Energy management
The EfficiencyOne Energy Manager Team: a Nova Scotia success story
How EfficiencyOne’s embedded Energy Manager model connects technical expertise with client operations, capital planning and sustained energy savings. Program snapshot: November 2025.
Originally published on LinkedIn. This article reflects the information and perspective at the time of the original post.
David previously managed Energy Management Services at EfficiencyOne and now leads PB Energy. The program description and results below reflect the original November 5, 2025 post.
EfficiencyOne’s Energy Manager model illustrates how sustained, embedded expertise can help organizations reduce energy costs and develop clean energy projects.
In 2014, the program had five Energy Managers. By November 2025, it had developed into a technically skilled, province-wide network serving over 60 of Nova Scotia’s largest organizations, alongside the municipal, fisheries and agricultural sectors, and delivering millions of dollars in annual energy savings.
Key features of the model
Embedded expertise: Energy Managers work inside client organizations to align energy projects with budgets, operations and capital planning.
Client value: The November 2025 post reported consistent annual energy savings of 2–4%, increased rebate uptake and development of projects ready for implementation. The value of funding and savings unlocked could substantially exceed the cost of the service.
Large impact: At that time, clients represented approximately 30% of Nova Scotia’s commercial and industrial energy use. Annual energy savings had grown from a few GWh to dozens of GWh.
Broad scope: The work extended beyond traditional electricity-saving measures to electrification, distributed energy resources, thermal decarbonization and demand response.
Collaborative network: Learning, mentorship and partnerships helped successful approaches spread across the client portfolio.
Market development: A steady flow of identified and implemented projects supported demand for clean energy skills, services and equipment.
Lessons for other organizations
The model’s value comes from combining technical expertise with an ongoing understanding of the client’s operations. Dedicated energy management can connect individual upgrades into a longer-term plan, coordinate funding with capital decisions and help organizations sustain progress over time.
