Frequently Asked Questions

This page will be updated regularly throughout the consultation. If you have questions, you can e-mail them to codeconsultatons@gov.mb.ca; or fax or mail them to the Office of the Fire Commissioner

1. Why do we need energy and water efficiency requirements?
2. Will the energy efficiency requirements be part of the existing building code or in a new energy code?
3. Will the new requirements add costs?
4. Are there any incentives or grants to help meet energy and water efficiency standards?
5. Will there be a transition period to allow time for the home and building construction sectors to adjust to the new regulations?

1) Why do we need energy and water efficiency requirements?

Minimum requirements for energy efficiency in codes are one of the most effective and widely-used methods to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from new and renovated buildings. Requirements for energy efficiency in commercial buildings are already in place in Ontario and are underway in several other provinces/territories.

Minimum energy efficiency requirements for commercial buildings are common in almost all other developed countries with which Canada and Manitoba compete, including the U.S. and Europe. Minimum water efficiency requirements are set in several Canadian provinces/territories and all of the U.S.

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2) Will the energy efficiency requirements be part of the existing building code or in separate a new energy code?

Whether the new requirements are created as part of a separate energy code or as an addition to the existing building code, the regulations will be implemented under The Buildings and Mobile Homes Act which allows the Lieutenant Governor to make regulations that adopt, establish, or prescribe minimum requirements for building and house construction.

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3) Will the new requirements add costs?

Cost-effectiveness is one of the key criteria considered when developing changes to minimum requirements. There will be a cost-effectiveness test, an economic analysis and a market impact analysis of each of the changes considered.

Canadian and U.S. studies on adopting higher energy and water efficiency requirements for buildings have shown no significant increases in construction costs.

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4) Are there any incentives or grants to help meet energy and water efficiency standards?

Natural Resources Canada, through their ecoENERGY initiative, and Manitoba Hydro, through their Power Smart programs, offer a variety of financial incentives for improving the energy and water efficiency of for commercial buildings and houses. For information about the federal government's ecoEnergy programs, click here. For details on Manitoba Hydro's Power Smart programs, click here.

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5) Will there be a transition period to allow time for the house and commercial building construction sectors to adjust to the new regulations?

Yes, the implementation of the regulatory changes would be phased in to allow the construction industry time to adjust.

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