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Author: Alyssa Heuchert

Project feature: Rolling Acres Colony Farms Ltd.

HOW WE HELPED ROLLING ACRES THROUGH OUR CUSTOM ENERGY SOLUTIONS PROGRAM

Rolling Acres Colony Farms Ltd, located in Eden, was looking for support to replace their electric boilers with a bioenergy system using wood chips. They had expressed a strong desire to implement this type of project and we were able to help them turn their vision into a reality. Through our Custom Energy Solutions Program, we provided them with our very first financial incentive for the implementation of a large-scale biomass project in the province!   

THE PROJECT

During the winter months, Rolling Acres had been using electric boilers to heat their truck shop and hog barn. The truck shop was equipped with an in-floor water heating system connected to two 150 kW rated boilers. The hog barn was heated with a combination of in-floor heat and radiators using hot water supplied by two 100 kW rated electric boilers.  

Initially, Rolling Acres had planned on purchasing a brand-new biomass system to make the switch from electric heating to bioenergy. Instead, they were able to significantly lower their project costs by modifying an old and decommissioned coal-fired boiler into a biomass boiler that could burn wood chips as its biomass fuel source. The wood chips are a by-product from a sawmill conveniently located within five miles of Rolling Acres and were purchased as a low-cost fuel option.  

The biomass boiler was only one component of this project. A solution for the storage and handling of the biomass material also had to be addressed. This biomass boiler system required significant space to store the wood chips, as well as to house the walking floor and conveyance system that moves the wood chips. As a result, a brand-new building had to be constructed. The walking floor uses hydraulic operated cylinders to push the wood chips along the floor to an auger feed system which transports the wood chips to the boiler.  

THE SAVINGS

Switching from electric boilers to a biomass boiler resulted in verified annual energy savings of over 750,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh). They can expect the savings associated with replacing their electric heating with bioenergy to be close to $47,000 annually. 

Not only will they save energy and money on their annual energy bills, we were able to provide Rolling Acres with an incentive of $112,700 following the program’s thorough measurement and verification procedures. 

“We’re very happy to have had our new biomass heating system up and running last January. When we approached Efficiency Manitoba about this project, they were eager to provide support and were there to answer our questions. The heating system is working excellently, and we’ve already seen the benefits and savings on our energy bills. Our hope is to expand this system to heat residences on the colony in the future.”

Johnny Hofer
Member of Rolling Acres

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 help you identify energy-saving opportunities and financial incentives to help you implement your project. 

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Project feature: Grassie Villa Apartments and MJ Lighting & Electrical

HELPING MANITOBANS SAVE WITH OUR BUSINESS LIGHTING PROGRAM

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

Together with MJ Lighting & Electrical, we recently worked with Grassie Villa to upgrade the lighting in their common areas through our Business Lighting Program. Not only will they save energy and money for years to come, we also provided them with an incentive for their upgrade! 

THE PROJECT

Grassie Villa is a non-profit, life lease apartment complex managed by Murdoch Management. Located at 1395 Molson Street in Winnipeg, the building has 32 units and is for residents who are 55 and older.   

In apartment buildings like Grassie Villa, we provide incentives for lighting upgrades in any common spaces, including outdoor areas, entryways, hallways, and laundry rooms. 

When Grassie Villa decided it was time for an upgrade, MJ Lighting & Electrical was there to help. They upgraded the lighting in the common areas of their building by removing the old incandescent, fluorescent, and high-pressure sodium lighting, and replacing them with LEDs. 

THE SAVINGS

Grassie Villa is realizing significant benefits from upgrading their lighting: 

190,000 kWh and $9,000 savings

“This program is so helpful to non-profit organizations“.

Donna Leeies
Manager, Murdoch Management

Beyond the electricity and bill savings, we were also able to provide them with an incentive of $8,048 plus a bonus customer incentive of $2,012, for a total incentive of $10,060!  

You can take advantage of the bonus incentive too. We’re offering an additional 25% customer bonus on all lighting projects for applications completed before March 31, 2026. 

THE PROCESS

Applying for incentives has never been easier with our new online application system, myEM. Building owners can apply themselves, or their lighting suppliers or contractors can apply on their behalf.  

MJ Lighting & Electrical provides lighting and electrical solutions for businesses of all sizes. They offer full-service lighting upgrades including assessment, design, supply, and installation. They’ve submitted hundreds of Efficiency Manitoba applications for their customers, so they’re well-versed in collecting all the necessary information and submitting applications through their myEM account. 

“Everything went very smoothly,” Donna said about the application process. 

When an application is submitted by a contractor, the building owner receives an email with a link to sign the application—no logins or accounts are required. We then send the approval to both the contractor and the building owner, and the project can get started. 

Once the lighting is installed, the contractor will send us the invoice through myEM. The building owner will receive another email with a link to sign off on a completion declaration. After that, we’ll mail you your incentive cheque! 

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 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!  

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Colleen’s corner: Happy holidays!

It’s hard to believe another year is already coming to an end. As we transition into post-pandemic life, I find myself looking at the past couple of years and feeling grateful for the perseverance and strength of all Manitobans. We should all be proud of our resilience and how far we’ve come from a place of such uncertainty and look forward to the bright new year ahead.  

As an organization whose commencement coincided with a global pandemic, we understand the hardships that all Manitobans have had to overcome. It’s our goal to continue to adapt to an ever-changing world while providing opportunities to help you save energy, money, and the environment.  

We’ve hit many milestones this past year, including launching new programs, rebates, and incentives to further help Manitobans lower their energy use and put money back in their pockets. Our Solar Rebate Program, Air Source Heat Pump Program, Deep Energy Retrofits, and Generation E are just a few of the offers we introduced in 2022, and we look forward introducing new programs and enhanced offers in 2023.  

The past few months have been a whirlwind of events and outings for me. It’s served as an important reminder that making face-to-face connections with people can be so powerful. We should all be very grateful to have the ability to interact with each other in person once again, whether it’s one-on-one or large group gatherings. I’m very thankful for that opportunity and eager to connect with more Manitobans in the new year. 

Have a fantastic, safe, and healthy holiday season and year ahead. I look forward to continuing our work with Manitobans to bring energy efficiency to the forefront of your homes, businesses, and communities. 

Colleen Kuruluk
Chief Executive Officer, Efficiency Manitoba

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Project feature: Happy Rock Children’s Centre

NEW BUILDINGS PROGRAM SAID TO BE ONE OF THE BEST IN CANADA

People are more willing to construct energy-efficient buildings when the steps to do so are simple. That’s what makes Efficiency Manitoba’s New Buildings Program stand out, says one contractor. 

“The program in general is one of the best in Canada,” says André Legault, who leads the Quebec City office of Martin Roy et Associés. “We work in different provinces, and having Efficiency Manitoba looking at both natural gas and electricity as part of one program, this is really good. It makes things way simpler this way.” 

Legault says in some other provinces, you have to go through separate companies to receive incentives for electricity and natural gas. 

Our New Buildings Program offers incentives for new construction projects. The program is available for projects designed to be at least 5% more energy efficient than the minimum requirements of the Manitoba Energy Code for Buildings (MECB), and energy efficiency certification is awarded to projects designed to be at least 10% more energy efficient than the minimum requirements of the MECB. 

CHILDCARE CENTRE SAVES ON NEW BUILDING

The Happy Rock Children’s Centre in Gladstone wanted to construct a new building with an energy-efficient design. Martin Roy et Associés worked with the children’s centre to analyze the energy efficiency of the project. 

Martin Roy et Associés provides consulting in energy efficiency for existing and new buildings across Canada and the United States. Legault says the company’s strength is that it uses energy modelling techniques to give the best data to inform and assist the design team. 

“Our role is not necessarily to push sustainability but to show the opportunity and demonstate that green alternatives are viable. It also pays from an economic point of view.

André Legault
Quebec City Office Lead, Martin Roy et Associés

The company was able to identify opportunities to increase the energy performance of Happy Rock Children’s Centre. The building was ready to use by January 2020 and achieved a nearly 27% greater performance than the MECB. 

Legault says the children’s centre is a simple building with affordable energy efficiency solutions that are easy to implement and maintain. Energy-efficient features include triple-glazed windows, LED lighting, and air-to-air heat recovery. Also, the children’s centre uses only renewable energy—the building uses electric furnaces, eliminating the need for natural gas. 

For this project, the client knew they wanted an energy-efficient building, so they explored the incentives and technical support we offer. For many projects, Martin Roy et Associés informs the client about our incentive programs, such as the New Buildings Program 

Martin Roy et Associés will continue to recommend the New Buildings Program to clients. It’s the first thing the service provider mentions when getting involved with new construction projects. 

“The New Buildings Program helps us achieve our mission and what we are striving for,” Legault says. “We want to change the world. We want to make a difference.”

FINANCIAL & ENERGY SAVINGS

Our incentives and expert advice encourage Manitobans to invest in energy efficiency. 

Legault says one of the most important benefits of the New Buildings Program for Happy Rock Children’s Centre is that it received recognition for having an energy-efficient building. Plus, the children’s centre received financial support through the program. We were able to provide them with financial incentives totaling over $16,300 and they can expect annual electricity savings of 17,349 kWh. A longer-term benefit is that the centre will have lower utility bills in the future, Legault says. 

Our New Buildings Program offers financial incentives for energy modelling services through the Energy Modelling Assistance Incentive, plus incentives paid on a per square foot basis through the Performance Path. 

Energy modelling can identify opportunities for energy efficiency early on in the project. This planning can reduce the need for costly modifications later in the process. 

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

To qualify for the New Buildings Program, the project must be new construction or an addition and be required to follow the MECB. You need to apply early in the design phase. The specific submission requirements for each path are outlined below. 

Projects may receive incentives through two parts of the New Buildings Program: the Energy Modelling Assistance Incentive and the Performance Path. 

For the Energy Modelling Assistance Incentive, email us before the project tender date. Once it’s approved, work with an energy modeller to complete and submit the energy modelling report and send it to us along with the invoice. 

We’ll provide feedback on the project and process your incentive. 

For the Performance Path, email your application to us no later than six months after receiving a building permit; however, the earlier the better. Once it’s approved, you can proceed with construction and work with your team to complete and submit the program deliverables as outlined in the program guide. We’ll review the deliverables, provide feedback, and process the financial incentive upon completion. 

You can find more information and the application forms on the program web page. We’re here to offer technical assistance and guidance throughout the entire process. 

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Project feature: Pockit Self Storage Samborski

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.   

Pockit Self Storage South Winnipeg recently upgraded all their outdoor lighting—and we gave them an incentive for doing it!  

THE PROJECT

Pockit Self Storage South Winnipeg is a facility offering storage solutions for all your storage needs. They offer a variety of unit sizes, with climate-controlled options and 24/7 access. 

With the help of our incentives, they were able to upgrade the 47 metal-halide wall fixtures on the outside of their facility to LEDs.   

LED fixtures use much less energy than metal-halides, but also provide a ton of other benefits. The new fixtures will last much longer, provide a better quality of light, and radiate very little heat.  

“We have better quality light now that it isn’t the orange glow. There’s no weird buzzing, no heat coming from them—it really is great.”

James Franz
Regional Manager, Pockit Self Storage

THE SAVINGS

With these new exterior fixtures, Pockit Self Storage South Winnipeg will realize 34,000 kWh in electricity savings each year! That translates to savings of over $1,700 annually on their energy bills.   

We provided an incentive of $4,455 plus a bonus customer incentive of over $1,100 for a total incentive of nearly $5,600. We’re offering this additional 25% customer bonus on all lighting projects for applications completed before March 31, 2026.  

“We wouldn’t have tackled this at this time without the Efficiency Manitoba incentive; it just wasn’t on our radar,” states Franz.   

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.   

Our team can help you with each step of your application from submission to payment.  

“I have dealt with multiple members of Efficiency Manitoba and always felt as though we were working together as a team through the process,” says Franz.  

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.   

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR
BUSINESS LIGHTING PROGRAM

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!   

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J.R. Simplot Company

HOW EFFICIENCY MANITOBA HELPED MAXIMIZE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF SIMPLOT’S FACILITY EXPANSION

Since becoming operational in April 2020, Efficiency Manitoba has been dedicated to helping all Manitobans enjoy the benefits of saving energy. We’ve seen a diverse array of participants come through their incentive programs, from homeowners to businesses to entire communities. And some of these customers have undertaken particularly large energy efficiency projects—J.R. Simplot Company being one of them. 

J.R. Simplot Company (“Simplot”) completed a 400,000 square foot expansion to their potato processing facility in Portage la Prairie, more than doubling their processing capacity. Efficiency Manitoba helped them incorporate energy efficiency improvements into their design and operations, which will deliver significant energy and bill savings and establish it as one of the most energy-efficient facilities of its kind in the world. Here’s how it was done. 

THE PROJECT

Simplot’s facility expansion included designing and implementing several energy efficiency enhancements, maximizing the energy efficiency of its production and operations, as well as constructing a more energy-efficient building itself. Efficiency Manitoba was pleased to provide technical support and financial assistance while working alongside consultants and other energy efficiency professionals to ensure energy-efficient measures were incorporated. 

A total of ten processing-related energy efficiency opportunities were supported through Efficiency Manitoba’s Custom Energy Solutions Program. The most significant electricity-saving upgrades included installing variable speed drives on Simplot’s many fans and pumps. Significant energy savings also result from a series of upgrades associated with their new refrigeration systems on their processes, as well as their large warehouse. The installation of a heat recovery system, equipped with a series of heat exchangers which removes heat from the fryer exhaust to preheat process hot water and incoming fresh air through the building HVAC system, produces over 34% of Simplot’s natural gas savings. 

Through the support of Efficiency Manitoba’s New Buildings Program, the plant expansion is realizing electricity and natural gas savings associated with improved HVAC, building envelope, and lighting systems. The final energy model reveals that the expansion exceeds the Manitoba Energy Code for Buildings requirements by 14.5%. 

“We appreciate the incentives available for energy efficiency projects, and our partnership with Efficiency Manitoba. These incentives and efficiency expertise enable us to justify projects that otherwise may not have been implemented.” 

Don Strickler
Energy Engineer, Simplot

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

Efficiency Manitoba provided Simplot with financial incentives totaling $2.9 million for incorporating energy efficiency enhancements and measures into their expansion. This reduced their project payback period to just over three years!  

Beyond the incentive they received, Simplot will appreciate significant energy and financial savings for years into the future: 

  • Estimated annual bill savings: $1.7 million 
  • Estimated annual electricity savings: 20.5 GWh (gigawatt-hours) 
  • Estimated annual natural gas savings: 5.7 million m3 (cubic metres) 

Natural gas savings are expected to provide annual greenhouse gas emission reductions of over 11,000 tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent). So not only will Simplot realize impressive energy and bill savings, they’ll also reduce their environmental impact and contribute to a greener, healthier Manitoba. 

YOU CAN SAVE, TOO

If you’re looking for ways to save energy, money, and the environment, We can help. We offer financial incentives, programs, and technical expertise to help you along your energy efficiency journey.

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BDC small business week 2022

CELEBRATING THE ENTREPRENURIAL SPIRIT OF MANITOBA SMALL BUSINESSES

In October 2022, we celebrated BDC Small Business WeekTM by featuring a handful of Manitoba small businesses who are playing an important role in supporting economic growth. 

We recently talked to five businesses who received energy efficiency upgrades through our Small Business Program and Indigenous Small Business Program. Here’s what they had to say about their experience and how their upgrades are helping them save energy, reduce their energy bills, and grow their business. 

QUARRY PETS

Nicole Nagy, the owner of Quarry Pets in Stonewall, was looking to improve the lighting in her pet store. By participating in our Small Business Program, she was able to upgrade 136 of her linear lamps to LED. Not only will this upgrade help her save an estimated $400 on her energy bills, but we also covered 70% of the cost. This leaves her with more money to put back into her business.  

“Energy efficiency is important to me and my business because I feel it is important to save wherever I can,” said Nicole. “I pay a lot on my energy bills for this old building, and redoing the lighting has made a difference already.”   

Because Nicole’s business is located in an older building, she’s looking forward to taking on additional energy efficiency projects.  

“Saving in one place will help me pay for more efficiency building improvements like re-insulating the walls, as I currently have done with a portion of the building. Efficiency Manitoba’s programs also help me address the rising costs in other areas of my business. Where I can save in one area, I can afford the extra expenses in other.”  

Nicole Nagy

EQUIP WELLNESS COLLECTIVE

Equip Wellness Collective, located in Winnipeg’s sunny St. James neighbourhood, is dedicated to providing products for massage therapy and alternative health practitioners. They’re open to the public and offer a multitude of holistic and natural lifestyle products. We helped them upgrade to an energy-efficient lighting system by providing an incentive of nearly $1,600. In the end, they only had to pay $558 to enjoy a better-lit workspace that will save money on their energy bills for years into the future.  

“When the sales team explained the program, it was an easy choice to upgrade the lighting in our warehouse space,” said Vanessa Stiles, owner of Equip Wellness Collective. “The cost savings made it possible to complete the project that otherwise would have been put off until we could afford it.  

“Everything was communicated clearly, the work was completed in a timely manner, and we’re so grateful to reduce our overall energy bills, plus have better lighting in our workspace. I’d recommend this program to any small business owner!”  

RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF WEST INTERLAKE

Our ongoing project with the Rural Municipality of West Interlake is unique in that we’re helping to upgrade multiple businesses in Ashern and Eriksdale. An arena, a fire hall, a museum…there’s lots of opportunities to make energy efficiency upgrades and help the RM cut their energy consumption and costs.  

We helped the RM of West Interlake install basic energy-saving devices, such as LED bulbs and low-flow bathroom aerators, kitchen aerators, and spray valves in eight businesses. Many of these buildings are also scheduled to receive smart thermostats and more extensive lighting, which will result in an estimated combined incentive of over $19,000.  

“The significant savings and generous cost sharing options offered through Efficiency Manitoba allowed us to complete these upgrades within our budget. Without this assistance, we would not have been able to tackle this amount of work on our own.”  

Clayton Gibson
Economic Development Officer
RM of West Interlake

When we help Manitobans make energy efficiency improvements, we want to leave them feeling satisfied by the entire process—and Clayton was certainly satisfied.  

“It was a pleasure to work with Efficiency Manitoba and their partners to complete our projects from start to finish. These upgrades will have a positive impact on our community’s energy usage for years to come.”  

PLAYALL AWARDS

Bob Tuck, owner of PlayAll Awards in Winnipeg, was grateful that we offered a full-service solution to help him lower his energy costs through the Premium Upgrades of our Small Business Program. 

“As a small business owner whose industry was hit extremely hard by the pandemic, we are always looking at ways to save money and move forward,” Bob told us.   

Luckily, through our Small Business Program, we were able to help by upgrading 120 of their linear lamps to LEDs and replacing their existing thermostat to an ecobee smart thermostat. On top of the energy savings and lower operating costs PlayAll Awards will appreciate from these upgrades, Bob was eager to share how seamless the entire process was.  

“We were excited to be part of this program and not only was it easy to navigate and communicate but the technicians were extremely professional.”  

TEEKCA’S BOUTIQUE

Teekca’s Boutique participated in our Indigenous Small Business Program. They carry a wealth of gifts, crafts, and other goods created by Indigenous artisans. They have expanded to operate in six locations across Manitoba – and they were looking for some upgrades to be made to their store on St. Matthews Avenue in Winnipeg. Our team was able to identify opportunities to improve the store’s energy efficiency and reduce the energy bills.  

In total, we installed two bathroom faucet aerators, 30 LED linear lamps, and an ecobee smart thermostat. The incentive we provided Teekca’s Boutique covered the entire cost of their upgrades, so owner Marilyn Tanner-Spence will enjoy energy savings and a better-lit shop for her customers at no cost.  

“I am very happy that I participated in the Indigenous Small Business Program because it helped me to have my lighting upgraded. I always worried about the waste of electricity using inefficient lighting. Today the store is brighter and more welcoming. Even installing a smart thermostat helps me to save money – if I forget to turn the temperature down, I can easily do it by using my phone.”  

Marilyn Tanner-Spence

Want to improve the energy efficiency of your small business? Learn more about our Small Business Program and Indigenous Small Business Program. 

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Project feature: Shindico & Commercial Lighting

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.   

Shindico updated the exterior lighting at their Renfrew Place building with assistance from their lighting supplier, Commercial Lighting Products Ltd. And we provided them with an incentive for their upgrade!  

THE PROJECT

Shindico is a corporate real estate and investment management firm. They manage many buildings across Manitoba, including Renfrew Place at 1760 Corydon Avenue in Winnipeg. This building is home to two restaurants: Enoteca and Kai Ping, along with a Circle K convenience store.   

Shindico replaced the incandescent and metal-halide lighting on the outside walls of their building with new LED fixtures.   

LEDs come in a wide variety of styles to match the aesthetic of your building and use much less energy than older technologies.   

THE SAVINGS

The new exterior lights will result in 7,700 kWh in electricity savings each year! By upgrading their lighting to LED, Shindico will save $400 per year on their energy bill.   

We provided them with an incentive of $540 plus a bonus customer incentive of $135, for a total incentive of $675. We’re currently offering this additional 25% customer bonus on all lighting projects for applications submitted before March 31, 2026.   

THE PROCESS

Our new online application system, myEM, makes it easy for lighting suppliers and contractors to apply on behalf of a building owner. That’s exactly what Commercial Lighting Products Ltd. did for this project.   

“I love how streamlined the program is now. It’s so much easier to navigate through,” says Sandra Sumner, Associate VP at Shindico.   

Commercial Lighting Products Ltd. is a western Canadian supplier of lighting products. Their lighting specialists identify your project needs and order and deliver materials for your lighting project. They’ve submitted many Efficiency Manitoba applications on behalf of their customers.   

“Commercial Lighting started the process upon receipt of the purchase order, the Property Manager completed some of the building details in the online portal, the electrician installed the lights, and Commercial Lighting submitted the invoice online to Efficiency Manitoba. It doesn’t get much easier than this.”    

Sandra Sumner

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. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR
BUSINESS LIGHTING PROGRAM

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!  

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Contractor feature: Transcona Roofing

HELPING MANITOBANS SAVE WITH OUR BUILDING ENVELOPE PROGRAM

At Efficiency Manitoba, we’re committed to offering programs and incentives that help all Manitobans save energy and money. One of our programs designed to help businesses improve their energy efficiency is our Building Envelope Program. We offer financial incentives to businesses that make upgrades to their building envelope including roof and wall insulation, windows and doors, and curtain wall systems. So, when Transcona Roofing was approached by Holy Cross School to complete upgrades to the school’s roof, they didn’t hesitate to recommend our Building Envelope Program. 

THE PROJECT

Holy Cross School, established in 1925, is an independent Catholic school for children in pre-kindergarten to Grade 8. Located at 300 Dubuc Street in St. Boniface, the school has expanded over the years and today has multiple buildings for more than 400 students.  

“Some of the buildings go back to the 1940s, with minor upgrades here and there,” says Adam Kaminski, Director of Operations at Transcona Roofing. “Upgrading the roof insulation was a huge factor because so much heat is lost through the roof.” 

After Transcona Roofing completed the roof insulation upgrades, Holy Cross School will realize 1,900 kWh in electricity savings and 10,000 m³ in natural gas savings each year. They’ll also reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 19 tonnes annually – this one project has taken the equivalent of four cars off the road each year.

“We see a lot of waste in our industry and doing whatever we can to lower our carbon footprint or help the environment in any way is a benefit for us as well. We can sleep well knowing we’ve helped in whatever way we can.” 

Adam Kaminski

THE COST SAVINGS

Besides environmental benefits, Kaminski says a top motivation for Holy Cross School, and other Building Envelope Program participants, is the cost savings. 

“It’s tough to turn down free upgrades,” Kaminski remarks.  

Not only will Holy Cross School save more than $3,100 each year on their annual energy bill thanks to their new roof, we also provided them with an incentive of $26,454 to cover the cost of insulation materials. 

TRANSCONA ROOFING’S GREEN OUTLOOK

Offering the Building Envelope Program has also been good for Transcona Roofing’s business, Kaminski says. 

“It’s a good way to get in the door with a customer. Everyone is looking to figure out ways to help the environment and lower emissions,” Kaminski tells us. “It might be something that’s not completely visible to the owner, so we can provide that information and knowledge. Realizing that the customer can lower their cost and increase efficiency is sort of an easy sell as a contractor.” 

Transcona Roofing is a full-service roofing and waterproofing contractor. Since 1959, the company has grown from two to more than 100 employees who service Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. 

Over the next 10 years, Kaminski says Transcona Roofing is looking forward to embracing energy-efficient designs.  

“We realize that something has to change. The industry is not sustainable with the way it goes right now,” he says. “I know there are buildings that have energy-efficient designs, whether it’s through a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program or Efficiency Manitoba programs, but the industry as a whole has to do better.”  

HOW THE BUILDING ENVELOPE PROGRAM HELPS CONTRACTORS

Kaminski has worked for Transcona Roofing for seven years. He learned about our Building Envelope Program through our multiple contractor presentations that explained our program and how contractors like Transcona Roofing can get involved.  

“We’ve been promoting the program ever since on any sort of projects that we take on where we see value in both the efficiency and cost to the owner,”  

Adam Kaminski

To determine if the Building Envelope Program is a good fit for a client, Kaminski says Transcona Roofing analyzes the condition of their building’s existing roof, including the age and the current insulation levels. From there, they start the design.  

The Efficiency Manitoba team is available for technical assistance and expertise throughout the project. Kaminski says our representatives have met at the building site to help with the design or clarify how to help the customer optimize their energy efficiency and savings.   

For insulation projects, the program often covers the entire cost of insulation materials. Window and door incentives generally cover the difference in cost between a “regular” window and an energy-efficient window. 

ARE YOU A BUILDING OWNER?

Building owners or their 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. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR
BUILDING ENVELOPE PROGRAM

ARE YOU A 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! 

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Fall 2022 magazine

Our fall magazine is on its way to your mailbox with your local newspaper or flyers! 

From new programs and offers to seasonal energy-saving tips, our magazines are a great resource to have on hand for all things energy efficiency. Be sure to keep it on hand as a quick reference whenever you need information about saving energy.

 

FALL 2022 MAGAZINE
READ THE MAGAZINE

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

Our electronic fall magazine is now available in French! Read the French magazine here or download the digital version to have on hand for your energy efficiency needs.

in ENERGY SAVING TIPS, OFFERS, PROGRAMS

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