The Manitoba government has decided to adopt the lowest possible standard for energy efficiency when the newest national model codes take effect next year.

“It’s a missed opportunity to reduce the cost of living for Manitobans,” said Laura Tyler, executive director of Sustainable Building Manitoba.

On July 7, the province announced the Manitoba Building Code, Manitoba Plumbing Code, Manitoba Energy Code and Manitoba Fire Code will all be updated to the 2020 national model codes, as of Jan. 1, 2024. Among five available tiers of energy efficiency for new buildings, Manitoba has adopted Tier 1, the lowest possible standard.

Allowing new residential builds at a Tier 1 level of energy efficiency is a step backwards, because houses are being built at the equivalent of Tier 2 or 3, said Tyler, whose non-profit organization promotes sustainable buildings and advocates for net-zero energy performance.

When asked why it chose the lowest tier, a government spokesperson said Manitoba’s adoption of the 2020 national codes is “an important step forward.”

In winter, and again in June, the provincial government held public consultations on the new codes. Both home and commercial builders advocated to start at Tier 1, and for government to work with industry to “to develop a road map” towards achieving higher tiers of energy efficiency, the spokesperson said in an email.

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