Prism Launches New Purpose Statement

Changing systems for a better world reflects how we see today’s transition to a low-carbon future. A move that can no longer be performed in isolation but by adopting a holistic approach that includes building systems, technology, and people.

“We are all experiencing the impacts of climate change. Organizations are setting targets, and we, as a consulting firm, want to be part of the solution”, says Robert Greenwald, P.Eng., President of Prism Engineering.

“We are updating building systems so that they can operate using less energy and generating lower emissions. We are applying innovation and technology to solve problems differently than we had in the past. And we also recognize the need to change organizational systems, which includes setting policies, running programs, and changing the ‘culture’ of how we use energy,” he explains.

The new purpose statement is part of the development of our 5-year strategic plan and was defined with the participation of all staff.

“It is the result of several internal meetings that have been held since last year and involved benchmarking assessments, focus group activities, leadership workshops and surveys,” explains Sarah Smith, M. Urb., Sustainability Team Leader.

Greater focus on carbon impact

For 33+ years, Prism has been driven by the mission of supporting our clients to achieve energy efficiency and improve building performance to reduce their impact on communities and the environment.

“We were successful at achieving energy savings of 20, 30 and even 40% for energy projects for many years. But that is no longer enough, and we need to consider the carbon impact of the energy sources that we are using”, explains Robert. “This means a greater emphasis on transportation (vehicles and fleets) and more integrated solutions that can deliver 70, 80 and even 90% carbon reduction”, he adds.

The new purpose statement also meets a change in the mindset of building owners and energy managers. With greater awareness of sustainability, carbon emission reductions, and climate change, clients are now thinking beyond short-term payback criteria.

“What hasn’t changed is the need clients have for a trusted partner to advise on solutions that work.  We take pride in having long-term relationships with them and we are always looking for ways to add value to our work, ” says Robert.

Larger umbrella of services

Extreme weather events and the need to increase resilience to climate change, the accelerated EV evolution, the changes in regulation and how to get support to move projects forward are some of the work we have increasingly done to help clients transition to a low-carbon economy and prepare for a changing climate.

“We have our roots in energy management, but there has been a growing need to respond to clients and the industry with other services,” explains Sarah. “Our purpose statement also needed to be adapted to reflect the expansion of our services over the years,” she adds.

By applying an integrated approach with a larger and more multidisciplinary team, Prism today is uniquely positioned to support clients to meet those multiple objectives.

“We can support them with a more holistic set of services to help them achieve their climate goals and make significant progress in improving performance and decarbonizing their operations,” says Sarah.

Prism staff during event to release our new purpose statement. From left to right: Brian O’Donnell, Founder; Robert Greenwald, P.Eng., Principal and President of Prism Engineering; Sam Thomas, Principal and Kootenay Branch Manager; Maia Penco, Senior Mechanical Designer; San Khangura, Senior Electrical Designer; Stephen Kooiman, P. Eng., M.A.Sc, Mechanical Team Leader.

Prism is here to support your organization’s success.

Interested in making the most of your energy use and reducing your carbon footprint?
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Read more about our services
Decarbonization Planning
Energy and Carbon Upgrades
Transportation Decarbonization Planning
Sustainability Engagement

Heat pumps and heat recovery chiller installations are one of the most common Low Carbon Electrification (LCE) opportunities for buildings to improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions, particularly when the electricity grid is relatively clean. However, organizations often end up facing the same challenges when implementing these systems.

To help provide some guidance on considerations that impact the quality of installations and their performance, Prism Engineering, with support from BC Hydro, has developed ‘Lessons Learned from LCE Projects’ – a practical document with best practices that energy managers and facilities staff can use when working on these projects.

The material was based on a workshop facilitated by Prism this past January for the BC Hydro Commercial Energy Manager Program. The session gathered input and feedback from numerous energy managers who shared their challenges when implementing LCE projects.

“There is a lot of value in learning from others,” says Robert Greenwald, P.Eng., President of Prism Engineering. “By having this initiative, we created an environment of trust, where energy managers could feel comfortable interacting with each other, sharing experiences, and learning from the expertise of our team at Prism,” he adds.

The document emphasizes the importance of commissioning properly. It is divided into different phases of LCE projects – Study, Design, Installation, Operations and Maintenance – so that users can easily identify challenges and solutions in each of them.

“Our goal was to transform the discussions into a legacy document that would go beyond the workshop. There is a lot of good and useful information energy managers can learn from this material, which is just a preliminary step to more in-depth studies in the future”, explains Robert Greenwald.

Download ‘Lessons Learned from LCE Projects’ (PDF)

Related Projects

City of Vancouver | Kitsilano Community Centre Heat Recovery
School District #36 Surrey | Hybrid Heat Pump System
Interior Health Authority | Lillooet Hospital Electrification
Fraser Valley Regional District | Hope Recreation Centre Geo-Exchange Heat Recovery

We are proud to be a place that values diversity and inclusion. As the world celebrates Women in Engineering Day, we are thrilled to have so many incredible women on our staff contributing every day to helping our clients achieve their energy and sustainability goals.

Today, women represent 41% of our staff working in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) roles. Not only are we committed to having an engaging, supportive, and respectful workplace for women, but we are also motivated to provide support and inspire future generations to pursue a career in Engineering and Sustainability.

To celebrate this important date, we asked our staff from these areas what message they would like to share to inspire current and future engineers. Here is what they have to say:

Learn more on how Prism has been supporting women in our community:

Partnering to support women in need
International Women in Engineering Day in June
Congratulations to the first Prism Engineering Award Winner at Langara College

Middle row: Pamela Subia, Electrical Engineer-in-Training; Taniell Hamilton, Sustainability Engagement Specialist; Sewa Odufuwa, Energy Management Professional; Sarah Coleman, Associate & Sustainability + Engagement Specialist; and Yan Lee, Mechanical Engineer-in-Training.

Bottom row: Lizz Hodgson, P.Eng., Energy Management Engineer; Julianne Pickrell-Barr, Climate Action Specialist; Kimia Yaganeh, P.Eng., Business + Project Manager (PUMA); Maia Penco, Senior Mechanical Designer; and Shannon Hardman, Strategic Energy Management Coach.

New legislation is on the horizon that will make it easier for strata corporations and owners to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at home. According to the new rules, strata corporations and property management companies will be required to complete Electrical Planning Reports to outline each building’s current electrical capacity and plan to meet future EV charging station needs.

“Electrical Assessment and Planning Reports are important because they provide a roadmap to help navigate and prepare for the transition away from gas-powered equipment, which has already begun and is accelerating,” says Adam Franklin, P. Eng., Associate and Electrical Engineer at Prism Engineering.

The reason is simple: installing EV charging stations increases the electrical load on a building’s existing electrical distribution system. This additional use and load may not have been considered as part of the original design. By conducting an initial electrical systems assessment, building owners can avoid putting the entire electrical system at risk.

“Overloading the electrical system could trip the main breaker, shutting off power for the entire building. It could also damage electrical equipment resulting in costly and unplanned repairs or replacements,” Adam explains.

Taking future electrical needs into consideration

Consider if each resident in a building receives a Level 2 EV charger, the current standard for new residential and commercial facilities. That additional load could easily double the electrical demand of the building.

“This means that unless the building is currently using less than 50 percent of the available capacity, load management or alternative configurations will need to be utilized to avoid overloading the systems,” Adam adds.

Electrical Assessment and Planning Reports are also useful for identifying equipment that needs replacement. The typical life span for most electrical distribution equipment is 25–40 years. This is an essential consideration in BC, where many buildings’ systems are already within this range.

“Buildings must also consider their future electrical needs to allow them to adapt to the ever-changing world. Rather than simply replacing electrical equipment with newer versions of what they have now, they should consider the addition or changing loads that will be required now and into the future,” explains Adam.

How Prism can help

Our team has the technical expertise to prepare comprehensive Electrical Planning Reports for your buildings. By conducting a detailed assessment, we can help you identify the options available and the necessary steps to take before installing EV charging stations at your buildings. In addition, we can help you navigate the rebates and incentives available to support these projects.

Our Electrical Planning Report includes the following steps:

1. Assess the on-site electrical distribution equipment, including capacity ratings and condition.
2. Analyze historical utility data, including peak loading and seasonal trends.
3. Calculate additional loads. (E.g., EV charging, cooling, etc.)
4. Review load management options.
5. Confirm the preferred option(s).
6. Provide a summary report, which outlines the available options, required infrastructure upgrades and cost estimates.

In addition to assessments and reports, Prism also provides education and training to stakeholder groups. Topics include: transitioning to low-carbon energy sources, the benefits of new technologies, and the impact of reducing GHG emissions at your facility. Ask us about customizing a session for your audience.

Prism is here to support your organization’s success.

Interested to learn more?
Connect with our Electrical team

Read more about our services
Decarbonization Planning
Electrical Planning Report
EV Charging
Low Carbon Electrification

Learn more about EV charger rebate programs
BC Hydro
Fortis BC
Clean BC Go Electric EV Charger Rebate Program Guide (PDF)