// COMPANY DOSSIER
EfficiencyOne
Independent, not-for-profit energy efficiency utility that operates the Efficiency Nova Scotia program brand, delivering rebates, conservation programs, financing, and low-income upgrades to Nova Scotia homes and businesses under a demand-side management mandate funded through Nova Scotia Power ratepayers and the Province.
📍 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, CanadaEst. 2010✓ 100% first-party verified
// CLIPS FROM EfficiencyOne
“what we're accustomed to here is well my father built it that way and his father built it that way”
“the issue is you want to catch this into design if you're catching this during construction it's going to cost you more”
“we have a new technology licensed from NRC to measure the R value non-destructively of low slope roofs”
“if the roof doesn't leak water it's fine”
“we've had builds that became 57 percent more energy efficient”
“to produce the wood from the raw material the full carbon portion is way smaller than any steel or concrete”
// LESSONS FROM EfficiencyOne
Commission the building envelope early in design — catching defects in design is exponentially cheaper than fixing them during or after construction.
Third-party envelope commissioners are welcomed by contractors, not feared — they provide independent validation that protects everyone, including trades proud of their work.
The new energy code's air-leakage requirements mean building owners will need envelope testing on all new projects — subcontractors should price for this work now.
Selling high-performance building products in Atlantic Canada requires mindset change before product demonstration — the market defaults to 'my father built it that way.'
Mass timber conversations in Atlantic Canada are accelerating faster than any other market segment the Rothoblaas rep has seen — budget over-runs, not lack of interest, are the primary bottleneck.
Invest in passive house envelope quality first (R40-R50, airtight) before adding renewable energy systems — the envelope lasts 50-100 years while mechanical systems last 10-20.
// ALSO DISCUSSED ACROSS THE SHOW
// ON THE RECORD WITH
Energy Network Services Inc. (ENS)
Works with
ENS is an EfficiencyOne preferred partner; ENS handles rebate pre-approval on behalf of clients
Nova Scotia Government
Regulated by
Programs funded by government-level incentives and rebates for homeowners and businesses
ASHRAE
Trained at
EfficiencyOne preferred partners receive ASHRAE training through the program
// SELECTED PROJECTS
2027–2031 Demand-Side Management (DSM) Plan
AwardedPlan filer / program administrator · $318.75M planned investment ($63.75M/year, held flat); projected >$680M in ratepayer electricity bill savings
Filed with the Nova Scotia Energy Board on April 1, 2026; intended to take effect January 1, 2027 (pending regulatory approval). Status 'awarded' reflects the mandate/filing; regulatory approval was not separately confirmed at freshness check.
HomeWarming
In progressProgram administrator/deliverer (on behalf of the Province of Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Power)
Provides free energy assessments and home upgrades (insulation, draft-proofing) to income-qualified Nova Scotians; funded by the Province of Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Power.
Efficiency Insights (within MyEnergy Insights)
CompletedPartner with Nova Scotia Power
Joint feature with Nova Scotia Power letting customers understand energy use and find savings programs. Launch year not pinned at freshness check.
// KEY PEOPLE
// NOTABLE
EfficiencyOne / Efficiency Nova Scotia describes itself as Canada's first energy efficiency utility, an independent not-for-profit holding the franchise to deliver energy efficiency and conservation in Nova Scotia.
SOURCE ▸Stephen MacDonald stepped down as President & CEO with a final day of March 27, 2026; COO Martha Casey was appointed Interim President & CEO effective March 28, 2026.
SOURCE ▸EfficiencyOne was named one of Atlantic Canada's Top Employers, marking its fifth consecutive year at the January 17, 2023 announcement.
SOURCE ▸Building like this in Atlantic Canada?
Be a guest ▸