EARTH DAY: CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

UNDERSTANDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY & HOW YOUR HOME USES ENERGY

Earth Day is a day dedicated to encouraging individuals, businesses, and governments to take action to preserve the environment we live in. It’s more important than ever to recognize our impact on the planet and start taking steps now to create a sustainable future for generations to come, and we’re here to help. 

We’re a Crown corporation dedicated to energy efficiency. We offer programs and rebates to help you save electricity and natural gas, and have a team of experts to assist you in making homes, businesses, and communities more energy efficient.  

If you want to make energy efficiency upgrades but aren’t sure where to start, we can help! Understanding what energy efficiency is and how your home uses energy are the first steps to reducing your energy consumption, saving on your monthly bills, and creating positive change for the environment we live in.  

WHAT IS ENERGY EFFICIENCY?

You’ve probably heard the term “energy efficiency” before. We hear things like “be more energy efficient” or “use energy more efficiently” — but what does that mean?   

Energy efficiency is about using less energy to do the same job and get the same (or better!) result. We want to ensure the electricity and natural gas we consume go toward a specific job, like heating our homes or powering appliances, instead of going to waste.   

Many Manitoba homes, businesses, and communities use more energy than required. There are ways to reduce wasted energy while still being able to comfortably live, work, and play. We want to work with you to save energy, money, and the environment. It’s a win all around!   

ENERGY EFFICIENCY PRODUCES REAL BENEFITS

Energy efficiency isn’t just a buzz phrase or a passing trend. It’s a set of changes and behaviours that produce long-term results, both individually and collectively as a province.   

There are lots of benefits of using energy more efficiently: 

  • Lower energy bills   
  • Reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions   
  • Improved indoor comfort   
  • Reduced maintenance costs   
  • Improved operations (for businesses)   
  • Increased opportunities for green job creation   

FACTORS THAT AFFECT ENERGY USE

Everyone uses energy differently. A family of five living on a farm will likely have a much different energy bill than a single person living in a high-rise apartment. Here are some common factors that can impact your consumption:   

  • Age of your home (older homes tend to have less insulation and other energy efficient features than newer homes)   
  • Square footage of your home (larger homes tend to use more energy)   
  • Number of people in your household (more household members means more energy consumers)     
  • Individual behaviours (your thermostat settings, hobbies, and habits can all impact energy use)   

AVERAGE HOME ENERGY USE IN MANITOBA: THE NUMBERS

To help you understand how the average Manitoban consumes energy, we’ve gathered some data from Natural Resources Canada to show the breakdown for Manitoba homes and how Manitobans consume electricity and natural gas:   

The average home can expect to see 75% of their monthly energy bill go towards home and water heating. Other energy consumers including lighting, appliances, electronics, and air conditioning come in a distant second. The breakdown for electrically heated and natural gas heated homes is nearly identical.  

If you’re looking to cut your energy costs, it’s a good idea to look at your biggest consumers first — that is, your heating systems.    

HOW DOES YOUR HOME USE ENERGY?

To find out how your home uses energy, take our virtual energy review. It’s an online tool that gives you an overview of how much energy your heating systems are using and what you can do to take some of the load off your energy bill. Simply create an account and answer a few questions about your home — the tool will generate a customized energy use report and recommend energy-saving opportunities that make sense for you. Plus, it’s free and only takes about 10 minutes.  

PROGRAMS TO HELP YOU SAVE

Efficiency Manitoba wants to make your energy efficiency upgrades easy! We offer two programs that can help you save on heating costs:  

  • Our Energy Efficiency Assistance Program offers free and subsidized upgrades to qualifying households. You can receive free insulation and a subsidized high-efficiency natural gas furnace upgrade when replacing a standard or mid-efficiency natural gas furnace. 
  • Making sure your home is properly insulated is one of the best ways to reduce your energy bills. If your home was built before 1999, it may not have enough insulation. Through our Home Insulation Rebate, homeowners can receive money back on insulation costs. Check to see if you and your project qualify and be sure to receive approval on your project before purchasing materials or starting any work.  

SMALL CHANGES, BIG IMPACT

In celebration of Earth Day, we encourage you to incorporate these simple, energy-saving habits into your everyday routine:   

  • Switch to LED light bulbs and be sure to turn off the lights when you leave a room.  
  • Adjust your thermostat by three degrees warmer in the summer or cooler in the winter for at least eight hours per day.  
  • Turn off and unplug devices when you’re not using them or use an advanced power strip. When you shut down a main device, like your computer or TV, it’ll also shut down any connected devices plugged into the power strip, like printers and gaming consoles.  
  • With warmer weather on the way, open your windows for a slight breeze rather than using your air conditioner.  
  • Wash your clothes in cold water and hang them outside to dry instead of using your clothes dryer.  

We’re here to help you be as energy efficient as possible. You can find expert advice, informative articles, and programs and rebates throughout our website that’ll help you save energy and money for years to come.  

Efficiency Manitoba provides funding for First Nation ground source heat pump training and installation program

Crown corporation supports Indigenous-led sustainable energy sources and long-term green job creation

Efficiency Manitoba is providing critical funding for Indigenous trainees on ground source heat pump technology and installation in First Nation communities. The Crown corporation, which is focused on helping Manitobans reduce their energy consumption, is partnering with Indigenous social enterprise Aki Energy to fund a training program that creates local employment opportunities in First Nation communities in Manitoba.

Through an intensive hands-on training program, now underway for 15 Indigenous trainees, Aki Energy is building capacity within First Nation communities to install and maintain the ground source heat pumps, including plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), ducting, and heavy equipment operation. Efficiency Manitoba is providing a contribution of up to 50% of the course costs to a maximum of $185,000. Additional support will come from the Manitoba Environmental Industries Association (MEIA), with the balance paid by participating First Nation communities.

“Partnerships such as this are a demonstration of reconciliation in action. Efficiency Manitoba is showing its commitment to working with First Nation communities and partners to find new and creative solutions to save energy and reduce energy bills,” said Environment and Climate Minister Kevin Klein. “It is exciting to see this important training program providing concrete and supportive action that develops skilled career opportunities in First Nation communities.”

Through this training, Efficiency Manitoba anticipates nearly 400 ground source heat pumps will be installed in Manitoba over the next four years in homes in First Nation communities. These installations will come through Efficiency Manitoba’s Community Ground Source Heat Pump Program, which partners with Raven Indigenous Capital Partners who use an innovative social finance model to cover the capital cost of the ground source heat pump systems.

“We’re excited to support this training initiative and work with several key partners to help more First Nation families access our Community Ground Source Heat Pump Program,” said Colleen Kuruluk, CEO, Efficiency Manitoba. “It’s through programs and collaborative initiatives like this that we can work with First Nation communities to reduce their energy bills, build strong relationships, and create a more sustainable future.”

The success of this initiative will help First Nation families enjoy improved heating and cooling in their homes while saving money. It also has the added benefit of enabling employment via training and skill development for Manitoba First Nations, leading to long-term green job creation.

“We love to put solutions in the hands of Indigenous people,” said Jeffrey Cyr, Managing Partner, Raven Indigenous Capital Partners. “Our goal is to work with communities to identify social problems—such as rising households costs—and their solutions. We find partners such as Efficiency Manitoba and Aki Energy who can help us bridge the financial gap that allows these programs to move forward at a lower cost to the communities.”

Efficiency Manitoba’s support of Aki Energy’s training program provides the opportunity for more Indigenous Manitobans from First Nation communities to be professionally trained to install and maintain ground source heat pumps, growing the number of certified installers in the province and providing future employment opportunities. To enable and support participation, trainees who are recruited from First Nation communities to complete Aki Energy’s training program have their course, accommodation, and food covered while in the program. Aki Energy also provides various social supports while trainees are in the program such as family financial planning, CPR training, and family counselling support.

“Community is at the centre of everything we do,” said Darcy Wood, CEO, Aki Energy. “Our goal is to provide comprehensive training opportunities to ensure long term economic development and sustainability within communities. Our approach is a holistic one; we provide support not only through hands-on experience but in social aspects as well. We want the individuals we teach to support their communities—to spread the word about sustainability.”

For more information about Efficiency Manitoba’s rebates and offers, visit efficiencyMB.ca.

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 programs and offers available to help Manitobans save energy, money, and the environment. Efficiency Manitoba is contributing to reconciliation through ongoing, collaborative, and mutually respectful dialogue directly with Indigenous communities and groups along with ongoing engagement, action, and support leading to energy and bill savings.

Release date: April 18, 2023

Project feature: Winnipeg Winter Club

HOW WE HELPED WWC LOWER THEIR ENERGY BILLS & INCREASE THEIR SAVINGS

Our Custom Energy Solutions Program offers financial incentives and technical assistance to help make your industrial, commercial, or agricultural facility more energy efficient. We can help you investigate and identify energy-saving opportunities to save energy and money in your operations. 

When the Winnipeg Winter Club was looking to increase the efficiency of their facility, we were here to help! We provided them with financial support and technical assistance to upgrade their steam heating system with a more efficient hot water heating system. 

THE PROJECT

The Winnipeg Winter Club is a membership-based club that accommodates several sports amenities. They have a full-size ice-hockey rink, an indoor swimming pool, three indoor tennis courts, multiple badminton and squash courts, a fitness facility, and a restaurant.  

Their energy-saving project involved replacing their steam heating system with a new hot water hydronic heating system. They removed the old steam distribution system and steam boilers, replacing them with a hot water distribution system and hot water natural gas fired condensing boilers. The hot water system is more efficient due to its lower operating temperature and reduced potential for losses inherent to a steam system, resulting in energy savings and lower energy bills. 

THE SAVINGS

Because of their upgrade, the Winnipeg Winter Club will save an impressive 116,000 m³ (cubic metres) of natural gas every year, which results in saving over $28,600 annually on their energy bills! They’ll also save $16,400 in carbon charge and taxes as a result of reduced gas consumption. Plus, we provided them with an incentive of $15,600.

When we were looking to replace our steam heating system, we approached Efficiency Manitoba to find out what resources were available. Working with them was a pleasure — they were very responsive and eager to help us implement the project. Lowering our energy consumption was our top priority and the incentive we received was a welcome bonus. We’re already enjoying the benefits and savings from our new system!”

Rob Guthrie
General Manager, Winnipeg Winter Club

ARE YOU LOOKING TO MAKE YOUR FACILITY MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT?

If you’re interested in making your industrial, commercial, or agricultural facility more energy efficient, we’re here to help. We have the expertise to assist in identifying energy-saving opportunities and financial incentives to help you implement your project.


Spring 2023 magazine

Check your mailboxes! Our spring magazine is on its way to households across Manitoba. 

Read our magazine to learn more about our programs and rebates, seasonal energy-saving tips, and other energy efficiency-related content. Make sure to hang on to your copy so you can reference it whenever you need information about saving energy, money, and the environment. 

 

SPRING 2023 MAGAZINE

If you haven’t received a magazine or prefer an electronic copy, download the digital version

Our spring magazine is available online in French! Read the French magazine here or download the digital version

Project feature: Supremex

SUPREME SAVINGS THROUGH OUR CUSTOM ENERGY SOLUTIONS PROGRAM

SupremeX is a leading North American manufacturer of envelopes and a growing provider of paper-based packaging solutions for large national and multinational customers. Sustainability is an important part of their business model, and they continuously monitor and take steps to reduce their environmental impact.  

SupremeX saw an opportunity to make the vacuum system at their Winnipeg facility more energy efficient, so they reached out to us to see how we could help support the project. We were happy to provide them with a financial incentive and technical expertise through our Custom Energy Solutions Program.  

THE PROJECT

Their original vacuum system consisted of four 75 hp (horsepower) modulating vacuum pumps. Although the system was in good working condition, it was outdated and inefficient. We worked with SupremeX to determine the best upgrade for their vacuum system to save energy: a new high-efficiency 100 hp variable-speed drive vacuum pump. The old 75 hp vacuum pumps remain as base load units and backup.  

The original vacuum system required three 75 hp vacuum pumps (a total of 225 hp) to run all day and night. The upgraded system requires the new 100 hp vacuum pump and one of the 75 hp vacuum pumps (a total of 175 hp) during the day, and just the 100 hp vacuum pump during the night, resulting in impressive energy savings.  

THE SAVINGS

The upgraded vacuum system resulted in verified annual energy savings of 433,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh). As a result of the upgrade, SupremeX can save close to $27,000 on their annual energy costs.  

Not only will SupremeX save energy and money on their energy bills, we also provided them with an incentive of $51,000 to help offset the cost of the upgrade. Additionally, the new system is likely to have lower maintenance costs and improved reliability.  

SupremeX is committed to environmental sustainability, and we’re always looking for ways to save energy in our operations. Working with Efficiency Manitoba to upgrade our vacuum system was easy and the staff were very knowledgeable. We’re already enjoying our new vacuum system and the savings that come with it.”

Hayden Kent
Plant Manager, SupremeX

ARE YOU LOOKING TO MAKE YOUR FACILITY MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT?

If you’re interested in making your industrial, commercial, or agricultural facility more energy efficient, we’re here to help. We have the expertise to assist in identifying energy-saving opportunities and financial incentives to help you implement your project.    


Project feature: Happy Tails Pet Resort & Spa

HOW OUR BUSINESS LIGHTING PROGRAM HELPED HAPPY TAILS SAVE ENERGY & MONEY

Happy Tails Pet Resort & Spa, a dog and cat daycare in Winnipeg, recently participated in our Business Lighting Program — and we’re paw-sitively impressed by the savings!  

Through our program, they updated all the light fixtures in their building to LEDs. Because of this upgrade, they’ll save an impressive 40,000 kWh in energy savings every year! Better yet, this will translate to approximately $2,000 in energy bill savings annually, and they received a $5,000 incentive from us. Those sound like (happy) tail-wagging savings to us! 

WATCH THE VIDEO

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!   


Project feature: Kelsey School Division

HELPING MANITOBANS SAVE WITH OUR BUSINESS LIGHTING PROGRAM

Our Business Lighting Program offers incentives to businesses that make energy efficiency upgrades to the lighting in their buildings.   

Kelsey School Division completed lighting upgrades at several of their schools and we provided them incentives to help cover the material costs!  

THE PROJECT

Kelsey School Division consists of six schools, ranging from kindergarten to adult education, in The Pas.   

The school division recently completed energy-efficient lighting upgrades at École Scott Bateman Middle School, Kelsey Community School, Mary Duncan School, and École Opasquia School. With the help of our incentives, they upgraded the fluorescent fixtures inside the schools with LEDs.   

LEDs use much less energy than fluorescent fixtures. They also last longer, resulting in less maintenance and less disruptions to the classroom. LED fixtures fit the same space as fluorescent fixtures, making installation easy.   

THE SAVINGS

Across these four schools, Kelsey School Division will realize a total of 85,000 kWh in annual electricity savings! This will save an impressive $4,000 a year on their energy bills. We were able to provide over $20,000 in incentives for these projects. For a limited time, we’re offering an additional 25% customer bonus on all lighting projects. Apply before March 31, 2026 to take advantage of this offer.  

Efficiency Manitoba made energy-efficient lighting upgrades possible. The projects covered under the program would not have been considered without the incentives. The bonus 25% payout gave me even more incentive to finish my project.”

Chris Paterson
Maintenance Electrician, Kelsey School Division

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.   

Once you log into our system, you fill out your project information. We review your project details and send you your approval. Then you can get started with your installation.  

Once your lighting is installed, upload your invoice to myEM. We’ll process your application and send you your cheque!  

Our team will work with you if you have any questions along the way. We want to help you get your project done as quickly and efficiently as possible.   

“Approval and payment of incentives were very quick,” remarks Paterson.  

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!   


Project feature: Kansteel Manufacturing Inc. & Nickel Electric Ltd.

HELPING MANITOBANS SAVE WITH OUR BUSINESS LIGHTING PROGRAM

Our Business Lighting Program offers incentives to businesses that make energy-efficient upgrades to the lighting in their buildings.   

Together with Nickel Electric Ltd, Kansteel Manufacturing Inc. upgraded their shop lights and we sent them an incentive!

THE PROJECT

Kansteel Manufacturing was established in 1985 and specializes in the fabrication of metal vessels and tanks. Located at 2005 Pacific Avenue in Brandon, they serve customers in the mining, agricultural, and chemical industries across Canada. 

Inside the shop, they recently upgraded their old metal-halide lighting with new LEDs through our Business Lighting Program.   

LEDs use much less energy than metal-halides and provide a safer working environment. They also provide a better quality of light and reach full brightness immediately.  

Our new shop lighting is excellent. The old metal-halides took a long time to warm up when turned on. The safety aspect of good lighting is evident. We don’t have dark corners and shadows on our workpieces.”

Miles Haukeness, P.Eng
Kansteel Plant Manager

THE SAVINGS

The new shop lights will result in 9,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) in electricity savings each year! As a result, Kansteel will save $500 per year on their energy bill.   

We provided them with an incentive of $4,000 plus a bonus customer incentive of $1,000 for a total incentive of $5,000. For a limited time, until March 31, 2026, we’re offering an additional 25% customer bonus on all lighting projects.   

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.   

Nickel Electric Ltd. has been providing electrical services since 1974. They serve residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the Westman area and have submitted many Efficiency Manitoba applications on behalf of their customers.   

“Our lighting contractor was very thorough and helped us through the process. We are very happy with the results,” Haukeness remarks.  

When an application is submitted by a contractor, they collect and supply all the project information and invoicing. The building owners are sent a link to sign the application, but no log-ins or accounts are required. Once the project is complete, we send the incentive cheque—it’s that easy!  

“[We’ve] actually had a few clients notice the new lighting and I advised them to check out [this] program”, says Haukeness.  

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!   


Embrace Manitoba Winters

FUN WINTER ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Manitoba winters are full of snow and cold weather. While some of us dream of the return of summer, we know it’s still a while away. So instead of avoiding the snow and cold, why not embrace it? Take advantage of what our beautiful province has to offer by unplugging and exploring over the winter season! 

Here are just a few ideas to get out of the house and into the snow (just be sure to dress for the occasion): 

HIT THE PRAIRIES 

The flat landscape of the prairies makes it the perfect place to put on some snowshoes or cross-country skis and explore! Head out to a provincial park to cruise the trails or go off the beaten path and explore the countryside. Just be sure to prepare according to the weather conditions and have your plan in place before heading out. 

SLEIGH THE DAY 

Get together with a group of your closest friends and family and do something new! A unique winter favourite is booking a horse-drawn sleigh ride to enjoy the beautiful winter scenery. There are many ranches throughout the province that offer sleigh rides, so you’re sure to find one near you. Bundle up, make a hot chocolate to go, and sleigh the day away! 

TAKE A SNOWMOBILE RIDE 

Looking for a bit more adrenaline? Consider renting a snowmobile for a day. You can take the whole family along and explore the numerous trails throughout the province. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, make it a weekend trip! 

PARTICIPATE IN WINTER EVENTS 

Outdoor events aren’t just for the long, warm summer days; there are so many winter events you can check out. Prepare for a day (or weekend) of fun with some of the events listed below, or check out To Do Canada’s website for even more options! 

  1. Beaver Days  
    Beaver Days in Falcon Lake is an event that’s fun for all ages. This yearly winter celebration has a variety of activities such as a snowmobile poker derby, family skating, and kids’ floor curling. Check it out from February 10 to 12. It’s guaranteed to be a (snow) ball of fun! 
  1. KidFish Ice Derby 
    If you’re looking for a fun winter activity and to help a good cause, get tickets to the KidFish Ice Derby. In support of Cancer Care Manitoba and the Children’s Hospital, this event introduces kids of all ages to ice fishing while raising fund for sick kids and their families. Spend the day ice fishing, be entered to win prizes, and support an important cause! 
  1. Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival 
    Join the celebrations at the 75th Annual Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival! Located in The Pas, this five-day festival is full of activities and events for the whole family. Watch the dog sled races, peruse the craft show for locally-made products, or join some friendly competitions such as the poker derby, street hockey skills competition, or the junior jigging contest. This is one you won’t want to miss! 

Home energy retrofits

BIG PROJECTS,
BIG SAVINGS

If you’re planning on making major energy efficiency upgrades to your home, we have a new offer just for you! Your project could qualify for rebates through our Home Energy Retrofits. Whole-home energy retrofits significantly decrease your energy bills and lower your carbon footprint. They also improve the comfort, durability, indoor air quality, and resilience of your home. 

You may be wondering: what exactly is a home energy retrofit? Also called “deep energy” retrofits, they’re large renovation projects that significantly reduce the energy a home or building uses. Home energy retrofits significantly improve occupant comfort, improve indoor air quality, and cut annual building energy consumption by 50% to 100%. 

Because each home is unique, the upgrades selected for each project will also be unique. Home energy retrofits usually involve major upgrades to building envelope components and mechanical systems. A typical retrofit project may involve adding insulation, performing detailed air sealing work, and replacing windows and doors. These upgrades are often accompanied by new and more efficient heating systems such as air source or ground source heat pumps. In cases where efficiency goals are most ambitious, adding renewables like solar photovoltaics (solar panels that convert light into electricity) can be a final step.

Before starting a home energy retrofit and to qualify for rebates, you’ll need to get expert advice and guidance from a Registered Energy Advisor through an EnerGuide audit. And to maximize your savings and lower the cost of your project even more, you can stack our rebate with the grants and loan available through the Canada Greener Homes Initiative.  

Are you ready to get started on your energy efficiency project? Contact an EnerGuide service organization that serves your area. They’ll send an energy advisor to conduct an EnerGuide evaluation on your home. Once you have your retrofit project planned out, be sure to apply and get approval from us before you start any work.