What’s the most suitable energy efficiency upgrade for your home? How can you save energy in the kitchen? How do you talk to kids about energy efficiency?
The latest edition of our magazine answers all these questions and more. Check your mailbox for a physical copy or click the magazine below to learn more about our programs and rebates, seasonal energy-saving tips, and other energy efficiency-related content (including a tasty recipe!).
EFFICIENCY MANITOBA TO INVEST UP TO $2 MILLION TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY ICE RINKS WITH ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING UPGRADES
Up to 100% funding will be provided to ice rink facilities in Manitoba, reducing energy consumption and operating costs
Efficiency Manitoba is launching a new limited-time initiative aiming to help communities throughout the province reduce their energy bills and operating costs. Through the Community Rink Lighting Initiative, the Crown corporation will be providing funding to help multiple facilities with indoor ice rinks replace their inefficient lighting, covering up to 100% of reasonable lighting equipment and associated labour costs.
“Rinks and arenas serve as the social hub of many communities. However, many of them are operating on limited revenue streams and may not otherwise be able to benefit from energy-saving upgrades without additional financial support,” said Kevin Klein, Minister of Environment and Climate and the Minister responsible for Efficiency Manitoba. “We are very pleased to see Efficiency Manitoba provide funding to help improve the energy efficiency and lighting quality of these important community meeting and recreation spaces.”
From September 1 to December 1, 2023, Efficiency Manitoba will be accepting Expressions of Interest from eligible applicants. Submissions will be reviewed and funding will be allocated to a variety of projects with the intent of supporting urban, rural, remote, and First Nation communities throughout Manitoba.
“Replacing inefficient lighting in rinks can lead to significant electricity savings,” said Colleen Kuruluk, CEO of Efficiency Manitoba. “Energy-efficient lighting over ice surfaces provides an opportunity to generate even more energy savings than typical lighting upgrades. Not only will these facilities save money upfront with Efficiency Manitoba funding, but they’ll also benefit from long-term savings on their energy bills. The reduced financial strain resulting from our support is good for the facility and the entire community.”
The advantages of improved lighting in community centres and arenas go beyond saving energy and lower bills. The improved light quality and brightness also creates a more pleasant indoor environment; shadows and glares are diminished, which benefits spectators and athletes alike. More efficient lighting has a longer useful life, resulting in decreased maintenance costs and downtime required for replacement. Additionally, inefficient lighting in these facilities tends to operate concurrently with Manitoba Hydro’s peak delivery requirement; winter evenings when energy use is at its highest. Targeting these types of facilities with efficiency improvements helps reduce strain on the electric grid.
Ongoing work with four facilities served as the catalyst for the Community Rink Lighting Initiative. When working with Deer Lodge Curling Club in Winnipeg, the communities of St. Malo and St. Pierre, and the Morden Curling Club to complete energy efficiency upgrades, Efficiency Manitoba recognized the additional financial needs experienced by these types of facilities.
“The Deer Lodge Curling Club is extremely excited to be a part of this new initiative through Efficiency Manitoba and we are grateful that they are including us in this initiative,” said Corey Thompson, Deer Lodge Curling Club President. “Curling clubs are a challenging business to run as budgets are small and money for capital improvements is tough to come by—especially coming out of the pandemic. The outdated lighting fixtures are costing the curling club thousands of dollars each month, and being able to complete this project thanks to Efficiency Manitoba will make an immediate and impactful difference on the bottom line.”
“Communities are facing unprecedented challenges as they are still reeling from the impact of the recent pandemic; this has in turn greatly affected the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of these buildings. This Efficiency Manitoba initiative is a timely one as it will help operators achieve sustainability-focused energy solutions for their facilities,” said Dany Robidoux, Executive Director of Eco-West Canada.
Those who are interested in receiving funding through the Community Rink Lighting Initiative are encouraged to visit efficiencyMB.ca between September 1 and December 1, 2023 to submit their Expression of Interest, or email lighting@efficiencyMB.ca for more information.
About Efficiency Manitoba
Efficiency Manitoba is Manitoba’s Crown corporation dedicated to energy efficiency. With legislated long-term energy savings targets to achieve, the organization has over 40 diverse programs and offers available to help Manitobans save energy, money, and the environment.
PROJECT FEATURE: CARLYLE PRINTERS, SERVICE & SUPPLIES
SKY-HIGH SAVINGS THROUGH OUR BUILDING ENVELOPE PROGRAM
As one of the largest providers of printing supplies in Manitoba, the folks at Carlyle Printers, Service & Supplies Ltd. wanted to make their business more energy efficient. To save energy, help the environment (and reduce costs), they upgraded their roof insulation through our Building Envelope Program. Not only have they already realized savings of $3,600 on their energy bills in the first six months, we gave them an incentive of $11,800 for their upgrade.
The process was easy. We approved their project, Transcona Roofing did the work, and once we received the completion declaration, we sent the incentive straight to them. Watch this video to learn more about Carlyle Printers’ experience!
ARE YOU A BUILDING OWNER?
Building owners or contractors can apply for financial incentives through our Building Envelope Program on our website. We need to approve your project to make sure it meets the eligibility requirements, and you’ll receive your incentive after the upgrades are complete. Check out our incentive details to learn more.
We highly encourage you to join our supplier network. You’ll be listed on our website as a registered Efficiency Manitoba supplier and can offer our programs to your customers. You’ll also have access to training opportunities and materials offered by our team of experts and can promote our energy efficiency programs in your advertising. The best part? It’s free to register and participate!
BRIGHT SAVINGS THROUGH OUR BUSINESS LIGHTING PROGRAM
Our Business Lighting Program offers financial incentives for buildings in the commercial, industrial, and agricultural sectors for completing energy-efficient lighting upgrades in their buildings. Here’s how one recent customer upgraded their lighting through the program and realized some bright savings.
THE PROJECT
When Grace Christian Church was considering upgrading the lighting in their church, their contractor, Direct Connect Electric Inc. was eager to recommend our program.
Their project was extensive — not only did they upgrade the lighting on the exterior of the church to LEDs, they also tackled the interior of the building. They upgraded their old T12, halogen, and incandescent fixtures to new LED fixtures in the front entrance of the church, the chapel, as well as in the function rooms, washrooms, and maintenance room.
Plus, they took their savings a step further by installing occupancy sensors in the washrooms! Installing lighting controls, like occupancy sensors, results in even more savings. They sense when a space is occupied and turn the lights on when someone enters. When the space is empty, the lights are turned off, meaning energy isn’t being used when it’s not necessary.
THE SAVINGS
Because of their upgrade, Grace Christian Church will save over 90,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity every year, which equates to an estimated $4,600 in annual energy bills savings. Plus, we were able to provide them with an incentive of over $10,000! This includes the 25% customer bonus we’re currently offering on all lighting projects.
Applications completed by the customer before March 31, 2024 will receive the 25% customer bonus — so if you’ve been considering a lighting upgrade, now’s the time to do it!
THE PROCESS
Applying for incentives is easy with our new online application system, myEM. Building owners can apply on their own, or their lighting suppliers or contractors can apply on their behalf.
Direct Connect Electric Inc., has been serving homes and businesses in Winnipeg since 2008. They helped Grace Christian Church every step of the way, from walking them through the benefits of our program, to applying on their behalf, completing the upgrade, and submitting the paperwork.
“Our electrician actually steered us toward Efficiency Manitoba. It was incredible how seamless and painless the process was from application to inspection and the short length of time it took to receive the incentive.”
Rick Hofer Manager, Grace Christian Church
Once the upgrade was complete, Grace Christian Church signed off on the completion and their incentive cheque was sent!
“It was incredibly easy”, says Hofer.
ARE YOU A BUILDING OWNER?
Building owners or their lighting suppliers or contractors can apply for financial incentives through the Business Lighting Program on our website. Check out our program guide to see our incentive rates and eligibility requirements.
ARE YOU A LIGHTING SUPPLIER OR CONTRACTOR?
We highly encourage you to join our supplier network. You’ll be listed on our website as a registered Efficiency Manitoba supplier and can offer our programs to your customers. You’ll also have access to training opportunities and materials offered by our team of experts and can promote our energy efficiency programs in your advertising. The best part? It’s free to register and participate!
If you own or manage a multi-unit residential property, you can make energy efficiency upgrades through our In-Suite Energy Efficiency Program. These improvements can lead to lower energy usage and bills which are good for you, your tenants, and the environment.
The program offers free basic upgrades, including A-line LED bulbs, bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators, showerheads, shower timers, and other items. And it’s not just the energy-saving devices that are free — so is the installation! Our program service provider, Ecofitt, will install the devices at no extra charge.
We also offer incentives of up to $250 per suite toward the installation of smart thermostats and advanced heat recovery ventilator (HRV) controls by a certified electrician.
HOW MUCH CAN YOU SAVE ON YOUR ENERGY BILLS?
Two buildings in Selkirk recently participated in our In-Suite Energy Efficiency Program. Cambridge House (300 Tudor Road) and Woodland Courts (387 Annie Street) received showerheads, bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators, and LED bulbs for all 87 suites in the buildings.
“When we received information about the program, we were interested in reducing our energy bills and addressing any inefficiencies we may have,” said Tracy Flores, the manager of both buildings.
Together, the buildings will save about 13,900 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and 8,400 cubic metres (m3) of natural gas; these energy savings combined are almost enough energy to power four homes for a whole year! They’ll also save a combined 1.3 million litres of water annually. These energy and water savings are thanks to the energy efficiency upgrades that were entirely free of charge.
“We were very impressed with [Efficiency Manitoba’s contracted service provider] Ecofitt. From the start, they answered any questions we had about the program. When it came to the actual rollout, they were very efficient, considering they had over 80 suites to upgrade between our two buildings. Our two buildings consist of an assisted living facility and senior housing, and I must say, Ecofitt was very courteous, pleasant, and respectful with our tenants.”
Tracy Flores Building Manager
ARE YOU A PROPERTY MANAGER OR OWNER?
We help property managers and owners of multi-unit residential buildings improve the energy efficiency of the suites in their buildings. We offer two levels of upgrades so you can pick the type that’s right for you.
There’s nothing quite like a Manitoba summer! While our minds are focused on planning camping trips, bonfires, and beach days, it’s important to keep our homes and properties in mind too. Follow these energy efficiency tips for summer to help you save at home.
1. Keep the heat out of your kitchen: Cook your meals on the grill when the weather allows to keep excess heat out of your home. If you need to cook indoors, use the smallest appliance possible to do the job, such as an air fryer or microwave oven. Microwaves are one of the most energy-efficient cooking appliances. A microwave takes 15 minutes to do the same job as one hour in an oven.
2. Go for solar lighting: Use solar lights to create ambient lighting on your deck or pathways outside rather than plugging in decorative string lights. Solar lights use the sun’s rays to provide power, while traditional string lights rely on electricity, which can increase your energy bills.
3. Upgrade your insulation: The more that cool air can escape your home and warm air can get in, the harder your air conditioning (AC) unit has to work to regulate your indoor air temperature. Summer is the perfect time to take on an insulation project. It can help you reduce your energy bills, improve the comfort of your living space, and you’ll be ready for winter! Plus, we offer rebates to help cover the cost.
Bonus tip: Air sealing your home is just as important as insulation. Make sure your windows and doors are properly sealed to reduce air from leaking inside (or out)
4. Air-dry your clothes: Take advantage of the warm summer breeze by hanging your clothes outside to dry rather than using your dryer. You can also use a drying rack indoors (humidity permitting) when the weather isn’t favorable for outdoor drying.
5. Use a fan instead of your AC when weather allows: Fans use far less energy than your AC unit; however, they don’t provide cooling like your AC would on a very hot day. When the weather is cool enough, use a fan instead of your AC to provide air movement in your home.
Bonus tip: If the outside temperature is lower than the temperature inside your home, open your windows for free cooling!
6. Strategically plant trees to help save energy: Summer is the perfect time to plant new trees. Not only is it beneficial for the environment by combating climate change, strategically planting trees can also help you save energy year-round.
Use these planting tips to help reduce your cooling in the summer (and heating costs in the winter!):
Plant medium to large deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in the winter) along the south or southwest side of your house to help shade your home from the sun. Be sure to choose trees that have tall and dense canopies — they’ll help keep your home cooler during those hot summer days. In the winter, the branches are sparse enough to allow sunlight to filter through, providing heat to your home.
Plant small deciduous trees or large deciduous shrubs on the east, northeast, west, and northwest sides of your home to block the early morning and late afternoon sun.
Plant shrubs around your air conditioning unit to provide shade and keep your unit cooler. Just be sure to leave adequate space between your unit and shrubs to allow for proper airflow.
Looking for more summer savings tips? Check out the rest of the articles in our summer series!
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR AC OR ASHP UNIT THIS SUMMER
During our sweltering Manitoba summers, it’s important to run your air conditioning (AC) unit or air source heat pump (ASHP) as efficiently and effectively as possible. We’ve put together tips for both AC and ASHP units to ensure they operate at peak performance. Learn how you can keep cool while saving energy this summer. Plus, we’ve included a common myth that we’re officially busting!
KEEP YOUR UNIT RUNNING EFFICIENTLY & EFFECTIVELY
While the most energy-efficient option would be to leave your AC unit or ASHP off as much as possible, we understand that the summer heat can make us want to crank down the temperature on our thermostats and keep it that way. Here are some tips to keep your units running as efficiently as possible throughout these hot summer months.
Keep your outdoor unit clean: In order for your unit to run efficiently, air needs to be able to flow freely through the outside unit. Carefully brush or vacuum away any leaves, branches, grass, or debris that may have blown into your unit. If the coils of the outside or condensing unit are dirty, you can use the brush attachment from your vacuum to remove dirt or carefully spray them with your hose. Just be careful not to damage or bend the components, which can impact the performance of the unit.
Check the refrigerant lines: Ensure your refrigerant lines are still properly insulated. If the insulation has frayed or exposed the lines, consider replacing the insulation sleeve. The insulation sleeve protects the system from excessive heat transfer and helps to prevent condensation.
Change your furnace air filter: Inside, make sure the air is flowing by changing or cleaning your furnace air filter regularly. As air flows through, it collects dust and debris which eventually restricts air flow. We suggest changing your air filter with the change in season — about four times a year.
We recommend contacting a qualified technician to service your AC unit or ASHP annually to ensure it’s running at peak performance.
LIGHTEN THE LOAD ON YOUR UNIT
Another great way to save energy and money is to lighten the load on your unit as much as possible. Follow these tips to make sure your AC unit or ASHP isn’t working harder than it needs to.
Don’t start your AC or ASHP too late in the day: If the forecast is predicting hot weather, make sure to turn your AC or ASHP on before the temperature outside gets above the set temperature in your home. Starting your AC too late in the day will have it playing “catch up,” making it work harder to cool your home.
Keep your windows closed: Make sure all your windows are closed while your AC or ASHP is running. This will prevent warm air from entering your home, adding unnecessary cooling load on your system.
Take advantage of cooler days: When the outside air temperature is cooler than your set indoor temperature, switch off your unit and open the windows for free cooling!
Avoid unnecessary heat from appliances: If it’s already hot outside, try not to add extra heat indoors by using large appliances. If you can, cook your meals outside on the grill or use smaller appliances, such as air fryers and microwaves, to avoid adding extra heat inside your home.
MYTH BUSTER
MYTH:
It actually uses more energy to adjust (set back) your thermostat based on time of day or if you’re away from home, rather than leaving it at a consistent temperature.
BUSTED:
While your unit may need to work a bit harder to bring the temperature down after a setback, a setback of just 1°C over an eight-hour period used 2.4% less electricity than if you were to maintain the lower temperature.
Bottom line: Any reduction in the use of your AC unit or ASHP will result in energy (and energy bill) savings. Raise your thermostat by a few degrees while you’re away from home or overnight — it can help you save energy and money!
Longer temperature setbacks (lighter load on your AC or ASHP) = energy savings
Looking for more summer savings tips? Check out the rest of the articles in our summer series!
We offer programs and rebates that can help you save energy and money when you invest in energy efficiency upgrades for your home or business.
We’re also here to be your number one resource for energy efficiency tips and advice so you can start saving immediately. Our articles are full of tips to help you implement small changes in your daily routine that can make a big impact when it comes to saving energy (and money!).
Before you plan your next energy efficiency upgrade, check Efficiency Manitoba first.
PROGRAMS & REBATES FOR SUMMER SAVINGS
Some things are just better in summer. That includes energy efficiency upgrades that are best tackled while the weather is warm, like upgrading your windows and doors or the insulation in your home. Check out our programs and rebates that are ideal for the warmer months.
Properly programming your ENERGY STAR® certified variable-speed pool pump is essential to maximize your energy savings throughout the summer months. Doing so can help you save up to $300 on your energy bills each pool season.
Kids around the province rejoice: school’s almost out for summer! Keep them busy with these fun and inexpensive activities, and save some energy at home while you’re at it.
It’s that time of year again – the sun is shining, the snow is melting, and Manitobans are starting to think about their lawns and gardens. Heading outside and getting your hands dirty is a great way to kick off the new season.
Summer is just around the corner! You’re probably ready for the heat and the sunshine – but is your home? We’ve compiled a few tips to help you get your home ready for the warm weather:
GET REBATES FROM EFFICIENCY MANITOBA & THE CANADA GREENER HOMES INITIATIVE
What’s better than receiving a rebate for your energy efficiency upgrades? Receiving multiple rebates to save even more energy and money!
We’re proud to provide over 40 programs and offers to help you access energy and bill savings in your home, where you work, and in your community. To make your home upgrades even more affordable, you can stack our rebates with those available through the Canada Greener Homes Initiative.
In addition to our offers, the Canada Greener Homes Initiative offers grants and loans for homeowners who implement energy efficiency upgrades — such as insulation, windows and doors, air sealing, and mechanical and renewable energy systems — recommended by a certified energy advisor. You can receive a grant of up to $5,000 for eligible retrofits, and potentially qualify for interest-free loans from $5,000 to $40,000 with a repayment term of 10 years for major home retrofits. These rebates can be stacked with our rebates so you can save more!
The Canada Greener Homes Initiative also offers up to $600 for a pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide home evaluation. Before starting any work and to qualify for the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, a certified energy advisor must complete your evaluation; they’ll recommend energy efficiency upgrades that make sense for your home. Once you choose your upgrades and check to see if you qualify for any Efficiency Manitoba rebates, you can hire a licensed professional to complete the work.
While the Canada Greener Homes Initiative and our programs both offer rebates for energy efficiency upgrades, there are some differences. Here are a few important things to keep in mind when comparing our rebates with the Canada Greener Homes Initiative:
You can participate in multiple Efficiency Manitoba programs for your home and you could be eligible to receive the maximum rebate available for each program. But it’s important to note that the maximum grant available through the Canada Greener Homes Initiative is $5,000 per home for all energy efficiency upgrades recommended in your pre-evaluation report.
Just because you qualify for a rebate through us, you won’t necessarily qualify for a grant through the Canada Greener Homes Initiative, and vice versa.
While accessing the Canada Greener Homes Initiative requires a pre- and post-retrofit EnerGuide home evaluation, many of our programs don’t have this requirement.
Some of our programs and rebates also require approval before you start any work; check them out to learn more.
Efficiency Manitoba expands income eligibility for its Energy Efficiency Assistance Program
Approximately 40% of Manitoba households could qualify for free and significantly subsidized energy efficiency upgrades
Efficiency Manitoba has revised its income thresholds to ensure more Manitoba households are eligible to access free and significantly subsidized energy efficiency upgrades through its income-based Energy Efficiency Assistance Program. The program assists homeowners and tenants in implementing energy efficiency upgrades to their homes to reduce their monthly energy bills, while also helping improve the comfort of their homes.
“This program is an important part of our government’s commitment to helping Manitobans save money on their energy bills while reducing our province’s carbon footprint,” said Kevin Klein, Minister of Environment and Climate and the Minister responsible for Efficiency Manitoba. “By supporting energy-efficient home upgrades and renovations, this program is making a real difference in the lives of families and individuals across the province. With this change, more people can enjoy the benefits of an energy-efficient home, while also playing a role in creating a more sustainable future for all Manitobans.”
Program eligibility is based on low-income cut-off (LICO) values for urban centers with more than 500,000 residents, as determined by Statistics Canada. Efficiency Manitoba has increased these thresholds from LICO 125 (LICO plus 25%) to LICO 145 (LICO plus 45%) making more Manitobans eligible. This change means approximately 40% or 192,000 low- to moderate-income households in Manitoba will now qualify. The increase will see a two-person household now qualify with a total household income (before deductions) of $53,035 or less, while a four-person household will qualify with a total household income of $79,161 or less.
“Energy efficiency and the benefits it provides should be accessible for everyone. We want to ensure this particular program, one of over 40 programs and offers through Efficiency Manitoba, is available to as many households as possible,” said Colleen Kuruluk, CEO of Efficiency Manitoba. “Expanding the eligibility of our Energy Efficiency Assistance Program will allow more people to participate in this program and benefit from the improved comfort of their homes, while also importantly saving on their monthly energy bills.”
Efficiency Manitoba’s Energy Efficiency Assistance Program helps to minimize the financial cost to households by providing free or significantly subsidized energy efficiency upgrades while also simplifying the process for customers through a turn-key approach. All participants receive a free home energy check-up from an energy advisor and have free energy-saving devices installed in their homes. Homeowners and renters may also be eligible for a free insulation upgrade or a subsidized natural gas furnace or boiler upgrade; Efficiency Manitoba will connect the customer with a registered contractor to complete the upgrade.
Increasing access to energy efficiency through door-to-door outreach
Efficiency Manitoba is dedicated to working with Manitobans at a community level to ensure homeowners and renters are aware of the Energy Efficiency Assistance Program and can easily participate.
For example, Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation, located in the Elmwood neighbourhood in Winnipeg, works with residents, businesses, and service providers in the area to plan and execute initiatives that benefit the community. Efficiency Manitoba provides funding to the organization to hire an Energy Efficiency Advocate as a strategy to increase program participation. Each week from spring to fall, this advocate canvasses particular neighbourhood blocks and engages with community members, encouraging residents to take part in the program and helping to address barriers to participation.
Residents living on these blocks and within the community are pre-qualified to participate without having to provide income verification documents, making the process even simpler. This turn-key approach helps participants every step of the way in becoming more energy efficient.
“We’ve worked with many residents in our community to spread the word and help them participate in this valuable program,” said Leilani Esteban, Executive Director of the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation. “By having someone at the community level, talking to people one-on-one, we are able to meet people where they’re at and share information on how they can save money, use less energy, and reduce their carbon footprint.”
The Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC) Manitoba applauded the change to the income threshold. The organization informs and educates consumers on marketplace issues and advocates on behalf of consumers with government and industry. Jacqueline Wasney is a board member of the CAC Manitoba and sits on an Advisory Committee for Efficiency Manitoba as an advocate for the consumer interest.
“A lot of what we’re hearing is that people want to find solutions to help lower their bills for the long term,” said Wasney. “Efficiency Manitoba is doing good work to help make home efficiency upgrades more affordable for more Manitobans. Investing in energy efficiency in our homes results in long-term savings, but they also mean people and families can enjoy much more comfortable homes and a little extra money in their pockets.”
For more information about Efficiency Manitoba’s Energy Efficiency Assistance Program, visit efficiencyMB.ca/EEAP.
About Efficiency Manitoba
Efficiency Manitoba is Manitoba’s Crown corporation dedicated to energy efficiency. With legislated long-term energy savings targets to achieve, the organization has over 40 diverse programs and offers available to help Manitobans save energy, money, and the environment.
