FAQs

What is Efficiency Nova Scotia?
Where do you get your funding?
Where did the idea for Efficiency Nova Scotia come from?
What’s the benefit of increasing energy efficiency?
Is this energy efficiency push working?
I’ve already done everything I can do to save energy and my power bill doesn’t go down. How come?
Is the “efficiency charge” on my bill contributing to Nova Scotia Power profits?
Most people should know by now how to be more efficient and conserve energy – it’s just common sense. Why should Nova Scotians support energy efficiency?
I’m already doing my part and don’t need financial support to increase my energy efficiency. Why should I pay for programs that help other people?
What is “Demand Side Management”?
Why not just spend the money on green, renewable fuels, rather than put it into efficiency and conservation programs?
How can we know if Efficiency Nova Scotia is really saving energy?

 

What is Efficiency Nova Scotia?
Efficiency Nova Scotia is the new, independent, non-profit corporation that runs energy efficiency and conservation programs for Nova Scotians. 

 

Where do you get your funding?

Efficiency Nova Scotia’s electricity efficiency programs are funded through a levy paid by all electricity customers in the province. For Residential customers the charge is 0.587 cents per kWh of energy consumption. 

 

Where did the idea for Efficiency Nova Scotia come from?

It really came from Nova Scotians. Efficiency Nova Scotia was created following public consultation and research led by Dr. David Wheeler, then Dean of Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Management. The central question was: how should energy efficiency be managed in the province? Dr. Wheeler’s April 2008 report said an independent body should be in charge of conservation and efficiency programs, rather than government or a utility. That approach has thrived in other jurisdictions around the world.

 

 

 

What’s the benefit of increasing energy efficiency?

Increasing energy efficiency helps Nova Scotians save money on your power bill, lower the demand on the electricity grid, promote innovation, and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

 

 

Is this energy efficiency push working?

Nova Scotians are doing a great job at being more energy efficient – over the last two years, Nova Scotians have saved enough electricity to power 18-thousand average homes.

 

 

I’ve already done everything I can do to save energy and my power bill doesn’t go down. How come?

None of us can control the price of energy – that part is out of our hands. But we can take steps to reduce our consumption and increase our efficiency. For small businesses or bigger companies, that can mean hundreds or thousands of dollars in savings on your power bills. Typically, those savings are smaller for residential customers, but almost always there are ways to save. If you’d like more tips on how to lower your bills or efficiency programs, take a look around the website or contact us at info@efficiencyns.ca.

 

 

Is the “efficiency charge” on my bill contributing to Nova Scotia Power profits?

No. All the money collected through the efficiency charge is passed directly to Efficiency Nova Scotia to support conservation and efficiency programs.

 

 

 

Most people should know by now how to be more efficient and conserve energy – it’s just common sense. Why should Nova Scotians support energy efficiency?

More and more Nova Scotians understand the benefits of energy efficiency and are investing in those savings for their homes and businesses. However, lots of people aren’t yet aware of the many ways to save and conserve -- or the programs available to help them. As well, some Nova Scotians may not have the financial ability to afford these sorts of investments. Efficiency Nova Scotia is here to help.

 

 

 

I’m already doing my part and don’t need financial support to increase my energy efficiency. Why should I pay for programs that help other people?

Regardless of who saves energy in Nova Scotia, it benefits all of us by reducing the load on the electricity grid. If we can do that, we can avoid the significant costs of building a new coal-fired power plant to meet the demand for Nova Scotians. On top of those considerable savings, we are also reducing the environmental cost by reducing our carbon emissions.

 

 

What is “Demand Side Management”?

Demand Side Management (also known as DSM) is the technical name for efficiency and conservation programs. In other words, it’s the measures we can take to reduce or manage the demand on the electricity power grid – saving energy and money.

 

 

 

Why not just spend the money on green, renewable fuels, rather than put it into efficiency and conservation programs?

Saving energy – by increasing your efficiency and reducing your consumption – is the cheapest, greenest form of energy out there. It makes sense financially and environmentally, for the present and the future. Renewable energy sources will help diversify Nova Scotia’s energy supply and be easier on the environment, but they will also likely cost more than cheaper, dirtier forms of fuel like the coal that powers most of our electricity today.

 

 

 

How can we know if Efficiency Nova Scotia is really saving energy?

The savings impacts of the programs are evaluated by independent experts, using industry-accepted methods. In addition, those results are measured and verified for accuracy again by other third-party experts, hired by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.