Building Envelope Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Building Envelope Program

Here are some answers to common questions about our Building Envelope Program:

Online Application Form

How do I access the online application form?

You can find our online application form at efficiencyMB.ca/buildingenvelopeapply.

What’s myEM?

myEM is the name of our online application system. This is where you can access your Efficiency Manitoba applications.

Who needs a myEM account?

Anyone who submits an application, either as a building owner or as a registered supplier on behalf of a building owner, needs a myEM account.

I’m a registered supplier submitting an application for my customer. Do they need a myEM account?

Since you’re submitting the application on your customer’s behalf, only you need a myEM account. Your customer may choose to create one as well, but it’s not required. To sign the application, the customer will be sent a link that doesn’t require a myEM login. 

When I try to create a myEM account, it says that an account already exists with my email address, but I haven’t previously signed up for an account. What do I do?

If you get that error message, it means you have an active application in our system and we’ve already started your account. Follow the “Forgot Password” instructions to reset your password and gain access to your account.

Will I see my existing approved applications, submitted previously as PDFs, in myEM?

Yes! Our account records are tied to your email address, so any active applications will appear on your myEM account. If you think an application is missing from your account, send us an email.

I have an approved application that I previously submitted as a PDF. How do I complete this project using myEM?

Once you log into myEM, you can view your active applications on your dashboard. Open the application and follow the instructions to upload your completion documents.

How do I know you received my online application?

You’ll receive emails with status updates at every step of the application process. You can also log into myEM and view your application status on your dashboard.

How do I make a change to my project after I submit my online application?

You can view and edit your project details on your myEM dashboard.

I’m experiencing issues trying to submit my application in myEM; who can I talk to?

Please send us an email or call us at 204-944-8181 (toll free at 1-844-944-8181). We’d be happy to help sort out the issue!

What details do my invoices need to include?

Insulation invoices should include the following:  

  • Date of purchase, vendor’s name, customer’s name, and install address  
  • Insulation product name(s) and type(s)  
  • Number of square feet, bag count, and thickness of product, etc. 
  • Layout sheets for sloped roof insulation 
  • Unit prices and project totals (separate from labour)  

Fenestration (window/door) invoices should include the following:  

  • Date of purchase, vendor’s name, customer’s name, and install address  
  • Window make and model number(s) and product type (e.g. awning, fixed, etc.)  
  • Dimensions and quantity of each window type installed 
  • Unit prices and project totals (separate from labour)  

Customer Bonus

What’s the Customer Bonus?

If your projects are completed before March 31, 2025, we’re increasing our current incentives by 25% for buildings heated with electricity and by 10% for buildings heated with natural gas.

When does the Customer Bonus start?

Right now! All projects completed between July 2, 2024 and March 31, 2025 will be eligible for the customer bonus.

How’s the Customer Bonus calculated?

Once a project is complete, we’ll take the total project incentive and add 25% (if your building is heated with electricity) or 10% (if your building is heated with natural gas) to the total. 

Who will the Customer Bonus be sent to?

The customer bonus will be added to the application incentive and sent by cheque to the building owner (or the designated payee indicated on the completion declaration). 

Will I still get the Customer Bonus if I have an existing application that was already approved?

Yes! Starting July 2, 2024, as long as the project is completed and your paperwork is submitted by March 31, 2025, you’ll be eligible for the customer bonus. 

I just completed a project. Can I still get the Customer Bonus?

No, we can’t provide customer bonuses for projects that have already been paid.

My project is expired (approved more than a year ago). Can I still get the Customer Bonus?

Yes! As long as you provide the completion documents for your project before March 31, 2025, you’ll be eligible for the customer bonus.

Supplier Bonus

What’s the Supplier Bonus?

We’re giving a $250 bonus to registered suppliers who submit an application on behalf of a customer for every project completed before March 31, 2025.

When does the Supplier Bonus start?

Right now! All projects completed between July 2, 2024 and March 31, 2025 will be eligible for the supplier bonus. 

Who will the Supplier Bonus be sent to?

The supplier bonus cheque will be sent to the individual (not the company) who submitted the application. 

Will I still get the Supplier Bonus if I have an existing application that was already approved?

Yes! As long as the project is completed and your paperwork is submitted by March 31, 2025, you’ll be eligible for the supplier bonus.

I just completed a project. Can I still get the Supplier Bonus?

No, we can’t provide supplier bonuses for projects that have already been paid. 

Can I receive multiple Supplier Bonuses?

Yes! However, we’ll only provide one supplier bonus per project. If there are multiple project applications for one address, we’ll review your supplier bonus eligibility. 

Will a customer get the Supplier Bonus if they submit the application themselves?

No, the supplier bonus is only available to registered suppliers who submit an application on behalf of a building owner.

What if I’m not a registered supplier?

If you aren’t a registered Efficiency Manitoba supplier, it’s not too late! As long as you submit a supplier registration form before the project is complete, you’ll still receive your supplier bonus. 

What if a different supplier started the application, but I’m completing it?

By default, we send the cheque to the registered supplier who submitted the application. If the contact name or address of the registered supplier has changed since the application was first submitted, please provide us with updated mailing information by sending us an email or adding a note to your myEM account. 

What if multiple suppliers worked on one project?

By default, we send the cheque to the registered supplier who submitted the application. If the supplier bonus should go to someone else or you’d like to split it, let us know and we can accommodate your request.  

LIGHTING UPGRADES FOR BUSINESSES

LIGHTING UPGRADES FOR BUSINESSES

If you’re looking to upgrade the old, inefficient lighting in your business, we’re here to help! We offer financial incentives and expert advice to implement energy-efficient lighting upgrades for businesses.  

With three programs available, you can choose the one that’s right for you and your business. 

Community Energy Efficiency Program

Community Energy Efficiency Program

SMALL COMMUNITY, BIG SAVINGS, BIG IMPACT

When we work together, our energy and bill savings are anything but small.

We offer communities the opportunity and support to have an energy efficiency advocate help communities be more energy efficient and work towards their sustainability goals. Through program participation and guidance from our energy experts, these initiatives will help communities lower their energy consumption and empower its citizens to work towards a more sustainable Manitoba. 

Get to know your local energy efficiency advocate! They’re already familiar with your community and our programs.  

Let’s work together to make a difference in your community and beyond. 

GOALS

  • Reduce energy consumption in your community
  • Help your community better understand its energy use
  • Identify energy-saving opportunities in your community
  • Set energy efficiency goals and develop an action plan to achieve them
  • Encourage long-term sustainability
  • Build resiliency to climate change

FIND YOUR LOCAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY ADVOCATE

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Contact your local energy efficiency advocate to get started.

City of Brandon

Ingrid Gatin
i.gatin@brandon.ca

Town of Churchill

Susan Maxson
Susan.Maxson@churchill.ca

RM of De Salaberry

Eco-West/Eco-Ouest
info@eco-ouest.com

Notre Dame de Lourdes
(RM of Lorne)

Eco West/Eco-Ouest
info@eco-ouest.com

RM of Ritchot

Uriel Jelin
EEA@ritchot.com

RM of West Interlake

Kindell Soria
energy@rmofwestinterlake.com

RM of Hamiota

Armi Adair
hedc@hamiota.com
204-764-3050 ext. 107

RM of Saint Pierre-Jolys

Eco-West/Eco-Ouest
info@eco-ouest.com

Don’t see your community? We’re here to help all Manitobans save energy, money, and the environment. Check out our other energy efficiency offers for your home, business, or community.

BDC SMALL BUSINESS WEEK – Thank you

THANKS FOR ENTERING OUR SMALL BUSINESS WEEK CONTEST!

We’ve received your Small Business Week contest submission. The winners will be contacted via email by 12:00 p.m. on November 24, 2023. 

NEWSLETTER

Sign up to receive the latest rebates and incentives, energy saving tips, contests, and news from Efficiency Manitoba.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY DAY

ENERGY EFFICIENCY DAY

NETWORKING EVENT

The Energy Efficiency Day festivities are still going strong here in Manitoba. Efficiency Manitoba, Efficiency Canada, and Sustainable Building Manitoba are teaming up to host a networking event to celebrate how energy efficiency is supporting sustainable solutions for the environment and growing our green economy — and we’d love for you to join us!  

You’ll hear from local experts in the industry including our CEO Colleen Kuruluk, Efficiency Canada’s Abhi Kantamneni, and Sustainable Building Manitoba’s Laura Tyler. Plus, you can join the conversation on how we can continue creating an energy-efficient Manitoba. 

Date: Wednesday, October 25, 2023 
Time: 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. 
Where: Little Brown Jug (336 William Ave, Winnipeg) 

Fill out the form below to register for the event. 

STRATEGIC ENERGY MANAGER INITIATIVE

STRATEGIC ENERGY MANAGER INITIATIVE

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR ENERGY USE

Your organization knows there are opportunities to save energy, but other priorities prevent it from happening. Hire an energy manager to develop a plan, keep it on track, and meet your sustainability goals.

Our Strategic Energy Manager Initiative supports the hiring of an on-site energy manager to provide focus and expertise, and to take a strategic approach to energy reduction within your organization. The program provides financial incentives to offset the salary of a full-time energy manager as well as a variety of other supports to help build a system of continuous improvement helping your organization foster a culture of conservation, continuous improvement, and long-term energy savings.

We provide ongoing coaching for your in-house energy management team, provide funding for Certified Energy Manager Training, support the development of a Strategic Energy Management Plan, and facilitate the tracking and reporting of energy savings. Your organization will benefit from addressing your corporate sustainability goals and allow you to collaborate with a growing network of energy managers.

PROGRAM OFFERS

STRATEGIC ENERGY MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

We cover the cost of a professionally led Strategic Energy Management Workshop. This workshop is designed to bring your organization together as a team, allowing you to collaborate and work towards identifying and implementing energy-saving opportunities. It also helps your organization track progress and recognize achievements in saving energy. Success requires buy-in from the entire organization, and the workshop is an important first step to begin this process.

STRATEGIC ENERGY MANAGEMENT PLAN DEVELOPMENT & COACHING

We support the on-site energy manager with coaching to develop your organization’s Strategic Energy Management Plan. This is a formal energy reduction plan that outlines annual savings targets, potential energy-saving projects, activities in progress, and completed measures. Additional coaching throughout the program will continue to build your energy manager’s expertise.

ENHANCED INCENTIVE STRUCTURE

We provide an enhanced incentive structure to support your energy reduction efforts. You receive bonus incentives on top of our standard program incentives as well as incentives for low-cost and no-cost maintenance projects that aren’t eligible through our other offers. This ensures you’re rewarded for taking additional steps to plan, implement, and optimize your energy use. These extra incentives are designed to offset the hiring of a dedicated energy manager.

TRAINING

We provide funding towards pre-approved training courses that will build your energy manager’s knowledge and expertise. This includes the Certified Energy Manager training course along with other opportunities identified throughout the program.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS

EQUIPMENT LENDING LIBRARY

What gets measured gets managed. We maintain an extensive Equipment Lending Library where your energy manager can borrow instruments and logging tools to help understand your organization’s energy use. Instruments include ultrasonic leak detectors, air flow meters, data loggers, power meters, infrared cameras and thermometers, and other valuable tools.

MARKETING TOOL KIT

We can help you be successful in your commitment to conservation. We’ll equip you with a variety of marketing resources, templates, digital assets, and tips that you can easily implement within your organization as part of your energy reduction communication strategy, driving employee engagement and leaving you time with more time to focus on energy reduction projects.

UPFRONT FUNDING

We can provide up-front funding to offset the initial cost of hiring an energy manager. The funding is available based on an evaluation of a participant’s savings potential. This amount is provided at the start of the program and acts as a credit toward future incentives earned from energy-saving projects.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

  • You’re a large industrial customer with a focus on industrial processing
  • Your organization is willing to hire or appoint a full-time energy manager
  • Your organization is willing to appoint an executive sponsor to ensure corporate commitment and resourcing
  • Your organization is committed to continuous improvement, fosters a culture of conservation, and has long-term sustainability goals

GET IN TOUCH

GET IN TOUCH

FEASIBILITY STUDIES

Please provide some basic information about the feasibility study you’re proposing. We’ll review it and get back to you with next steps.

GET IN TOUCH

GET IN TOUCH

STEAM STRAP PROGRAM

Please provide some basic details about your steam system. We’ll review it and get back to you with next steps.

FEASIBILITY STUDIES

FEASIBILITY STUDIES

Do you have a project or system upgrade in mind for your facility that you think will save energy, and need a better understanding of your options and potential costs? A Feasibility Study can quantify the technical viability, potential energy savings, and overall project economics.

This program is ideal for industrial, commercial, or agricultural facilities that rely on technologies such as the following: 

  • Compressed air
  • Pumps, fans, and blowers
  • Refrigeration
  • Variable speed drives
  • Steam and water boiler systems
  • Ventilation
  • Waste heat recovery
  • Other process equipment

We offer financial incentives of 50% of the study cost, up to a maximum incentive of $20,000. 

A third-party consultant of your choice will conduct a comprehensive study of your potential project, which will quantify the costs, benefits, and savings associated with the project. If you decide to move forward with the project, you can use the information from the study to apply for incentives through our Custom Energy Solutions Program for your energy efficiency upgrades. 

Only studies that evaluate electricity and natural gas savings will be considered. 

See our Feasibility Study Guide for more information. 

STEPS TO PARTICIPATE

  1. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT

    Fill out our questionnaire and describe the energy-saving project you want to evaluate. Well review it to confirm your project is eligible.

  2. CHOOSE A CONSULTANT

    Once we’ve determined youre eligible, choose a third-party consultant to conduct the Feasibility Study for you. 

  3. SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

    Submit your Feasibility Study Financial Incentive Application form along with a Feasibility Study proposal (based on the outline in the Feasibility Study guide) to us. 

  4. CONDUCT THE STUDY

    Once weve approved your application, the third-party consultant youve chosen can proceed with the study. The study must be completed within 12 months from the time we approve your application. 

  5. SUBMIT PAPERWORK FOR PAYMENT

    Once the study is complete, submit the Feasibility Study Report prepared by your consultant along with your invoice to us. We’ll review your report and send you an incentive.