Electricity customers in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are gaining guidance from award-winning public education and advocacy efforts. Efficiency Nova Scotia, a non-profit delivery agent of energy efficiency programs, and Énergie NB Power, New Brunswick’s primary electric utility, made for a strong Maritime presence at yesterday’s 2016 Energy Star Canada Awards ceremony in Winnipeg.

In total, 16 organizations were commended for manufacturing, retailing or promoting Energy Star-certified products and technologies, as part of Natural Resources Canada’s annual recognition of industry and community leadership.

“The Energy Star awards demonstrate how Canadian businesses and organizations across the country are driving the transition to a low-carbon, clean-growth economy, growing the number of energy-efficient products and homes in the market and making it easier for consumers to save money and reduce energy use,” says Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr.

Efficiency Nova Scotia was named Advocate of the Year for its active role in promoting rebates for and information about Energy Star-certified products, including windows, doors, refrigerators, freezers and LED and compact florescent light bulbs. Targeting businesses, developers and residential customers, the organization boasts its clients tapped into $110 million in electricity cost savings in 2015.

Énergie NB Power was a double-honouree for the best promotional campaign and the best social media campaign, centring on the utility’s Smart Habits campaign, which featured the tagline: Why pay for electricity you don’t need? Results were seen in increased redemption of rebates for Energy Star products — notably, 26 per cent for LED bulbs, 680 per cent for refrigerators and 48 per cent for clothes washers. Consumers also claimed rebates for 4,400 Energy Star heat pumps, which the utility teamed with 150 heating contractors to promote.