{
  "id": 1657477,
  "title": "Improving building standards",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/improving-building-standards",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T07:00:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2026/08/18/improving-building-standards"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "This report covers the story of a woman's concerns about improving building standards in Winnipeg. The woman, Jean Clipsham, is a mother, grandmother, and climate activist who worries about the impact of energy consumption on the environment.\n\nAs a young professional, Clipsham purchased a house in Winnipeg and later discovered that insulation and heating were more efficient in homes built after 1985. She believes that when buying a condo, she should opt for newer buildings only. Unfortunately, the province of Manitoba has adopted the lowest tier for energy efficiency in building codes since 2020, which is discouraging given the province's extreme weather conditions.\n\nThe woman recently learned about new national building standards released in December 2025. The province has 18 months to decide whether to adopt these standards. Adopting the higher tier would ensure that the energy efficiency of new buildings will be better for future residents, helping them adapt to extreme weather. A well-built building can also provide better temperature regulation and energy efficiency, which is crucial for older individuals and during power outages.\n\nClipsham hopes that the province will choose to adopt the higher tier as soon as possible, and she urges the federal government to support the building industry in gaining the necessary training and capacity to meet these standards. The decision to adopt the higher tier will significantly impact Winnipeg's future housing, particularly in the face of extreme weather conditions.",
  "summary": "As I was working in my garden today, I was thinking that, while I still enjoy it, I am starting to wonder how much longer I will be able to […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Jean Clipsham, a climate activist, worries about energy consumption impact.",
    "Winnipeg's building codes since 2020 have lowest tier for energy efficiency.",
    "Adopting higher national building standards could improve future housing."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}