What is the deal with Efficiency Nova Scotia? I’m shocked that our citizens don’t already know replacing their old inefficient light bulbs with newer higher efficiency models saves them money, had it not been for Efficiency Nova Scotia.
Is Efficiency Nova Scotia’s levy on every power bill there to provide services to benefit everyone who pays it? Why is the only program they have for renters and tenants—a third of our province—removal of old appliances, or if you are lucky and your timing is right a few dollars off of light bulbs? How many renters own their own washer, dryer, fridge, stove or dishwasher? Why no consultations with municipalities, developers and landlords to create efficiency standards for appliances in MDU’s and other rental units? Where does the government stand on this issue, since Efficiency Nova Scotia has no legislative power unlike when they were paid out of general revenue and a government department outright?
The clear benefit of being energy efficient is saving money. The market does this for free. Power has a price, it is a commodity. To save money, you need to use less. It’s not rocket science. How is a tax to save us money, saving us money?
Nova Scotians already know we need to save electricity, and the information on how to achieve it is all around us from a multitude of sources. This kind of Demand Side Management is insulting to the intelligence. Nova Scotians should demand better. —Fed Up with the Government Saving Me From Myself
This article appears in Nov 1-7, 2012.
Wow. I never actually realized any of this until I researched Energy Efficiency NS.
So from what I read on their website is that they’re an independent organization, established through legislation in 2009 and run by a board of directors.
So this is how I translate this. An organization created by law (government) and run by a board of directors (Government supplied jobs since a government law created the organization). They’re also regulated by Utility and Review board (The same people that regulate NS power and approve the rate increases).
Also due to their creation, a fee of min $4 was slapped onto the power bill (NS Power invoice that you get every month/2 months) to supposedly support a program that helps us save energy cost. Sad thing about it. I don’t see how a renter should pay this since we don’t own any of the crap they talk about.
So originally they were established to save money on our power bills.
Instead they tack on a $4 charge and the power rates have increased more than 25% in the last 3 years or so! Hmm they were established and have a board of directors put in place by provincial legislation in 2009. Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t that around the same time our power costs started increasing on regular basis?! Who are the members of this board anyway?!
I know I can save money by using less energy but when my bill jumps from 65 bi monthly (That’s the lowest I could actually get it to in a 1 bedroom apartment using energy efficient lighting) to almost $80 when I use less energy, that tells me something is fishy!
the first word and any gubment never go together, and bnever will. they say one thing and do another. if you were to check their homes and most offices, you would find regular light bulbs, and this i know for a fact. i know some of the ones that work in that place. i have seen the reg. lights in the homes, and the office.maybe they changed in the last couple years, but i doubt it.
Fuck those stupid light bulbs. And remember when power use goes down (or companies get a cut in their rates), power rates go up for the rest of us. If I’m paying for my power, I will use the bulbs I like.
i’ve pretty much given up on saving money on power. I switched bulbs switched everything minimized consumption on the power bill the consumption went down and the biilling period was 8 days shorter. Still my power bill was 30 dollars more. NSP just wants you to use less of their product so they can charge more for less
Just a few points of clarification:
We’re happy to see that you recognize the benefit of energy efficiency.
Efficiency Nova Scotia’s goal is to help Nova Scotians use energy better.
We offer services for businesses, homeowners, renters, landlords – you name it.
As for renters and tenants specifically, we do offer instant rebates on efficient products and appliance retirement services however we also offer free installation of energy efficient lighting, including standard and specialty CFLs, high efficiency shower heads and low flow aerators.
We also can also install free hot water tank and pipe insulation for electric hot water heating equipment.
Those improvements alone can save a typical home more than $100 a year in electricity costs.
There is only so much that can be provided to renters because in most cases they do not own the property or products that could be replaced with more efficient measures. In these cases, we work with the landlords directly to help keep their tenants’ bills lower.
Of course, energy efficiency is more than just installing efficient measures to your home or workplace; a lot of it has to do with making it a part of everyday life.
It’s a bit like how composting and recycling has become second nature to most of us.
Just like composting and recycling, we all fund energy efficiency and we all share the benefits of reducing energy consumption, increasing energy efficiency and reducing energy waste.
If you haven’t participated, you should try us out.
In the first 21 months of Efficiency Nova Scotia’s operations, more than 85,000 customers have taken part in our programs and services.
(And 97% of customers surveyed say they’re happy with our services and would recommend us to others).
We’re here to help you fight back against rising energy costs. Give us a call at 1-877-999-6035.
-Efficiency Nova Scotia
How will BLOW ME find a way to proposition Efficiency Nova Scotia? Stay tuned!
As soon as they put those crappy bulbs in my apartment, I took them right out.
The amount of money from the efficiency fees that are put into salaries and advertising budgets instead is staggering. Then they claim they’ve saved Nova Scotians $180 million over the next ten years… Which comes from a dirty crystal ball and the erroneous conclusion that people are efficient only because of Efficiency Nova Scotia – Without them we’d have no idea using less power saves money. Its that kind of backwards logic that infuriates me to no end and makes me anxious to see them all impaled on stakes, count Vlad style.
The next election will take care of them. Unfrotunately they’ll have to sell the 40″ TV at Pier 21 they use to send the message to Nova Scotians that “we are saving energy”.
If only every “dummy” truly understood the purpose and value of demand side management, we wouldn’t be reading comments like that of the original post above. That comment, by the way, is verbatim identical to one posted on the Chronicle Herald site (strangely enough, under the same name of someone who is always posting misinformation on the Efficiency NS website and is repeatedly corrected by more well-informed writers).
He whines about not having more programs for renters, even though programs for renters and landlords do exist and common sense would tell anyone that there is a limit to what can be done to curb the relatively small amount of energy used by tenant-owned devices in apartments such as lights and appliances. And according to census data, there are 48,000 apartments in NS, among a total of almost 500,000 residences (the OP equates this to one third, so what does that tell you about the amount of research he’s done?).
As for appliance standards, there are rebates on efficient fridges, even if there has been very little change in the efficiency of fridges in the past decade. If you think landlords are going to dispose of relatively new fridges and replace them with units costing hundreds more without increasing rent, you truly don’t understand business.
Most provinces in Canada and US states have ratepayer or taxpayer funded energy efficiency programs. This is not some ill-conceived experiment. It is simple economics that if informed, any “dummy” will recognize as a good investment. But alas, you can lead some people to the well of knowledge, however you cannot force them to drink.
Most people are already at the well of knowledge, and don’t need the government, at a cost of hundreds of millions, to let them in on the “secrets”…
“even though programs for renters and landlords do exist”
If you are counting $1 off lightbulbs, then yes you have programs for them, and don’t forgtet the wildy successful program of hauling away tenants fridges, stoves, dishwashers, and freezers.
“there is a limit to what can be done to curb the relatively small amount of energy used by tenant-owned devices in apartments”
There is a limit to what Efficiency Nova Scotia is capable of doing, definately. Especially without consultations with municipalities, developers and landlords to create efficiency standards for appliances in MDU’s and other rental units, and without consultations with government to create efficiency standards.
“48,000 apartments in NS, among a total of almost 500,000 residences”
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/12-581-x/2012…
33% of Nova Scotians live in rented dwellings.
“there are rebates on efficient fridges, even if there has been very little change in the efficiency of fridges in the past decade”
Even though tenants can’t take advantage of them, but tenants through their efficiency tax, help out those who can. The reverse of Robin Hood, classy.
“repeatedly corrected by more well-informed writers”
Or perhaps the writer has figured why try arguing with those whose sole purpose is to keep wasting taxpayers money on their own salaries, ad campaigns and office space. The political parties except for the NDP are on side, and we all know what will be happening to the NDP next election.
It’s been swell, while it lasted, but your gravy train is coming to an end.
Hey, I may be a “dummy”, but at least I am not paid by the ratepayers/taxpayers to go on The Coast spouting lies to save my job, Eddie Bell. It could be worse…. lol.