Strategic Energy Management (SEM) Myth Buster

Strategic Energy Management (SEM) is a holistic approach to energy management that enables organizations to achieve long-term, persistent energy savings and carbon emission reductions. Instead of managing energy projects one by one, SEM provides a framework and the tools to manage energy in a coordinated and strategic way. This helps to increase profitability, create a competitive advantage, and achieve greater resiliency. Despite its proven benefits, several myths persist, often hindering SEM’s adoption and implementation.

To tackle those misconceptions, our SEM Team has put together some of the most common myths about SEM and addresses each one with facts. Our goal with this list is to help you understand how SEM can work for your organization.

Let’s get started!

Myth 1: SEM is only for large organizations.

Fact: Many believe that only large organizations with substantial budgets and resources can implement SEM effectively. In reality, SEM principles and practices can be scaled to fit organizations of all sizes. Small and medium-sized organizations can also reap significant benefits by adopting SEM practices tailored to their specific needs and capacities.

From industrial mining operations to education to property management, Prism works with organizations of varying sizes and industries. Read examples of our work here.

Myth 2: SEM requires a significant upfront investment.

Fact: There is a misconception that SEM necessitates large initial capital expenditures. While some energy efficiency projects may require upfront investments, many SEM activities focus on “low-cost” and “no-cost” opportunities, such as operational improvements, behavioural changes, and better energy management practices.

One of the best places for an organization to start its SEM journey is by conducting an Energy Management Assessment (EMA). Using tools developed by Prism, we facilitate a workshop to assess an organization’s current energy management practices, understand its future goals, and develop an action plan for how to get there.

Myth 3: SEM is only about reducing energy consumption.

Fact: While improving energy performance and reducing emissions is at the heart of SEM, it is about so much more. SEM aims to create a culture of continuous improvement and strategic decision-making related to energy use. SEM also creates many “non energy benefits”, such as enhanced environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, increased staff engagement and job retention, reduced financial risk, and improved maintenance procedures.

Myth 4: Energy management is solely the responsibility of the Facilities Team.

Fact: Effective SEM practices require involvement and commitment across the entire organization. It is a multidisciplinary effort that includes management, finance, operations, and employees at all levels. Engaging a broad range of stakeholders ensures that energy management is integrated into the organization’s culture and processes. This can take time to achieve, but the benefits are immense, and Prism can help you with this.

In a sense, SEM is a team sport. Check out this article in which Robert Greenwald, P.Eng. and President of Prism Engineering, compares an energy management team to a hockey team.

Myth 5: SEM is a one-time project.

Fact: SEM is not a one-off initiative but an ongoing process of continuous improvement. It involves making a plan and setting targets, regularly assessing energy performance, implementing measures, monitoring results, and making necessary adjustments. The cyclical nature of SEM ensures that organizations can adapt and improve their energy management strategies over time, as seen in Figure 1 below.

Learn more about how Prism can help your organization develop a Strategic Energy Management Plan (SEMP) that goes beyond short-term goals.

Figure 1: Strategic Energy Management continuous improvement process

Myth 6: SEM does not provide immediate benefits.

Fact: Some organizations hesitate to adopt SEM because they believe the benefits will take a long time to materialize. While a SEM program is a long-term investment, many SEM practices can lead to immediate energy savings and cost reductions. Furthermore, quick wins and early successes can build momentum and justify further investment in energy management efforts.

One of the first steps we often take with an organization is a “Treasure Hunt,” also known as an Energy Scan. This interactive activity can help identify and implement quick wins in an organization.

Myth 7: Technology alone can solve energy and carbon management challenges.

Fact: While advanced technologies and systems can significantly enhance energy and carbon management and are a key aspect of SEM, they are not a silver bullet. Effective SEM requires a combination of technology, strategic planning and, of course, people. Engagement, buy-in and training are crucial for success.

Learn more about how Prism’s Coaching for Energy Managers and Energy Management Training programs can support employee engagement and organizational change.

Prism is here to support your organization’s success.

We hope that by dispelling these myths, organizations can better understand the true nature and benefits of Strategic Energy Management (SEM) and take more informed steps toward its implementation.

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Strategic Energy Management (SEM)

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SEM projects

We are thrilled to welcome Chris Fontaine as our new Electrical Team Co-Leader and Associate at Prism. Chris brings a wealth of project experience, technical expertise, strong client relationships, and exceptional team leadership skills to our organization.

Chris’s return to Prism, where he began his career as a co-op student in 2011, marks an exciting development for our Electrical Team. Now, as an experienced leader and mentor, he will work alongside Casey Gaetz, our long-standing Electrical Team Leader. Together, they will co-lead the Electrical Team, ensuring our clients receive the highest level of service and expertise.

“We are extremely excited about this leadership addition. Welcoming Chris back to Prism strengthens our team and underscores our dedication to excellence,” says Robert Greenwald, President of Prism Engineering.

“This strategic leadership duo combines Casey’s extensive knowledge and experience with Chris’s fresh perspective and innovative approach. This partnership ensures our clients benefit from a robust blend of experience, creativity, and a commitment to excellence on current and future projects,” he adds.

The commitment to excellence and high-quality engineering design are among the reasons Chris chose to return to Prism. During the interview phase, he was pleasantly surprised to see many of the employees he first met during his co-op placement 13 years ago.

“I knew there was something special here at Prism to be able to retain such talented people. It also made the decision to rejoin that much easier, as it felt like returning home after a long-extended trip abroad,” says Chris.

As an Associate, Chris will play a key role in driving quality assurance, business development, and the growth and development of our junior team members.

“My passion lies in continuous learning and collaborating with other team members while having fun doing it,” says Chris. “I hope my past project experience and mentorship can help our team members just like I had great mentors during my early years,” he adds.

Experience in Electrical Engineering Design

Chris Fontaine’s extensive electrical engineering design experience in various sectors makes him a valuable asset to our team and clients.

Over the years, Chris has led various high-profile projects, including providing electrical engineering design for Tesla Supercharger electrical vehicle (EV) deployments across Western Canada, acting as base building electrical engineer for Cadillac Fairview at Pacific Centre and Hudson Pacific Properties at Bentall Centre and developing EV Charging technical guidelines for the Capital Regional District.

His diverse background includes working in various senior roles on a wide range of project types and sizes. This ranges from small-scale planning exercises for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs), to new office tower construction in the Metro Vancouver region, to a billion-dollar redevelopment for Burnaby Hospital, among others.

Chris is excited to continue “Changing Systems for a Better World”:

“When your projects have a critical purpose for the future of our planet, and the team members involved are passionate about this purpose, it leads to additional energy and ability amongst the team members. That team energy can be harnessed to achieve amazing results, which no individual could have accomplished alone. Having sustainability specialists, energy managers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers and a number of industry experts within their fields under one roof here at Prism really does provide the right ingredients for success,” he explains.

Outside of work, Chris has a passion for running. He has already joined Prism’s Thursday evening training sessions and is currently training for his first 100km ultra-marathon race in August. He also enjoys many other outdoor activities, such as rock climbing, mountaineering, hiking, trail running, and backcountry skiing.

Please join us in welcoming Chris to the team!

Prism is here to support your organization’s success.

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Electrical Services

Buildings play a crucial role in the fight against climate change. In British Columbia, residential and commercial buildings account for 12% of the province’s total emissions.¹ Most of these emissions come from natural gas used for heating, as well as the materials and fuels used in the construction phase.² As local governments implement regulations to meet upcoming emission reduction targets, builders and property owners need practical and cost-efficient solutions that reduce their properties’ emissions without compromising on design or comfort.

Legislation for new construction

In May 2023, the Regional Districts of Central Kootenay (RDCK) and Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) implemented legislation requiring all new residential homes to meet an energy performance standard of Step 3, or at least 20% more efficient than a 2018 baseline building defined by the BC Building Code (as seen in Figure 1). To support the adoption of the new regulation across both regions, the districts contacted Prism Engineering to help them develop resources to demonstrate and communicate how builders and new homes can meet this standard.

Figure 1: Energy Step Code for new home construction. Source: BC Energy Step Code.

Identifying energy-efficient design features

With funding from FortisBC for the project, Prism visited five houses in Castlegar, Grand Forks, Nelson, and Rossland to identify key design features that helped the buildings achieve Step Code requirements. To support this research, the homeowners and builders provided as-built documentation, building energy modelling data, and construction phase photos. Our team then synthesized this data and onsite findings to create an Energy Step Code Case Study for each building (as seen in Figure 2).

“We conducted interviews with both builders and homeowners and reviewed each building’s documentation and energy model files to gather information on the design, construction and energy performance of each of the houses studied,” says Matt Swallow, an Energy Management Engineer-in-Training based at our Nelson office.

Figure 2: “Achieving Step Code” case studies, prepared by Prism Engineering, highlight five high-performance residential homes.

“Once we identified the information needed, our team created factsheets that included important design features, a summary of building equipment, details on the building envelope construction, insights from both the builder and homeowner, as well as a table outlining key energy performance metrics. These components help to demonstrate how each building achieved its respective Step Code level,” he explains.

Higher energy efficiency without compromise

This work demonstrates the ability to build energy-efficient homes that produce fewer emissions, do not compromise on design or comfort, and cost a relatively small amount more to construct.

One of the case studies, for example, describes a traditional, single-family home in Rossland that is 50% more energy efficient than a comparative 2018 baseline building. This significant improvement in energy efficiency was achieved with only a 5% cost increase compared to a traditionally built house. Similarly, a second case study describes a single-family dwelling in Grand Forks that is 42% more energy-efficient, and incurred just a 4% cost increase.

These case studies illustrate how even small investment upgrades can substantially improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. They also highlight other “non-energy” benefits to homeowners, such as improved comfort and reduced utility costs.

Knowledge is power

These case studies will help RDCK and RDKB support the new construction industry to meet legislative requirements. Moreover, they will assist builders and homeowners in making informed decisions to save energy, based on research and tested experiences.

Read the five case studies on the RDCK website.

Learn more about B.C.’s Energy Step Code
Energy Step Code

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Energy and Carbon Management

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Energy Management projects

1 “Tracking emissions from buildings,” Clean BC, accessed on May 8, 2024.
2 Ibid.