Regulation

Canada’s Hidden Dependence on U.S. Energy Policies—Time to Break Free?

Did you know that Canada’s building environmental regulations are largely dependent on U.S. policies? Find out why and how we can break free.

February 27, 2025

Florence Labrie

Co-founder & Chief Growth Officer

Did you know that Canada’s building environmental regulations are largely dependent on U.S. policies?

For those unfamiliar with how energy regulations work in North America, our standards rely heavily on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—the U.S. federal agency responsible for environmental protection. From benchmarking building emissions to Energy Star certifications, much of the framework that guides our sustainability efforts originates from the U.S.

But with ongoing geopolitical shifts—trade tariffs, funding cuts, and policy uncertainty south of the border—it’s time for Canada to ask itself:

Why aren’t we taking charge of our own energy transition?

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The Role of Energy Star in Building Benchmarking

A key player in this regulatory framework is Energy Star, an initiative under the EPA that provides the benchmarking platform used to assess building energy performance across North America. Cities, provinces, and organizations rely on Energy Star data to track progress, set efficiency goals, and comply with environmental regulations.

🔹 More than 200 cities in North America use Energy Star and EPA regulations to benchmark building performance.

🔹 The goal? To emulate what’s already being done in Europe.

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What Can We Learn from Europe?

If you’ve traveled to France, Italy, or Germany, you may have noticed something different when looking at buildings for sale or lease—a mandatory energy efficiency rating displayed right on the listing that looks something like this.

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In the European Union, buildings cannot be sold or rented unless they meet a minimum energy efficiency standard.

💡 And it works. In Italy, a national building efficiency mandate reduced CO₂ emissions from buildings by over 19% in just a decade.

Meanwhile, in Canada?

Building emissions have increased by 17% since 2010.

Canada’s Opportunity for Energy Independence

Unlike Europe, which has built its own independent regulatory framework, Canada continues to rely on external U.S. agencies for setting its energy and emissions benchmarks. But with increasing volatility in international policies, we must ask:

➡️ Why aren’t we managing our own data?

➡️ Why aren’t we setting our own goals?

➡️ Why aren’t we creating a Canadian-first approach to energy efficiency?

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A Call to Action: Let’s Take Control

We have the talent. We have the technology. We have the data.

Now, we need the initiative.

At Citera, we believe Canada should establish its own energy benchmarking and regulatory platform—one that is tailored to our buildings, our climate, and our sustainability goals.

✅ No reliance on external agencies.

✅ Stronger data control for policymakers.

✅ A clear path to carbon neutrality.

If you work in municipal, provincial, or federal government—or know someone who does—let’s talk. We have an idea on how Canada can take control of its own energy transition.

Let’s lead our own future. 🇨🇦

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Canada’s Hidden Dependence on U.S. Energy Policies—Time to Break Free?

Florence Labrie

Canada’s Hidden Dependence on U.S. Energy Policies—Time to Break Free?

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Canada’s Hidden Dependence on U.S. Energy Policies—Time to Break Free?

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Continue reading

Canada’s Hidden Dependence on U.S. Energy Policies—Time to Break Free?

Confused by NYC’s Local Laws 84 and 97? We’ve Got You Covered!

The US Steps Back, but Carbon Neutrality Goals Push Forward