Uriel Jelin’s is a relatively new face at the RM of Ritchot’s municipal office and he’s there to fill the role of Energy Efficiency Advocate. His position began in early summer.
“This is something new that Efficiency Manitoba is doing in partnership with some municipalities,” Jelin says. “It’s a two-year program and the idea is to have someone with a local connection [help residents] get in touch with their programs.”
Efficiency Manitoba (EM) is a crown corporation whose mandate is to find ways to reach long-term energy savings targets. They do this by offering cost-effective programs to residents and business owners across the province.
Their projected goal is to reduce provincial consumption of electricity by 1.5 percent and natural gas by 0.75 percent annually. Ultimately, these reductions will not just save consumers money. They will help drive down the greenhouse gas emissions created in this province.
“We’re a committed team that’s come together to reach a purpose greater than each of us,” reads a statement on the EM website, “and your participation is going to drive our collective success.”
To aid in buy-in, they have developed a broad list of programs and rebate initiatives under the Energy Efficiency Manitoba (EEM) umbrella to encourage home and business owners to make energy-efficient upgrades.
Further, they’ve encouraged Manitoba’s municipalities to partner with them by employing energy efficiency advocates such as Jelin. In the case of Ritchot, EM provides 80 percent of Jelin’s salary while the RM covers the remaining 20 percent.
Jelin is ready to assist Ritchot’s property owners find the provincial rebate and financing that best suits their needs.
“I want you to save energy, but I also want you to save money,” Jelin says. “So [these initiatives] have to make sense for you.”
According to Jelin, EM has a lot of great initiatives right now, most of which need to be preapproved by EM before rebates will be issued. Financial incentives can be applied to something as minor as a window replacement and as major as a complete retrofit of a home or business.
In some cases, rebates of up to 70 percent are available.
Rebates of $100 per window are available if they are replaced with high-efficiency triple pane. If replacing multiple windows, Manitoba Hydro provides financing options for up to a five-year term.
Insulation is another important factor when it comes to a home’s energy efficiency. Around 1999, Jelin says that building codes became much stricter. This means many older homes are far less efficient than they could be.
“Approximately 60 percent of your hydro bill goes into heating,” Jelin says. “You have two components to this. One component is the energy you use to generate the heat and the other component is the energy you lose because of [poor] insulation.”
To receive virtually all the provincial rebates, consumers must use one of EM’s vetted and highly qualified service providers. In most cases, they offer free home assessments prior to the submission of an application. These home audits usually include a thorough overview of the home’s overall efficiency in order to prioritize upgrades.
“This is super important because the assessment [tells you] what you need and what will have more impact,” says Jelin. “And I would say [it gives] you with extra peace of mind.”
Jelin knows this firsthand. A recent attic inspection on his 75-year-old home revealed that although his insulation wasn’t ideal, his money would be better spent on other improvements.
These energy audits are especially important for homeowners who want to undertake major retrofits. In cases like that, an audit can advise on how to maximize the programs and rebates available.
Homeowner rebates exist for solar panel and heat pump installations, which help save energy when heating and cooling a home. Manitoba Hydro also offers low-interest financing options which cover up to $20,000 for a 15-year term.
For lower income families who need a little extra financial help, EM has created the Energy Efficiency Assistance Program.
“So if you are a couple that is retired and on a fixed income, or a young family with three kids, you may qualify,” Jelin adds.
Many of the same rebates available to homeowners are also available to small business owners. Additional financial supports are available for First Nations and Metis-owned businesses.
The New Buildings program offers incentives on new construction while the In-Suite Energy Efficiency program helps landlords of multifamily units make energy improvements to individual rental suites.
Recognizing that education is key to affecting change, Jelin has a wide variety of pamphlets in his Ritchot office for anyone to pick up. Included in these resources is an interactive, fact-filled workbook developed especially with children in mind. Energy Ed and Jenny Jay’s Manitoba Adventure is available to teachers and parents upon request.
“As a parent, I know that if the kids are interested in energy efficiency, recycling, etcetera, it’s more likely that we are going to adopt it faster.”
