A group made up of government and non-profit groups wants to turn one of Winnipeg's poorest inner-city neighbourhoods into one of the city's greenest, one house at a time.

The provincial government, Manitoba Hydro, the United Way and the Winnipeg Foundation announced Wednesday they are teaming up to retrofit up to 120 older homes in the Centennial neighbourhood with energy and water-saving material.

Energy Minister Jim Rondeau said Wednesday that the idea behind the initiative is to help residents — and the province — save money in utility costs.

"Winnipeg's lowest-income citizens get some wonderful lower utility bills [in exchange] for long-term improvement in the quality in their life," Rondeau said.

"It [the plan] also creates better environmental benefits. These are permanent long term returns for all the partners' investments."

The houses targeted for the changes will receive, among other things, new attic and basement insulation, pipe wrapping, programmable thermostats, low-flow shower heads and high-efficiency toilets.

Happy homeowner impressed

The province hopes the retrofitted houses will net residents up to $30,000 in energy savings and $25,000 in saved water costs. The project could also save more than 10 million litres of water annually.

Centennial resident Florence Chartrand, who lives in one of the first houses to be retrofitted under the project, said she has already noticed a difference in her home.

"It's a lot warmer in the house, the doors aren't frosting up like they used to," Chartrand said Wednesday.

Renovations on the 120 houses, which are expected to be completed by next spring, will be done by an aboriginal construction training program based in the neighbourhood.

"It's been exciting, especially you know when you know the people in the community who's working on it," Chartrand said.

"They're a great crew to work with. And it's great seeing local people have jobs and fixing up the houses."

Manitoba Hydro is providing the energy efficiency materials needed to retrofit the houses, while the United Way, the Winnipeg Foundation and the Winnipeg Partnership Agreement gave multi-year funding for the project.