Parade of Homes

112 PARADE of HOMES FALL 2023 Formerly with the Power Smart team, Allison Lund now plays a central role in Efficiency Manitoba. As an energy-ef- ficiency specialist, she has expertise in managing energy-efficiency rebates and incentive programs. Lund works with both homebuilders and home- buyers to design energy-efficient new homes through the New Homes Program. "If you're thinking about building or buying a new home, ask your builder for a home that is Certified Energy Efficient by Efficiency Manitoba's New Homes Program," Lund says. "We are in the market to encourage construction that is more energy efficient in Manitoba. We offer rebates and expert design assistance, trying to help builders and customers to get the most out of their budget, from modest upgrades to the more ambitious." 1. Warm air can be kept inside by installing weather stripping, caulking and gaskets around doors, windows and electrical outlets to reduce air leakage and save energy. 2. Install Energy Star certified high-performance windows and doors to reduce heat loss. As a low-cost alternative, install an insulating kit on the interior sides of the windows. This results in en- ergy savings and can reduce con- densation buildup on windows. 3. Adjust your thermostat at night and when you're not at home. 4. In the winter, lower the tempera- ture by 3°C or more for at least eight hours a day to save up to four per cent on heating costs. 5. Consider buying a smart thermo- stat. It can be controlled remotely to set and adjust the air temperature of your home. It can also learn from your behaviour and will adjust the temperature depending on if you're home or not. 6. Schedule regular maintenance for your heating and cooling equipment. Your equipment will last longer and run more efficiently. 7. Change your furnace air filter every three months. 8. Clean the exterior air intake vent on your furnace. If you have a stan- dard-efficiency natural gas furnace, consider replacing it with a new high-efficiency model. 9. If you have a wood fireplace, make sure the damper is closed when you're not using your fire- place. That way, warm air won't escape through your chimney. But don't forget to open it when you light your next cozy fire. 10. Minimize the use of space heaters. Visit www.efficiencymb.ca to learn more. Energy-saving tips from Efficiency Manitoba With cooler weather on the way, we might do well to cozy up to these tips from Efficiency Manitoba on what we can do to be more energy efficient and save on heating costs in our homes. If you're building a new home, tell your builder you want a home that is Certified Energy Efficient by the New Homes Program. The FLIR thermal camera is one of the tools used for inspection. Energy Efficiency

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