Solutions

Home construction

HomeConstructionIn this section, you will find solutions on how to continue reducing greenhouse gas emissions from your home, whether you’re building a new home or retrofitting your existing dwelling. This includes information about

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Living in Manitoba’s extreme climate requires intensive energy use in our homes. This not only empties our wallets but is also costly to the environment. After all, much of our energy – at least for heating – comes from burning fossil fuels, which contributes to climate change.

Many Canadians are already taking steps to combat this high energy usage by making their homes more energy efficient.

  • Energy efficiency in the residential sector improved by 21% from 1990-2004, representing $4.7 billion in energy costs and 14.6 Mt in energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. (1)
  • Greenhouse gas emissions from residential energy decreased by 4.5 percent between 1990 and 2005. (2)
  • In Manitoba, residential energy accounted for 1,600 kilotonnes (kt) CO2 equivalent in 1990, but dropped to 1,300 kt CO2 eq in 2004. (3)

Although energy efficiency gains have been made, building operations (all buildings, not only residential) are still responsible for close to 30 percent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. (4) That means there’s still plenty we can do.

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