35 Years of Making a Difference | Prism’s Journey Toward a More Sustainable Future

A message from Robert Greenwald, President of Prism Engineering.

This year marks a significant milestone for Prism—we’re celebrating 35 years of engineering, energy management, and sustainability impact!

In the early days, we opened our doors with a simple yet ambitious purpose—to help organizations save energy. Back then, energy management was still a relatively niche field. But we saw a clear opportunity to support clients in operating their buildings more efficiently, cutting waste, and reducing costs.

As we grew, so did our clients’ ambitions.

Climate goals emerged. Emissions targets tightened. New technologies offered deeper insights and more impactful solutions. We’re proud to have worked alongside the industry to meet those moments.

Proven impact across sectors and communities

Over the past 35 years, that steady evolution has defined who we are. From our head office in Burnaby, we’ve expanded across the province, with branch offices in the Kootenays, Okanagan, and Vancouver Island, and staff located in Kamloops and Sea to Sky. What began as a small operation has grown into a trusted consulting firm in engineering, energy management, and sustainability services.

We’ve had the privilege of working with organizations in various sectors—municipalities, school districts, health authorities, commercial property managers, industrial sites, and multi-unit residential developers—helping them lead the way in climate action.

Our team has delivered insights and strategies that could save up to 435 million kWh of electricity and 3 million GJ of natural gas each year—preventing nearly 171,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere annually and generating approximately $54.3 million in energy cost savings for our clients.

But numbers only tell part of the story.

Left to right: Reception area at the Burnaby office; view of the City of Nelson; Nicole Huard, Senior Sustainability and Climate Action Specialist, and Bartjan Kiers, Associate and Senior Mechanical Designer, in front of the Kelowna office; Vaibhav Parmar (front), Electrical EIT, and Adam Franklin, Associate and Senior Electrical Engineer, working in the Victoria office.

The people behind Prism’s success

At the heart of Prism’s success is our people. Our team brings expertise, care, and creativity to our work—whether a team member has been here for two months or three decades. From our consultants and engineers to our project managers and support staff, every person at Prism plays a role in shaping solutions that make a real impact.

Our culture is rooted in care, collaboration, and shared purpose. People join Prism because they want to work on projects that matter, in an environment that values impact, connection, and teamwork.

We’ve built a workplace that supports learning and career development through mentorship, skills training, and leadership opportunities. We’ve invested in initiatives like our Associate Program, which recognizes individuals who take on leadership roles and make exceptional contributions to our collective success.

Prism staff, from left to right: Adam Franklin, Associate and Electrical Engineer, and Chris Fontaine, Associate and Electrical Team Co-Leader; Sam Thomas, Principal and Strategic Energy Management Team Leader; Duane Mattson (retired), Mechanical Engineer, and Alvaro Sandrin, Senior Mechanical Engineer; Emma Harrison, Energy Management EIT.

Trusted by clients for 35 years

Of course, we wouldn’t be here without the trust of our clients.

Whether you’re a new or long-standing client, thank you! Your vision and ambition push us to do our best work. Many of you are on track to achieving bold climate targets, and we’re proud to be your partner in getting there.

Together, we’ve implemented award-winning projects, driven long-term energy savings, and made meaningful progress toward decarbonization.

We’re also proud to have built lasting partnerships with BC Hydro and FortisBC, supporting these local utilities over the years with a wide range of Demand-Side Management programs, including joint Strategic Energy Management (SEM), Continuous Optimization (C-Op), and Energy Wise Network initiatives. These and other client collaborations have amplified our impact and allowed us to bring sustainable solutions to even more of our clients.

Left to right: David Pereira, former Sustainability Manager at BCIT, and Sarah Smith, Principal and Sustainability Team Leader, during one of six BCIT’s Sustainability Vision Stakeholder Consultation Process sessions, 2019; Stephen Kooiman, Principal and Mechanical Team Leader, and Hamid Samani, Principal and Senior Mechanical Engineer, inspecting an electrical panel; Robert Greenwald, President of Prism Engineering, presenting at an Energy Wise Network session, 2017.

Our commitment to continuous improvement

What’s kept Prism strong over 35 years isn’t just our technical expertise—it’s our ability to adapt. Today, we offer a full range of consulting services—from strategic energy management and recommissioning to electrical planning reports and long-term sustainability strategies.

Our 6-Step Deep Retrofit Approach is designed to help clients reduce energy and carbon emissions in a comprehensive, practical way. It’s built on a simple idea: before investing in new technology, start by maximizing the potential of what already exists—a practical approach to integrating sustainability strategies into building and asset renewal.

Throughout our journey, we’ve also walked the talk. Sustainability isn’t just something we deliver for clients—we practice it in our own operations. From reducing travel emissions and upgrading our offices, to accounting for climate impacts in our everyday decisions, we hold ourselves to the same standard we recommend to others.

Changing Systems for a Better World

And as we reflect on our impact, we’re also looking ahead.

Buildings account for a significant portion of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions—especially from heating systems. To align with today’s climate science, we must strive for deep reductions in carbon emissions.

Our purpose, Changing Systems for a Better World, is about modernizing infrastructure, optimizing operations, and helping people across organizations understand their role in climate action. This mission reflects both who we are and where we’re going. It’s about seeing the full system—from buildings and technologies to people’s actions—and working together to create change that lasts.

Thank you!

As we mark this 35-year milestone, we’re filled with gratitude—for the trust of our clients, and the dedication of our staff. We’ve accomplished a lot together. And the journey is far from over.

Here’s to the next chapter—full of ideas, action, and impact!

Prism and PUMA staff, 2024.

Applications are now open for the BOMA Enspire: Building Performance Excellence Initiative, a funding program designed to help commercial building owners and managers improve building energy performance and take meaningful steps toward emissions reduction and deep retrofits.

As a qualified service provider, Prism can help you confirm your eligibility and provide full support throughout the application and project implementation process.

Why participate in the program?

Whether you’re considering recommissioning, planning a heat pump conversion, or exploring carbon savings, BOMA Enspire funds the essential early-stage work that sets your emissions reduction project up for success.

The program is a low-risk, high-impact opportunity that provides up to 80% financial support (funding does not cover construction or equipment) for a range of pre-implementation activities, including:

• Energy and carbon audits.
• HVAC, envelope and GHG assessments.
• Recommissioning and controls optimization.
• Green building certifications (BOMA BEST, LEED^®, ENERGY STAR^®).
• Feasibility studies (e.g., electrification, heat pumps, steam conversion).
• Lifecycle costing and business case development.
• Project management and tendering support.
• Energy monitoring design and M&V strategy.

New deadline application is December 1, 2025 — funding is limited and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

What types of buildings are eligible?

All buildings must meet the following criteria:

The buildings must also be classified under one of the following Asset Types:

Other Asset Types that are eligible if privately operated:

• Health Care Facilities: Hospitals, clinics, and medical office buildings
• Schools: K-12 and post-secondary educational facilities
• Recreation Facilities: Community centers, athletic facilities, YMCA/YWCA, sports complexes
• Correctional Facilities: Prisons, detention centers, and related buildings
• Libraries: Public or private library buildings
• Fire Stations: Emergency service buildings housing firefighting equipment and personnel

Talk to us to find out if your building is eligible

How Prism can help

Prism Engineering is a qualified service provider for BOMA Enspire. We have expertise to offer support throughout the program.

Here’s how we can help:

• Confirm your building’s eligibility.
• Recommend the right funding stream.
• Scope and price the services.
• Prepare and submit your application (including set up in ENERGY STAR^® Portfolio Manager if not currently enrolled).
• Deliver all funded technical work.
• Handle reporting and documentation.
• Access to energy data management with PUMA.

Our experience

Prism brings over 35 years of experience improving the performance of commercial and institutional buildings across Western Canada.

We’ve worked with building owners, operators, and energy managers to uncover cost-saving opportunities, strengthen the performance of HVAC and other energy-intensive systems, and ensure projects are completed on time and on budget.

Our team includes experts in Strategic Energy Management (SEM), Continuous Optimization, and Sustainability. We utilize our PUMA platform to benchmark and manage building performance data effectively.

Are you ready to take the next step?

Prism is here to support your organization’s success.

Interested to learn more?
Connect with our team

Read more about our services
Energy and Carbon Audits
Green Building Certification
HVAC
Recommissioning and Retro-commissioning

Learn more about BOMA Enspire
Download the Updated Program Guide

For almost ten years, Prism has served as the lead consulting firm for the Energy Wise Network (EWN)—a BC Hydro and FortisBC initiative that helps organizations across British Columbia achieve measurable energy savings through staff engagement and behaviour change.

Since its launch in 2016, the program has supported over 50 organizations and delivered 300+ targeted energy conservation campaigns across sectors including healthcare, education, municipal governments, property management, and retail.

Working closely with BC Hydro and FortisBC, Prism co-designed the program—developing campaign toolkits (Figure 1), delivering hands-on training and networking events, and offering tailored coaching to energy leaders navigating complex change.

Figure 1: Examples of Energy Wise Network campaign toolkits.

Who can join the Energy Wise Network?

Organizations must meet a minimum energy use threshold—2 gigawatt-hour (GWh) of electricity or 30,000 gigajoules (GJ) of natural gas annually across all sites. The program’s next intake is expected to open in early 2026 (around February or March). If your organization is interested in joining a future cycle, now is a great time to learn more and begin preparing!

Why consider participating?

As the urgency of climate action grows, programs like the EWN help organizations meet sustainability goals while cultivating a culture of shared responsibility.

Participants have access to:

• Two annual Energy Wise Network Summits featuring expert-led sessions on campaign design, behaviour change, green team leadership, and performance tracking.
• Three online training and networking events, creating opportunities to share knowledge and build community.
• One-on-one coaching tailored to organizational needs.
• Campaign resources, including planning templates, outreach materials, and best-practice guides.

Customized coaching and incentive funding options help organizations plan and implement their campaigns.

“Newer participants tend to access support identifying the best campaign to work on and using our 7-Step Campaign Planning Framework, while experienced ones often receive more targeted support on one element of a campaign such as graphic design, communications, metrics methods, and technical tools. Those with established campaigns can access help with engagement strategies like leadership buy-in and green team development,” explains Christine Obee, Senior Sustainability Engagement Specialist at Prism.

The two in-person summits combine training and networking for deeper learning.

“Attendees gain practical skills, hear from expert speakers, and benefit from sharing ideas, challenges, and successes with peers. Participants are often grouped by sector for learning activities, though many topics are explored in mixed groups to support broad learning across the network,” adds Christine.

Figure 2: Alexandra Tudose, Senior Sustainability Engagement Specialist, presenting at a summit session (left), and participants’ notes, 2025.

Our methodology

At the core of our approach is Prism’s 7-Step Campaign Planning Framework, developed specifically for the EWN (Figure 3). It guides participants through every stage—from stakeholder engagement and audience research to tailored messaging and impact evaluation.

Grounded in behavioural science and informed by real-world experience, the framework ensures campaigns are practical, measurable, and aligned with organizational context.

“This framework offers a clear, step-by-step approach to campaign design and implementation. It simplifies the complex, people-focused side of this work—especially for those from technical or data-driven backgrounds,” Christine explains.

Figure 3 to the right: The 7-Step Campaign Planning Framework was designed for the EWN program.

Prism: A trusted partner in energy conservation

Our work on the Energy Wise Network builds on an 18-year track record of supporting BC Hydro and FortisBC with demand-side management programs across BC’s commercial and industrial sectors.

“Over the past decade, energy conservation campaigns have shifted from promoting basic behaviour changes, such as turning off lights, to focusing on process, policy or systemic changes that link energy use and GHG emissions” observes Christine.

Our Sustainability Team brings a multidisciplinary approach—with expertise in engagement, facilitation, behaviour change, communications, social marketing, and graphic design. Many team members also have direct experience as energy managers in large public-sector organizations. This blend of strategic insight and practical know-how allows us to deliver real-world coaching that resonates with those leading change from within.

Looking ahead

The Energy Wise Network reflects Prism’s broader mission of Changing Systems for a Better World. That means improving not just buildings and technologies—but also empowering the people who can drive and sustain change from within.

Prism will continue to support BC organizations in embedding energy conservation into their culture, helping energy leaders turn ideas into action and drive lasting impact.

Prism is here to support your organization’s success.

Interested to learn more?
Connect with our team

Read more about our services
Sustainability Engagement
Sustainability Strategy

See project examples
Sustainability Projects

Learn more about Prism’s coaching support
Energy Wise Network Coaching (PDF)

Learn more about BC Hydro and FortisBC’s program
Energy Wise Network

This summer, Sarah Smith, Principal and Sustainability Team Leader at Prism, will be taking some time away to pursue a long-awaited personal project—an extended sailing trip along the coast of Mexico and Central America.

For the past 15 years, Sarah has played a pivotal role in building our Sustainability Services portfolio. Her leadership has helped organizations across diverse sectors make meaningful progress toward their sustainability and climate goals. Her passion, insight, and unwavering commitment have also left a lasting mark on Prism’s direction and culture.

We’re proud to support Sarah on this exciting journey and are deeply grateful for all she has contributed to Prism. While we’ll certainly miss her presence, she will continue to offer guidance in her role as one of Prism’s Principals during her time away. We wish her fair winds on her adventures—and we look forward to welcoming her back upon her return.

Sarah Smith (left) sets sail on a dream journey along the Americas; Julianne Pickrell-Barr steps up to lead Prism’s Sustainability Team.

As Sarah sets sail, we’re thrilled to welcome Julianne Pickrell-Barr into the role of Sustainability Team Leader.

Julianne is an Associate and Climate Action Specialist and brings more than a decade of experience in climate action, energy management, and sustainability. Her work includes helping clients across sectors reduce energy and emissions, build climate resilience, and create clear, actionable climate and sustainability plans.

Prior to joining us in 2021, Julianne served as Energy and Environmental Sustainability Manager for the Abbotsford School District, where she led key initiatives to support long-term environmental and operational performance.

Julianne graduated from Simon Fraser University (SFU) with a Master’s degree in Resource and Environmental Management (REM) with a major in planning. For her research project, she investigated the motivators and barriers to adopting zero-emission vehicles in fleets.

Her collaborative approach, deep technical knowledge, and strong leadership make her well-suited to guide the Sustainability Team.

Looking to the future

As always, our clients and partners can continue to expect the same high-quality, responsive Sustainability services. Our strategy remains focused on delivering meaningful, measurable impact, together, as we carry forward our mission of Changing Systems for a Better World.

We thank Sarah for her extraordinary contributions and wish her all the best on her journey. Please join us in congratulating Julianne on her expanded leadership role.

Prism is here to support your organization’s success.

Connect with Julianne
Send a message

Interested to learn more?
Connect with the Sustainability Team

Read more about our services
Sustainability

See project examples
Sustainability Projects