Your Energy Footprint

Domestic energy is used in Canada mainly for the following five purposes.
1. Lighting	Because of Canada's high latitude, our winters have long dark nights. As a result, Canadians are among the highest consumers in the world of electrical energy for lighting purposes. Incandescent bulbs are the most popular form of domestic indoor lighting, although florescent lighting is becoming more popular, especially in bathroom and kitchen areas. Incandescent bulbs are popular because they are inexpensive to buy. They are extremely expensive to operate though, since they waste most of the electrical energy they consume as heat.
Your Turn! Define incandescent and florescent. Use a dictionary to help form your definitions. What kinds of bulbs are used in your classroom?

Domestic energy is used in Canada mainly for the following five purposes.

1. Lighting

Because of Canada's high latitude, our winters have long dark nights. As a result, Canadians are among the highest consumers in the world of electrical energy for lighting purposes.

Incandescent bulbs are the most popular form of domestic indoor lighting, although florescent lighting is becoming more popular, especially in bathroom and kitchen areas.

Incandescent bulbs are popular because they are inexpensive to buy. They are extremely expensive to operate though, since they waste most of the electrical energy they consume as heat.

Your Turn!

Define incandescent and florescent. Use a dictionary to help form your definitions.

What kinds of bulbs are used in your classroom?

2. Space Heating & Air Conditioning	Canada is a country with extremes in climate. We have very hot summers and bitterly cold winters. This fact causes Canadians to use large amounts of energy for indoor heating and cooling. Most indoor heating is accomplished by burning fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas within the buildings that require heat. Summertime air conditioning, on the other hand, is accomplished almost entirely by using imported electrical energy, much of which comes from burning fossil fuels at a distant electrical power plant.
Your Turn! How is your home heated? How is your school heated? Are they air-conditioned?

2. Space Heating &
Air Conditioning

Canada is a country with extremes in climate. We have very hot summers and bitterly cold winters. This fact causes Canadians to use large amounts of energy for indoor heating and cooling.

Most indoor heating is accomplished by burning fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas within the buildings that require heat.

Summertime air conditioning, on the other hand, is accomplished almost entirely by using imported electrical energy, much of which comes from burning fossil fuels at a distant electrical power plant.

Your Turn!

How is your home heated? How is your school heated? Are they air-conditioned?

3. Transportation	Canada is big! Really big! What's more...Canadians love to travel. This travel may be to escape the Canadian winter, (by driving south to the United States), exploring our vast and beautiful country, commuting to and from work, or just to enjoy a drive in the car on a sunny day. Whatever the reason, Canadians are among the largest consumers of gasoline per capita in the world. This also means that we are among the largest per capita producers of automobile exhaust gas in the world.
Your Turn! How do you travel to school? How do your parents travel to work? What is the farthest you have traveled by car?

3. Transportation

Canada is big! Really big! What's more...Canadians love to travel.

This travel may be to escape the Canadian winter, (by driving south to the United States), exploring our vast and beautiful country, commuting to and from work, or just to enjoy a drive in the car on a sunny day.

Whatever the reason, Canadians are among the largest consumers of gasoline per capita in the world. This also means that we are among the largest per capita producers of automobile exhaust gas in the world.

Your Turn!

How do you travel to school? How do your parents travel to work? What is the farthest you have traveled by car?

4. Water	Canada has an abundance of water. But as Canadians we don't just want water, we want it clean, often hot, and we want lots of it! Although it may seem easy to simply turn on a tap and get lots of hot water, delivered at good pressure, (for that wake-up shower in the morning), it actually takes a great deal of energy to deliver this luxury to our homes.
Your Turn! How often do you shower? How many showers are taken by your family daily?

4. Water

Canada has an abundance of water.

But as Canadians we don't just want water, we want it clean, often hot, and we want lots of it!

Although it may seem easy to simply turn on a tap and get lots of hot water, delivered at good pressure, (for that wake-up shower in the morning), it actually takes a great deal of energy to deliver this luxury to our homes.

Your Turn!

How often do you shower? How many showers are taken by your family daily?

5. Cooking	The use of energy for kitchen use is one of the major expenses in our homes. Refrigerators use a great deal of energy. Electrical appliances such as toasters, kettles, electric and gas ranges, and ovens also use significant amounts of energy. Many homes are also fully equipped with laundry facilities. Washing machines and dryers also use considerable amounts of energy.
Your Turn! What appliances are in your kitchen at home?

5. Cooking

The use of energy for kitchen use is one of the major expenses in our homes.

Refrigerators use a great deal of energy. Electrical appliances such as toasters, kettles, electric and gas ranges, and ovens also use significant amounts of energy.

Many homes are also fully equipped with laundry facilities. Washing machines and dryers also use considerable amounts of energy.

Your Turn!

What appliances are in your kitchen at home?

Primary Domestic Energy Use: Student Reading Activity

Read the following fact sheet and answer the questions in your notebook.

Your Turn!