Please start by introducing yourself.
My name is Errol Pereira, and I am the Senior Director of Engineering and Planning at EfficiencyOne. I completed my Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering at Dalhousie University and Master of Engineering at the University of Toronto where I was first introduced to the clean technology industry.
What initially attracted you to our organization/industry and how has it evolved since you first started?
I began my professional career at Nova Scotia Power working alongside several experienced engineers that would eventually be my mentors at EfficiencyOne. I joined EfficiencyOne because it was a new and growing industry here in the province with a focus on helping Nova Scotians, supporting the local economy, and combating climate change. It was important to me to work for an organization that made an impact.
How have you seen the organization grow and evolve over the years, and what role has the energy management team played in driving that change?
When I started with the organization in 2011, public awareness of energy efficiency and other energy management measures was limited. Over the years I have seen Nova Scotians take greater steps to shelter themselves from rising energy costs and drive towards the energy transition. My colleagues at EfficiencyOne have been instrumental in this change, continuously looking for ways to improve our programs and services.
On a personal level, I am proud to have led the energy management services team starting in 2016 until my current appointment. In this role, I had the opportunity to work directly with a talented technical team and expand our energy management services to support a variety of businesses. Improving on this team’s technical expertise, building customers’ awareness of project funding, and sharing success stories has led to businesses investing more in energy efficiency and taking the lead on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
And the team’s impact continues to grow—when I transitioned to my current role, there were 21 Energy Managers at EfficiencyOne, helping businesses save annual greenhouse gas emissions of 13,600 tC02 equivalent and over $2.8 million in avoided energy costs every year.
Finally, what advice would you give to someone just starting their career journey at EfficiencyOne?
I would recommend taking time to learn from your colleagues from various teams across the organization: programs, regulatory, marketing, engineering, innovation—there is lots of inspiration! The organization is very supportive of employees’ professional development and continued learning.
What are your favourite things to do and places to visit in Nova Scotia?
I enjoy playing music with friends and exploring Nova Scotia on my motorcycle. I am not an avid hiker, but I enjoy the beauty many of our provincial trails have to offer – Cape Split, Cape Chignecto and Salmon River Loop are my favorites. Nova Scotia also has great craft breweries to meet up with friends.
What is your favourite thing about working at EfficiencyOne?
We work with government and the utility to develop programs and services that accelerate the energy transition and help Nova Scotians save on their energy bills. This continues to bring exciting new problems to solve. I have also benefited personally and professionally from working with many passionate people at our organization and the industry at large.