Applicant Guidelines

The following guidelines provide advice to an applicant to the ETV Program. These guidelines are provided to ensure that the technology vendor understands the nature of the ETV Program and the importance of providing accurate documentation and data to support the performance claim of the technology being verified.

1. Environmental Technology

For a technology to be eligible for the ETV program, it must be either:

• an environmental technology or process that offers an environmental benefit or addresses an environmental problem, or
• an equipment-based environmental service that can make claims based solely on measurable performance of the equipment.

2. Performance Claim

An applicant needs to have a performance claim at the outset, and ETV Canada can assist with drafting the claim. The performance claim must satisfy the following Criteria:

• The claim must be specific and unambiguous.
• The claim must clearly specify the minimum performance that is achievable with the technology, and not simply the maximum performance.

Example: An unacceptable claim would state that a technology reduces emission of a contaminant by up to x%, whereas an acceptable claim would state that a technology reduces emissions of a contaminant by at least y%.

• The claim must clearly specify the operating conditions under which the claim is applicable.
• The claim must not be subject to more than one reasonable interpretation. It must be communicated accurately and explicitly 'to what' the claim applies.

Caution must be exercised when using relative or comparative terms or expressions in a claim.

Expressions such as "better than" or "superior to" imply a comparison of vendors' technologies. To verify these claims would require the proponent vendor to provide reliable, high quality data on his technology as well as on each of the competitor's technologies. Using terms such as the "best" or "the only one in the world" requires the proponent to provide reliable, high quality data on all available technologies to validate such a performance claim. Normally such claims will not be accepted.

A comparative expression such as "improves" is an acceptable term if it is used to describe an advancement of the proponent's own technology and if the proponent has suitable data for both the baseline conditions (prior to the improvement) and the improved version. Other comparative terms may be used in a performance claim; however, where necessary, definitions may need to be included to ensure that the wording is not misinterpreted. The claim must be meaningful and nontrivial.

The claim must meet minimum standards and guidelines for the technology. Where a federal standard is not available, the least stringent provincial standard shall apply.

The technology must meet federal, provincial, and/or municipal regulations or guidelines for discharged waters or treated effluents, soils, sediments, sludge or other solid-phase materials. ETV Canada will refer to such appropriate standards when assessing the claim. The claim must be measurable and verifiable. The claim must be measurable using acceptable test procedures and analytical techniques.

<<<Example Performance Claims>>>

3. Data Collection

The data were collected by an independent third party and analyzed by an accredited laboratory.

<<<Data Quality Requirements>>>

4. Sound Scientific and Engineering Principles

Technology is based on sound scientific and engineering principles that are established in textbooks, peer-reviewed journal articles, technical documents and/or patents, and data related to the technology are of sufficient quality to pass a critical review by technical experts, including data set statistical analysis.

Contact us for assistance!