For Builders

Offer your customers a home with energy efficient options that is kinder to the environment.

Who is it for?

The Power Smart New Home Program is for every customer who wants to:

• include energy efficient features in their new home;
• reduce their energy costs;
• build an environmentally responsible home.

What types of homes are eligible?

You can apply the technical standard to any type of new home.

How it works

The New Home Program provides you with technical standards to include in your house plans. The standards include Power Smart features such as higher R-values for insulation and better heating, water and lighting systems.

Work with your customer to help them choose between two standards:

1. Silver — a basic package of energy efficient features; or
2. Gold — an enhanced package that offers greater savings and customer incentives.

Discuss the Silver and Gold standards with your customer, and decide which Power Smart standard meets their interest.

Work with your customer to fill out the New Home Program application form and register it with Manitoba Hydro.

Once the application is registered, build the home to the selected Silver or Gold Power Smart New Home Technical Standard.

After construction is complete, ensure the home meets the Power Smart standard. Arrange for an on-site EnerGuide for New Houses** evaluation with Manitoba Hydro.

How to get started

For more information or to register a home plan with the Power Smart New Home Program please call 1-888-MBHYDRO (1-888-624-9376) or email info@newhomeprogram.ca

Frequently asked questions

1. Why should I encourage my customers to build a Power Smart New Home?
2. Do I have to build exactly to the prescriptive Power Smart standard?
3. Is special training required in order to participate in the program?
4. How do I complete an EnerGuide energy analysis evaluation?
5. What will the final inspection involve?
6. What are the costs for builders or customer to participate in the New Home Program?
7. My customer wants to install a geothermal heat pump. Are geothermal heat pumps included in the program?
8. What is the R-2000 program?

1. Why should I encourage my customers to build a Power Smart New Home?

   A Power Smart new home saves customers money from the day they move in from reduced monthly energy costs. In addition, the Power Smart new home provides increased comfort and is better for the environment.

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2. Do I have to build exactly to the prescriptive Power Smart standard?

   Manitoba Hydro requires that you build to the minimum Power Smart standard in order to register a home in the Power Smart New Home Program.

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3. Is special training required in order to participate in the program?

   Builders who register a home in the Power Smart New Home Program, complete an EnerGuide energy analysis evaluation, and build to the minimum Power Smart standard will qualify.

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4. How do I complete an EnerGuide energy analysis evaluation?

   Builders can supply a set of house plans along with a completed new home application and agreement to Manitoba Hydro who will complete the energy analysis evaluation. Multiple builds of the same house plans only need to be evaluated one time and only need to be updated if there are significant changes to be made the next time that plan is built.

   Manitoba Hydro provides assistances to builders who wish to learn to complete plan evaluations in-house. If an evaluation is completed in-house, the plan may then be registered with Manitoba Hydro at no cost.

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5. What will the final inspection involve?

   At the completion of construction, a visual inspection of energy related components and blower door test is done. This takes about 45 minutes. This evaluation can be completed prior to or after the homeowner gains possession of the new home.

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6. What are the costs for builders or customer to participate in the New Home Program?

   There is no cost for builders to enroll, or to register a home plan evaluation in the program.

   There is no cost for customers to register in the New Home Program. Customers will pay for the energy, water and heating systems as they normally would when constructing a new home.

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7. My customer wants to install a geothermal heat pump. Are geothermal heat pumps included in the program?

   Yes, if they are built to the minimum Power Smart Geothermal New Home standard.

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8. What is the R-2000 program?

   The Power Smart New Home Program and the R-2000 Home Program are complementary programs targeted at different markets. R-2000 standards offer the highest level of energy efficiency a homeowner can include in their new home.

   Any home meeting the R-2000 Standard will be EnerGuide rated, and the homeowners will be eligible to receive the Manitoba Hydro incentive for a voucher for up to $1,000 towards the purchase of a front-loading washing machine; or a $600 rebate on their Manitoba Hydro energy bill.

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