Manitoba Hydro Power Smart Programs

Manitoba Hydro’s Commercial Building Optimization Program (CBOP) can help building owners improve the energy efficiency of their commercial building by identifying energy saving opportunities.  Recommended strategies are identified through an investigation process with additional focus on documentation and training to optimize savings.  This investigative process is called retro-commissioning (RCx).

Integrated Designs Inc. (IDI) is recognized by Manitoba Hydro as a commissioning provider that can project manage the retro-commissioning process and suggest energy efficient tune-ups within the building.

With the help of program incentives, owners can often recover the cost of implementing approved energy efficient technologies within a short time. Typical projects can save up to 15% of total building energy costs with a simple payback period averaging less than two years.  The CBOP typically pays 100% of the cost of retro-commissioning.

IDI can also help to facilitate Manitoba Hydro’s Power Smart New Buildings Program, which provides technical guidance and financial incentives for designing, constructing, and operating new, energy efficient buildings in Manitoba.

This program uses a combination of the following innovative strategies and processes to build a cost-effective, energy efficient building:

• Integrated design: a collaborative approach to designing a new building that includes key stakeholders and design professionals from conception to completion.
• Building simulation: maximize a building's energy efficiency with software modeling.
• Building commissioning: verify and document that the new building and systems are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained for optimal building performance.
• Energy management: recommendations for operational improvements and behavioral changes that manage and minimize energy costs.

All new building projects must be pre-approved before any design work begins. Before developing schematic drawings and/or applying for any construction/foundation permits, you can contact Power Smart for Business at:

http://www.hydro.mb.ca/your_business/power_smart_business.shtml

The financial incentives are based on projected energy savings and proven building performance, but are calculated (and paid) by:

• the conditioned space square footage of the building,
• building type,
• one of the two following design options:
• Prescriptive building path 
Design and build a new building according to a prescribed measure set outlined in the Power Smart Design Standards (Version 4). This path is most suitable for smaller buildings, such as retail shops, restaurants and small offices.
• Custom building design path
Design and build a new building to perform at an energy efficiency level that is at least 33 per cent greater than the Model National Energy Code for Buildings tested through building energy simulation. This path is suitable for larger, more complex facilities.

The two design options offer incentives based on the new building's conditioned space square footage: 

Prescriptive Building Path	Incentive
Construction	$0.50 per sq.ft.
Custom Building Design Path	Incentive
Design	$0.50 per sq.ft.
Construction	$0.50 per sq.ft.
Proven performance*	$0.20/kWh of electric energy
	and
	$0.30/m3 of natural gas
*Energy savings beyond 33 per cent higher than MNECB 97 are eligible when saved over 12 consecutive months. Inverse values are applied if consumption is increased.

Please contact Integrated Designs Inc. for additional information about these programs.