SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The NWT's rating has tumbled on a national report card on energy efficiency.

The Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance (CEEA) released its 2009 National Energy Efficiency Report Card on Aug. 19, downgrading the NWT from a B+ in 2007 to a C.

According to the report, the NWT follows the National Building Code of Canada, which fails in its energy efficiency objectives, particularly in northern climates.

The GNWT is obviously not happy with the C grade.

In a news release, it noted that, while no NWT building code exists, NWT building standards are beyond those of the National Building Code.

“It is unfortunate the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance didn’t take into account the code requirements we do follow for all GNWT buildings, NWT Housing Corporation buildings and buildings in the City of Yellowknife,” said Michael Miltenberger, the minister of Environment and Natural Resources. “We are committed to increasing the energy efficiency of all buildings across the Northwest Territories, and continue to work with other organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the cost of living.”

The report card is issued every two years by the CEEA, which is a non-government, not-for-profit advocacy group established in 1995.

In this year’s report card, only two other jurisdictions saw a drop in their grades – British Columbia went from an A+ to an A, while Saskatchewan went from a B+ to a B.

Nunavut’s grade went up from C to a B.

The top grade of A+ was earned by Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

Miltenberger outlined a number of programs and initiatives by which the GNWT is encouraging energy efficiency.

For example, he said GNWT buildings are required to meet energy efficiency requirements of the Federal EcoENERGY program for new buildings, meaning all must be 25 per cent more energy efficient than a comparable building constructed to the minimum requirements of the National Building Code.

The GNWT release noted other efforts include the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program, which since 2007 has provided more than $1.4 million in rebates to encourage NWT residents and businesses to buy energy efficient appliances; the Alternative Energy Technologies Program; and the Energy Conservation Program, which helps reduce the use of electrical and heat energy.

About half of all NWT residences are in Yellowknife, which has energy-efficiency standards for residential buildings. The city also requires all commercial, institutional and industrial buildings to comply with a minimum energy efficiency building standard that is 25 per cent higher than the minimum requirements of the National Building Code.

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