"These changes are designed to further reduce our footprint on the environment and help Manitobans have a greener future," explained the Minister responsible for the changes Jennifer Howard, "for an average two-storey, gas-heated home, carbon-dioxide emissions will be reduced by more than half or about 1.25 tonnes per year."

Building code changes include: specifying minimum energy-efficiency requirements for windows, eliminating the pilot light in gas fireplaces, increasing the required level of attic insulation to R50, requiring a minimum 94 per cent fuel-efficiency rating for furnaces, specifying a mid-efficient heat-recovery ventilator, and introducing energy-modelling software.

Changes to the plumbing code allow for reduced maximum-flow rates in residential water devices such as toilets and shower heads. In addition, they will allow the reuse of non-potable (grey) water for other applications around the home if it meets the Canadian Standards Association grey water standard expected to be released in December 2010.