As I sit with noise cancelling ear buds in busy downtown Halifax – an innovative technology that allows me to focus on my research, I’m reminded about the importance of innovation in our everyday life as more than just an abstract concept. It’s a miraculous leap to putting the power to control your own environment back into your own hands.

Much in that same vein, of helping people control their own energy bills and consumption, is Efficiency Nova Scotia’s (ENS) Eco Shift Demand Response (DR) pilot program, (See earlier blog.) which relies on innovative design to help homeowners control their energy usage while helping keep the energy grid as clean and responsive as possible.

Related: Learn more about Demand Response

The program, which launched at the end of 2023, was created by the ENS innovation team with insights leveraged from a selection of North American utilities found across both Canada and the Eastern U.S. ENS, working with partners Nova Scotia Power, Virtual Peaker — with its advanced technology platform, and CLEAResult — an energy efficiency program consultant, has created a program in Eco Shift that very simply allows the utility to connect with participants and their smart devices directly through a virtual power plant.

ENS Demand Response Specialist, Julia Elson, says a big part of the program’s appeal is the ease of use.

“It’s very hands-off for the participant,” she says.

That hands-off approach uses technology that allows the utility to connect remotely, in the case of two-way communication between a homeowner’s smart devices (see ENS website for a list of compatible devices and electric vehicles (EVs)), allowing ENS to send signals to control or reduce the power usage of specific appliances during peak demand periods. Alternately, some EVs and chargers can issue a one-way communication through a phone app called Smart Car, where ENS can collect data from the app, but not control the car or charger.

All this efficiency and innovation is part of ENS’s goal to lower energy costs for Nova Scotians while avoiding the collective cost of higher electricity generation.

Looking at creative ways to deal with rising costs and growing demands on our power grids is where a program like Eco Shift really shines — with its ability to bring the participant back into the conversation, allowing them to take back control of not only their energy bill, but to also contribute to a more energy efficient future for all.

ENS’s Manager, Research and Innovation, Marlon Wauchope couldn’t agree more.

“Innovative thinking is a crucial part of transforming people’s energy use and habits to address increasing electricity demand while also decarbonizing the grid. We don’t have all the answers, but we do need to leverage creative ideas and new technologies to find suitable and cost-effective solutions for Nova Scotians.”