Energy consumption in Canada since confederation

Abstract

This article presents a picture of the energy history of an expanding industrial country. Data are presented on energy consumption and energy sources in Canada since confederation in 1867. The original data have been converted to a ‘fuel equivalent’ basis to allow a more detailed comparison of energy source. The average yearly growth of energy consumption on a fuel equivalent basis for the past 100 years has been 3·1%. Per capita consumption of energy has increased 4·7 times in the 105 years included in the study.