How the average Manitoba home uses energy

Are you looking to reduce your monthly energy bills? Knowing how and where your home uses energy is a great first step to saving money and the environment. We’re here to give you to the tools to make positive changes and enjoy lower energy bills.

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 gathered some data from the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) National Energy Use Database. Here’s the breakdown for Manitoba homes and how we 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? 

Our new virtual energy review is 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.

WAYS TO SAVE

Here are three ways you can save on your heating costs:

  1. Eligible customers can upgrade their standard-efficiency natural gas furnace to a high-efficiency model through our Energy Efficiency Assistance Program.
  2. If your home was built before 1999, it may not have enough insulation. Upgrade your insulation and get a rebate of up to 100% of your materials with our Home Insulation Rebate.
  3. Keep warm air in during the cold winter months by sealing up and weatherstripping your windows and doors. Check out this article for some do-it-yourself air sealing tips!

OTHER RESOURCES

Curious to see how your heating system compares with others? Check out these helpful charts from Manitoba Hydro to learn more about your heating system options.

Example space heating cost comparison
Example water heating cost comparison