BUILDING ENERGY, BUILDING LEADERSHIP / REPORT OF THE MANITOBA ENERGY CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE8

• 60% (OR GREATER) MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT than the model code requires

additional design considerations, removing some conventional components,

and adding leading edge technologies. The building is responsive to the

local climate, and orientated south to fully benefit from the light and energy

of the sun. The design of the building may also allow for natural ventilation,

which means removing some of the mechanical systems that typically move

air through the building. And the building includes leading edge technolo-

gies such as a green roof to keep the heat off of the building, or solar pan-

els to generate electricity or to heat water. One example pictured in this

report is the Manitoba Hydro new corporate headquarters (p. 53).

WHAT IS AN ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING?

• 25% TO 35% MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT than the model code requires mini-

mal change from current design and construction practice. The building

uses the same types of technologies and has many of the same types of

components (e.g., insulation, windows, lighting) as a less energy efficient

building. The difference? These components are better and more energy

efficient (e.g., more attention to insulation and air sealing in exterior walls;

use of high-performance windows; T8 in place of T12 fluorescent lighting in

the ceiling). Examples pictured in this report are Sears Polo Park (p. 25)

and Sobeys Grant Park (p. 37), which are 30.5% and 26.2% more energy

efficient than the model energy code, respectively.

• 40% TO 50% MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT than the model code uses additional

components, or new technologies, and draws on innovative (or in some

cases rediscovered) architectural design principles. It will typically have lots

of windows to let in natural daylight, and include solar shades or awnings to

help keep the summer heat off of the building. Additional technologies may

include motion sensors to turn lights on and off, carbon dioxide sensors to

automatically adjust the fresh air requirements, and geothermal heating.

Examples pictured in this report are the SC3 office (p. 12), the Mountain

Equipment Co-op store (p. 27) and the Red River College Princess Street

Campus (p. 40) which are 54.9%, 53.9%, and 48.2% more energy efficient

than the model energy code, respectively.

An energy efficient building can take many forms, depending upon how much more efficient the build-

ing is compared to a benchmark such as Canada’s Model National Energy Code for Buildings (1997).

This model energy code is used as a reference by building designers in Canada. Many buildings

designed today are more energy efficient than the requirements of the current model code.

Using the Model National Energy Code for Buildings (1997) as a benchmark, a building that is:

EX

AM

PL

E

AE

XA

MP

LE

B

EX

AM

PL

E

C

BUILDING ENERGY, BUILDING LEADERSHIP / REPORT OF THE MANITOBA ENERGY CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE 9

The Energy Code Advisory Committee is recom-

mending Manitoba adopt the Model National

Energy Code for Buildings (1997), with amend-

ments prescribing a 25% improvement in energy

efficiency above the current model code (i.e.

Example A on the opposite page). The amend-

ments are necessary because the model code

has not been updated, since first published in

1997, to reflect new building technologies, new

design and construction practices, current

energy prices and construction costs, or con-

cerns about greenhouse gas emissions. The

Committee is recommending the design and con-

struction of buildings with better and more

energy efficient components, such as greater

insulation, high-performance windows, and effi-

cient lighting. The recommendations will improve

occupant comfort and have little or no impact on

building owners and designers already designing

buildings with these better technologies.

T8 lighting and LED exit signsare now common in new build-ings in Manitoba. An energycode will help to ensure thatold T12 lighting ballasts andold exit signs are not used innew buildings.

• More efficient HVAC

(Heating, Ventilation,

Air-conditioning) systems.

• LED (Light Emitting Diode)

exit signs.

• T8 fluorescent tube

lighting, rather than T12,

in the ceiling.

• Greater insulation

in the building envelope

(i.e., exterior walls and roof ).

• High-performance windows,

including warm-edge windows, windows

appropriate for the building orientation, and

tinted windows to control solar gain.

The features in a building 25% more energy efficient than the current Model National Energy Code

(1997) are proven and already accepted by many industry professionals: