications.
Watt (W) (Watt [W]):A measure of power. For example, a 40-watt light bulb uses 40 watts of electricity (see Kilowatt-hour).
Wood waste (Déchets ligneux):Fuel consisting of bark, shavings, sawdust, low-grade lumber and lumber rejects from the operation of pulp mills, sawmills and plywood mills.