ABOUT US
What is Energy Exchange?
Energy Exchange is dedicated to advancing energy literacy in Canada. It aspires to a future in which Canadians are united in their energy prosperity, rather than divided by their energy options.
Energy Exchange sees energy literacy at the core of a sustainable future for Canada. It is committed to fostering an energy culture that will ensure that Canada’s immense and varied energy wealth is used to build a rich and diversified economy and a vibrant and prosperous society.
Based in Toronto, Energy Exchange is an operating division of the Pollution Probe Foundation, governed by its Board of Directors and reflective of its core values: inclusive, independent, non-partisan, results-oriented, focused, evidence-based, learning, and innovative.
Energy Exchange draws advice on strategic direction, research, and technical knowledge from a Learning Council consisting of voluntary members from the private and public sectors. Representing a broad range of expertise on energy systems, learning, and evaluation, the Learning Council acts as a “window to the world,” ensuring that Energy Exchange’s activities are relevant to Canada’s energy reality.
Our Vision
Canadians united in energy prosperity.
Our Mission
To measurably increase energy literacy levels among Canadians through knowledge mobilization techniques developed and implemented in collaboration with a network of experts on energy systems learning.
Why Does Canada Need Energy Exchange?
Canada’s energy resources have the potential to generate unprecedented levels of economic opportunity and sustainable growth. But because the interconnections and interdependencies that constitute our energy systems are not well understood, the current public dialogue on energy is often polarized and unproductive. Decisions take years to make, and opportunities go unrealized. Companies and municipalities use energy less efficiently than they could, limiting the value created by their activities. And individuals, uncertain how to weigh the benefits against the risks of energy development, often make choices and take positions that are misaligned with their interests and objectives.
Energy systems literacy can enable Canadians to overcome regional and political divisions, and unite to confront challenging decisions about the nation’s energy future. Energy literacy means creating a common language for the citizens of an energy nation so that they can effectively assume their shared responsibilities:
- stewardship of Canada’s vast and diverse energy endowment;
- global leadership in the responsible development, distribution, and productive use of Canada’s energy; and
- technological innovation to conserve Canada’s energy wealth for the benefit of future generations.
By revealing how energy systems connect us and reflect our common values and aspirations, energy literacy can empower us to realize Canada’s immense energy potential and build a sustainable and prosperous future for the nation.
Energy Fact
The energy sector employs over half a million Canadians and generates about 25% of the country’s export revenue.
How is Energy Exchange Unique?
National
Energy Exchange respects the diverse cultural, geographic, and political dimensions of Canada and works across all regions and jurisdictions to advance energy literacy.
Collaboration
Energy Exchange provides an effective platform for meaningful collaboration with other like-minded organizations, and enriches and expands the overall collective capacity of Canada’s energy literacy ecosystem.
Knowledge Mobilization
Energy Exchange’s initiatives and strategies are based on the principles of knowledge mobilization – getting the right information to the right people at the right time, in the right format, to influence their decision-making and to create new value.
Measurement and Reporting
Energy Exchange is committed to measurably increasing energy literacy levels in Canada, establishing standardized metrics and key performance indicators to assess results across the country and to report publicly on progress made.
Energy Neutral
Energy literacy empowers people to think for themselves and engage in positive and productive dialogue. Energy Exchange promotes broad-based energy literacy, presenting facts and concepts without prejudice, so that individuals can understand the nature of energy systems, consider their options, and confront the trade-offs implicit in their choice.
Interactive
Knowing is not the same as doing. We learn about 10 per cent of what we read, 50 per cent of what we see and hear, and 90 per cent of what we say and do. So Energy Exchange bypasses traditional, passive learning in favour of innovative platforms, such as dialogue, gaming, and hands-on problem- solving, targeted to engage diverse audiences.
Systems-Based Literacy
Energy Exchange promotes systems thinking on energy – the interconnections between energy sources, distribution networks, and how people live and work in Canada. Energy systems thinking is critical to understanding how decisions that impact one part of the system affect the system as a whole.