b"is developing a net-zero high-rise at the former Winnipeg Police headquarters site, slated for completion in December 2023, and Habitat for Humanity Manitoba completed five solar-powered, net-zero homes back in 2019a first for both the organization and the province.Design rendering courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Manitoba. CARBON-FREE CONSTRUCTIONGOING GREEN Habitat for Humanity is no stranger to sustainable building. Their newest venture is a 55-unit, carbon-free Sustainable construction practices townhouse development in Transcona, designed with peak energy efficiencyramping up in Manitoba By Justyne Essery in mind.Weve been building in this manner Climate change is becoming anEfficiency Manitoba is a Crownfor 10 years, says Sandy Hopkins, CEO increasingly significant topic ascorporation that offers programs to helpat Habitat for Humanity Manitoba. Canadians across the country experienceManitobans save energy, money and theWeve been able to reduce energy unprecedented weather events,environment. One such initiative is theirconsumption in the houses we build from floods to heatwaves and more.New Buildings Program, which awardsby more than 50 per cent without According to Architecture 2030, a U.S.- certification to buildings that exceednegatively affecting quality of life inbased non-profit aiming to reduce CO2the Manitoba Energy Code for Buildingsthe home.emissions in the built environment,(MECB) minimum efficiency standards byHopkins explains that building a carbon-buildings account for almost 40 per centat least 10 per cent.free house is simply a matter of choosing of the worlds annual greenhouse gasPerformance-based building codes andelectricity over natural gas as the heat emissions28 per cent from buildingstandards are becoming the norm forsource. Increasing energy efficiency operations and 11 per cent fromsustainable design and constructionbeyond that takes more planning, but building materials and construction.and will continue to play a key roleit can also decrease operating costs in With that in mind, the constructionin the future. Leadership in Energythe long run. For the new Transcona industry has the potential to play a keyand Environmental Design (LEED)development, Hopkins says the all-in role in climate action by adopting morecertification is a frequent target for newenergy costs for a family of six will only sustainable and energy-efficient energy-efficient construction projects,be about $98 per month, based on building practices. says Cocquyt. As we look ahead to theprevious Habitat houses. That reflects More and more jurisdictions acrossfuture, we expect to see more projectsthe level of insulation, the quality of North America are discussing andworking towards Net-Zero Energywindows and [the airtightness], he says.adopting policies to help in the fightReady, where buildings are designed toHabitat goes the extra mile to ensure against climate change, says Samanthaproduce as much clean energy as their houses perform as efficiently as Cocquyt, Energy Efficiency Specialistthey consume. possible for the families they serve. With with Efficiency Manitoba. In terms ofthe help of prairieHOUSE Performance sustainable buildings, were involved inA number of Manitoban buildings haveInc., a leading energy conservation more frequent conversations about bothachieved LEED certification in 2021,consulting firm in Manitoba, Habitat sustainable new construction and deepincluding the Tach Hall Addition at themeasures the air exchange rates of their retrofits to reduce the energy use andUniversity of Manitoba (certified LEEDbuilds upon completionthe number environmental impact of Silver). While local net-zero buildingsof times air is replaced throughout the existing buildings. may be less common, Market Lands Inc.building each hour. The faster air leaves, the more energy is required to heatthe house. Houses in Manitoba typically come in somewhere between two and 2.5 air exchanges per hour, Hopkins says. High Voltage EnergyIf we get an air exchange that comes Mechanicalin at 1.5the minimum requirement Electrical Engineeringfor Efficiency Manitoba's New Homes Programmany people will be very Our goal is to bring CREATIVITY and EXPERTISEforsustainabledesignhappy, [but] we consider it a failure. and energy innovation.Habitat homes usually clock in at less THANK YOU to our employees andthan one air exchange per hour, and clients for MCWs continued success.often less than 0.5 air exchangesMCW.comper hour.26 BUILD MANITOBAwinnipegconstruction.ca"