30 Years of Bright Ideas:
A Chat with Andrew Munro

When it comes to lighting design, Andrew Munro is one of BC’s leading authorities. Working alongside Casey Gaetz, our Electrical Team Co-Leader, he played a crucial role in building the Electrical Team, passing on his expertise and insights to more junior lighting designers and engineers, and establishing our company as a respected firm in lighting design over the last 30 years.

Andrew’s contributions have earned Prism industry-recognized awards, including three Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Awards for the Richmond Olympic Oval Event Hall Lighting Upgrade (2019) and the NAV Canada Surrey Area Control Centre (2015), as well as a BC Hydro Power Smart Lighting Redesign Award for the Vancouver Convention Centre Exhibition Areas Lighting Upgrade (2019).

Many are unaware that our Senior Electrical Designer’s career literally began by accident. After being hit while driving his motorcycle, he was unable to return to his previous physically demanding job. Andrew then studied Marketing Management and found employment at a manufacturer of luminaries and lamps, where he began to learn basic lighting design programs. The rest, as they say, is history. After working at an electrical wholesaler and starting his own business, he joined Prism in August 1994.

As Andrew recently celebrated his 30th anniversary at Prism, we sat down with him to reflect on the growth of the Electrical Team, his favourite projects, and what he enjoys most about this job, among other topics. Here are the highlights of that conversation:

Building the Electrical Team

“When I first joined Prism, it was only Brian O’Donnell, Robert Greenwald, Casey Gaetz, and a couple of part-time employees. Basically, the electrical team was just Casey and I. Our work complemented each other.

Casey was good with programming, so we started developing a customized spreadsheet for lighting analysis. What started as a 20-page spreadsheet then became a database. He had all the formulas and a level of software knowledge that I didn’t have, but I was able to build up all of the backend information. In fact, we provided BC Hydro with our systems wattage tables for their use years ago.

I worked with Casey on electrical designs and power factor correction, using and expanding our knowledge of lighting. We continued taking Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) courses and working with manufacturers to share concerns about their products, especially for retrofits. We often told them when we were facing a specific problem, and they would listen to us and then change their products.”

 Andrew amongst the files in 2003.

Prism’s difference

“Some competitors want to enter the electrical and lighting upgrade world but lack experience. They haven’t worked with product innovation. Prism has that experience. We know the regulations and the requirements. Our innovative work with clients, manufacturers, and contractors has allowed us to stay ahead of the curve.”

What makes a good lighting project

“Lighting is 50% science and 50% art. You can’t do a good job if you can’t marry the two. At Prism, we can bring those two aspects together. To deliver a successful project, one must stand in the middle of the space and be able to visualize what the result will be. If I can turn things around and change the entire building to get the necessary results, that is where the real fun is!”

Memorable projects

Richmond Olympic Oval

The Grand Hall ceiling at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

“For this lighting upgrade, we started experimenting, doing mock-ups and testing to see the impact of different lighting systems and optics. It was challenging because they had an ice rink, which causes different reflectivity, and basketball courts, which have highly specular surfaces, so we had to be very careful to watch out for glare and impacts of surface colours on results.

They also had a climbing wall, where we needed to avoid shadows, and a running track with two tones of blue. All of this is in just one big space with 14 different zones that needed control, both together as one space or as individual zones with differing illumination needs. We had to make a cohesive lighting system work, and in a building with a beautiful wood ceiling that curves from 55 feet to a peak of 72 feet.

For our verification, we would go to the Olympic Oval at night, turning off all the lights except for the mock-up lights and testing three manufacturers’ lights at a time. I would literally lie on the floor on my stomach, stretched out with the light meter open in front of me, checking in multiple sections to see what the illumination levels were. And then, repeat the process with the next product mock-up. We discovered which systems and optics worked and which didn’t.”

NAV Canada Surrey’s Area Control Centre

“NAV Canada was in the process of adopting a new way of controlling and tracking planes, similar to looking at iPads. In other words, they had a specular surface that showed glare. I worked on the lighting of the room to get the ratios of maximum to minimum as low as possible, with gradients being smooth and even.

In addition, each air traffic controller worked with seven screens in front of them. They had to be able to track all of the aircraft, especially when they were going from one screen to another. The lighting had to be even, with no hot spots or glare, since it could create a dot on the screen, blocking a transponder signal from a plane and making it invisible.

To make things harder, our work had to comply with various and sometimes conflicting lighting regulations required by navigation authorities. In the end, we managed to get the gradient even, and the light was flat across the room. This means the light on one side of the room was exactly the same as in the middle and on the other side of the room. Also, the controllers could adjust the lighting levels to meet the preferences of individual groups of controller teams on different shifts.”
NAV Canada Control Centre: Same lighting across the room
with no hotspots or glare.

The fun part of the job

“There is always an opportunity to try something we haven’t done before in electrical design and lighting. It’s exciting to pioneer something, play with it, see what works and what doesn’t, and try to figure out a better way of doing it. It is the aspect of curiosity, treating buildings and systems as big Lego sets. Many clients have trusted us to take care of their buildings. I enjoy it when that happens because we can experiment with different options, doing mock-ups and sample testing.

For those willing to work in the industry, it doesn’t matter what area of the electrical field tweaks your interest. If you want to work in lighting, electrical distribution, fire alarms or photovoltaics, go for it! Go out into the field, get your hands dirty and find what intrigues you.”

Andrew (seriously) testing luminaire samples. They passed!

Inspiration outside the office

“Family, grandkids, travel, and exploring genealogy are huge aspects of my life. I also like to run around with my Harley Davidson Low Rider. Motorcycling has been part of my life since my early 20s. That involvement led me to support Bikers Against Child Abuse, which I now have for more than five years. Supporting people in their lives gives me an opportunity to give back and to provide service to others. I also love nature and gardening. And I started Tae Kwon Do at 55. I have been able to achieve two black belts and I’m slowly working up the ranks now toward my third Dan. I’ll probably be about 70 when I get it.”

On the left, Andrew and Grand Master Gee (Mark Gildemeester) at Master Gee’s Blackbelt Academy in Burnaby.

Prism is here to support your organization’s success.

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Electrical Services

As we continue to decarbonize our systems and adapt to a changing climate, electricity demand in Canada is forecasted to grow 1.6 to 2.1 times larger by 2050.¹ This growth will strain the existing electrical infrastructure of many buildings, which currently account for 17% of the country’s total emissions.² For multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs), these demands include shifts from gas to electric systems, as well as changing tenant needs due to climate change.

But how can we prepare for the impact of those changes?

Electrical Planning Reports (EPRs) can assist building owners and property managers in understanding the existing electrical capacity of their facilities and identifying the necessary infrastructure upgrades to accommodate future electrification requirements.

Legislation for stratas to obtain EPRs

In British Columbia, legislation now requires strata corporations (with five or more strata lots) to obtain an Electrical Planning Report (EPR) by December 2026 or 2028, depending on the region. The report must be completed by a registered professional electrical engineer or company registered with Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC).

“There is an increasing demand on electrical systems from EV chargers, the addition of air conditioning, heat pumps, and other gas-to-electric fuel switching,” notes Casey Gaetz, Electrical Team Co-Leader at Prism Engineering.

“This legislation aims to ensure that MURBs are ready. As building owners and property managers look for opportunities to meet their electrical infrastructure needs, it’s essential to understand the additional power requirements each demand brings. EPRs can provide them with a roadmap that predicts future capacity needs and recommends solutions to prepare the electrical infrastructure of their buildings to handle increased demand safely and efficiently,” he explains.

Casey points out that EPRs can be particularly helpful for older buildings, whose stratas will be planning to replace the 30, or even 40+ year-old equipment.

“The EPR can serve as a starting point analysis to ensure that any new equipment you size is suitable for these future potential loads,” he says.

What does an EPR include?

Typically, an Electrical Planning Report answers three main questions:

• Capacity Review: What is the current infrastructure, and how much capacity exists for future needs?
• Current and Future Demand Analysis: How much electricity is used today, and how much is needed for future upgrades?
• System Upgrade Recommendations: What solutions will improve overall capacity?

At Prism, we develop a report after conducting a complete review of the electrical infrastructure and collecting data from BC Hydro and a site review.

“We go beyond a basic calculation of existing loads by looking in detail at the actual electrical usage of the building,” adds Casey.

Our team of electrical engineers then performs an analysis to assess the capacity of the building based on forecasted future demand.

“After collecting the data, we generate detailed reports with actionable recommendations customized for each building. With this valuable information in hand, building owners and property managers can make smarter decisions on how to upgrade their systems and start implementing those measures,” says Chris Fontaine, Electrical Co-Leader and Associate at Prism.

The big picture

Prepare your building for an `electric` future with the following steps:

Customizing your EPR

Prism can also customize EPRs to meet clients’ needs. This is possible thanks to the collaborative work among our electrical, mechanical and energy teams.

“By having everyone in-house [mechanical, electrical and energy engineers], our teams can work together to find solutions for very complex energy-efficient upgrades. This adds value to our services and differentiates Prism from the competition”, explains Chris.

These are some of the custom service options offered by Prism:

• Electric Vehicle (EV) Ready Plan: An assessment to determine whether a building is prepared for EV chargers, as well as recommendations.
• EV Update: An assessment for buildings that already have EV charging infrastructure in place but may require upgrades.
• Low Carbon Electrification (LCE) Add-On: A detailed review of gas-to-electric fuel switching opportunities.
• In-Depth Cooling Study: A detailed review of air conditioning options.
• Design of Electrical and Mechanical System Upgrades: A document tailored to the recommendations provided by the Electrical Planning Report.

Putting it all together

Working with an engineering firm like Prism can help strata organizations navigate regulations and requirements, avoid the risks associated with inaccurate load assessments, and plan for the long-term.

“One of the key advantages of working with Prism is the longevity of our assessment. With the expertise of our team, we can identify the minimum service size required to support future electrification measures without overdesigning the system, ultimately saving or eliminating significant construction costs in the future,” explains Chris.

Prism is here to support your organization’s success.

Interested to learn more?
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Decarbonization Planning
Electrical Planning Reports
EV Charging
Low Carbon Electrification

Learn more about EV charging services
Electrical Assessment Reports: Your Roadmap to EV Charging
Electric vehicle charging in strata corporations

1 “The Big Switch – Powering Canada’s Nez Zero Future,” Canadian Climate Institute, accessed on October 22, 2024.
2 “Building Climate Solutions – A proven path to lower carbon emissions,” Canada Green Building Council, accessed on October 22, 2024.

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.

Interested to learn more?
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Strategic Energy Management (SEM)

See project examples
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

See project examples
Energy Management projects

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

Scandinavia is renowned for its advanced economic and social development, top-notch education system, and strong social security network. The region also stands out for its innovative approaches to combating climate change.

Robert Greenwald, P.Eng. and President of Prism Engineering, recently visited Denmark, Sweden, and Norway to witness firsthand how these countries have achieved impressive success in transitioning to a low-carbon future while maintaining high living standards for their people.

“I was deeply inspired by the remarkable initiatives they have undertaken to combat climate change, particularly their focus on transportation,” says Robert.

“In Copenhagen, I was impressed by how the biking culture and revitalized waterways transformed the city’s landscape. Stockholm’s extensive subway network enhanced the passengers’ experience by transforming the stations into captivating art exhibits. And in Norway, I witnessed firsthand the country’s leadership in electric vehicle (EV) adoption.”

Electric tram and art exhibit in subway station in Stockholm; bikers in Copenhagen.

Today, transportation is responsible for 16% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which makes it one of the world’s largest source of emissions pollution¹. These emissions come from burning fossil fuels, such as diesel and gasoline, in internal combustion engine vehicles used in cars, trucks, buses, ships, and planes.

To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, organizations must accelerate their transition to zero-emission electric or alternative fuel transportation.

“An organization’s fleet can make up a large proportion of its total GHG emissions,” says Julianne Pickrell-Barr, Climate Action Specialist at Prism Engineering.

“That’s why we need to take electrification seriously. Transportation is an area of operations that can be decarbonized fairly quickly in many cases due to the relatively short replacement cycles of vehicles compared with other assets like buildings or process equipment,” she adds.

Learn more about our Transportation Decarbonization Planning services

Electric ferries in Norway

During his trip to Scandinavia, Robert noted the use of electric passenger ferries in Norway’s fjords as an exciting example of how these countries are embracing electrification.

“These ferries have been operating for over 5 years. They can carry up to 400 passengers with a maximum range of 2.5 hours, travelling 16 knots for 40 nautical miles before requiring a recharge. It was a smooth and quiet ride, and passengers were not exposed to the diesel exhaust fumes that are common in vessels of this size, with much less impact on the local environment,” he explains.

Robert was so inspired by what he saw while navigating through the fjords that he asked for a tour of the ferry’s operating system. We are excited to share a few highlights and learnings from that amazing experience.

Naeroyfjord in Norway, electric ferry, and boat charging station.

Join Robert on a tour of an electric ferry in action:

Watch an overview of sustainability initiatives in Scandinavia:

¹“Sector by sector: where do global greenhouse gas emissions come from?”, Our World in Data, accessed February 20, 2024.

Last month, Prism Engineering celebrated Casey Gaetz’s 30th anniversary with the company. Family, friends, and colleagues gathered to thank him for his hard work and commitment over the years. The event was a lot of fun, with a hilarious tribute video by the Electrical team, a delicious meal featuring some of his favourites (Greek food and Black Forest cake) and lots of laughter.

We sat down with Casey, our Electrical Team leader, to learn more about the influences that led him to build a career in electrical design, his early years at Prism, and his contributions to the expansion of the Prism electrical services portfolio. We also talked about how much he has valued working with his team over the years to respond to evolving industry demands.

Left to right: Black Forest cake and a tribute to Casey during a company meeting. 

Early interest in electrical design

Born and raised in Ontario, Casey became interested in electrical design at a young age, as his father worked as an electrical inspector for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during World War II and as a building engineer for Sears. “I grew up surrounded by the electrical equipment he used for work,” he remembers.

Casey moved West after more than 15 years of experience at one of the largest engineering firms in Toronto at that time, having worked on several big projects, such as the Toronto Eaton Centre, TD Centre, CNE Buildings, Metro Toronto Zoo, and the Toronto Sky Dome, among many others. He had also worked as a sales and engineering manager at a lighting manufacturing company.

“But after all this time, I was getting a little itchy. I wanted to see what else the world had to offer”, he admits. As he began looking for new opportunities, a colleague introduced him to Brian O’Donnell, P.Eng., who had founded Prism Engineering three years earlier. “I was told Brian was looking for an electrical-type person to join his firm. The interview was probably the most casual anyone could image. We had dinner together, and he convinced me to come to Vancouver to test the job for a week”, he reminisces.

The rest is history. Casey left Ontario with his wife and three children on Boxing Day in 1993 under temperatures below 30°C and drove for several days across the USA until they finally reached the West Coast. “As we drove down the mountains, we saw green everywhere. It was like we were heading to paradise,” he remembers.

A young Casey in Ontario, before moving to B.C.

Expanding the electrical portfolio

“It was a small office on the second floor above a restaurant in Burnaby Heights,” recalls Casey about his first days working at Prism Engineering. “It was a bit rough; we didn’t even have air conditioning in the summer, and all the computers were not even connected to a server,” he jokes.

The cramped structure of the office didn’t make him regret it. “Since the beginning, Prism sounded very professional,” he notes. “That first week I spent here convinced me this was real business, with big clients such as Canadian Airlines (Air Canada) and the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). I knew we had potential, and that energy savings was an exciting and growing field to explore,” he adds.

As he took on the role, Casey began by expanding Prism’s services in electrical design and lighting system upgrades, in the wake of new technologies emerging in the industry. From there, Casey and his growing team continued to look for opportunities for their clients. In partnership with BC Hydro, for example, they developed building Electrical Distribution System Optimization (EDSO) standards to optimize electrical systems and reduce clients’ energy consumption. This is now part of BC Hydro’s systems
standards for substations.

Recently, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to shut down operations (and buildings) for several months, Casey and his team approached building managers to conduct assessments of their electrical distribution systems, including emergency systems, lighting and fire alarms.

Casey in Prism’s first office in Burnaby Heights.

Key projects

Looking back, Casey is proud of how the Electrical Team has helped clients achieve substantial results in energy savings and carbon reduction. This has been possible through the development of a holistic suite of electrical services from design to implementation.

In lighting, the team has earned industry recognition by undertaking award-winning projects for the Richmond Olympic Oval, the Vancouver Convention Centre and NAV Canada’s Surrey Area Control Centre, among others.

Left to right: Richmond Olympic Oval, the Vancouver Convention Centre and NAV Canada’s Surrey Area Control Centre.

Other projects are remembered for their uniqueness, such as the Solar PV system for the University of Fraser Valley (UFV), which demonstrated Prism’s expertise in the new and growing area of photovoltaics. Or, for example, many upgrades to electrical distribution and emergency generator projects throughout BC.

To keep the team focused, Casey likes to remind them of the role of consultants. “We are consulting engineers. It’s no surprise that the word ‘consultant’ comes before ‘engineer,’” he likes to say. “We must work with the client to assess their needs and budget, and determine and present the good, better, and best solution so they can make a logical decision and move forward,” he explains.

Looking ahead

As the industry becomes increasingly focused on carbon reduction via options such as fuel-switching, Casey and his team are focused on what this means for Prism’s clients. One outcome he sees is a greater demand for services starting with Facility Condition Assessments (FCA), which also includes Electrical Systems Assessments. Existing buildings need to be assessed for their capacity to meet these changes and evaluated for their ability to undergo necessary system upgrades.

In addition to FCA, Casey has structured the team around two other key service areas to meet future industry demands: EV Charging and Solar PV. These add to the solid expertise Prism has developed in Lighting Audits and Design, Lighting Controls, and Electrical Distribution and Emergency Generators.

Although each team member has specific knowledge in certain areas, Casey likes to create opportunities for everyone on the team to stay up to date with all services so they can provide support when needed. He encourages his team to stay ahead of the game and seek out new learning opportunities.

“We need to look beyond today by understanding what the industry is currently doing and how those changes will impact our work tomorrow,” he says.

Casey himself is always on the lookout for new learning experiences. Recently, he went on an expedition cruise to Antarctica with other industry professionals to see firsthand the impacts of climate change on wildlife and the local environment. The impact of this experience has inspired him to continue asking “what can I do next?” to help clients with the challenges ahead.

Casey talking with clients during Prism’s 25th anniversary celebration.

Related Services
Electrical Services

Related Resources
University of Fraser Valley | Solar Photovoltaics System
Richmond Olympic Oval | Event Hall Lighting Upgrade
Vancouver Convention Centre Award-winning Lighting Upgrades (PDF)
Prism wins Awards of Merit for Lighting Design at NAV Canada
Rocky Mountain SD No. 6: Operations and Maintenance Fleet is Ready to Go Electric
Electrical Assessment Reports: Your Roadmap to EV Charging

The new year is often a time for reflection. We sat down with Prism’s President and Team Leaders to chat about what organizations should consider in 2024 and beyond.

With many organizations setting carbon reduction goals for 2030, 2040, and 2050, time is of the essence.

“Achieving significant reductions takes know-how, funding and time,” says Robert Greenwald, P.Eng., President of Prism Engineering.

“In 2024, it will be imperative for organizations that want to achieve their 2030 objectives to move forward with the next steps for decarbonization, no matter what phase they are in: planning, funding, or design. The time to change systems for a better world is now,” he adds.

Here are a few key industry trends that will help your organization move its sustainability and decarbonization efforts forward:

System Drivers Point to Climate Action

The Sustainability and Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) landscape has rapidly evolved over the last decade. From a global to local level, organizations and government bodies are creating strategies and plans and setting targets to achieve a low-carbon and resilient future.

Over the last few years, we have seen the consolidation of ESG reporting standards and regulatory frameworks that send a clear signal to organizations and business. What was once done at an organization’s discretion is now becoming an expectation.

“Globally, we’re watching the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) commit to standardizing climate-related disclosures for investors, the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation (IFRS) launch climate and sustainability disclosure accounting standards and the European Union adopt the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), which requires ESG reporting for EU companies starting in January 2024. These long-awaited developments will drive the whole market. We’re watching the industry formalize itself. A unified set of reporting standards gives us a common language to work from. It will help organizations develop sustainability and decarbonization strategies, as well as understand and benchmark progress.” says Sarah Smith, M.Urb., Principal and Sustainability Team Leader.

“Locally, the City of Vancouver implemented carbon pollution limits and reporting for existing large commercial and multi-family buildings. There are now regulatory requirements for these buildings and the first reporting deadline is in June,” she adds.

As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change continues to call for greater action to avoid the most harmful impacts of climate change, these are all welcome steps in the right direction.

“As we enter 2024, there are various drivers in the system signalling to organizations that they need to do something around climate change – from market trends to client expectations. We’re seeing momentum,” Sarah explains.

At Prism, we offer a comprehensive suite of services to help our clients understand and respond to the global and local sustainability and ESG landscape. From assessments to strategy to implementation to reporting, we can help your organization understand its current context, create a sustainability vision for the future, and develop a plan to get there.

Electrical Planning Reports

BC has ambitious plans to increase the number of EV charging stations across the province in the coming years. To meet the growing demand for electric vehicles, the BC Government, in partnership with BC Hydro, FortisBC, and NRCan, is providing incentives for the purchase and installation of EV chargers for homes and workplaces.

The Province has also introduced measures to encourage strata corporations to install EV charging stations. Under the new regulations, strata corporations must obtain electrical planning reports to show they have the necessary capacity for future upgrades, including charging stations. The deadlines for compliance may vary depending on the area and the number of strata units.

An electrical system assessment and planning report can support capital planning by providing recommendations for equipment replacement. In addition to EV chargers, these reports can provide recommendations for equipment efficiency changes, utility upgrade requirements, future HVAC system updates, as well as carbon reduction strategies.

“These assessments and reports make so much sense because installing EV chargers is not as simple as many would like to think,” says Casey Gaetz, Principal and Electrical Team Leader. “Building systems’ needs are evolving. We can’t start plugging things in and hoping for the best, nor can we replace like-for-like systems without a proper assessment. We must consider future growth needs, as well as carbon reduction targets.”

Electrical Planning Reports are an effective step to ensure the reliability, safety, and efficiency of a building’s electrical systems. They can help building owners, managers, and operators identify end-of-life equipment and plan for its replacement before it fails.

Voltage Conversion

As BC Hydro begins to upgrade portions of the power grid in the Lower Mainland (from 4 kilovolts (kV) or 12.47kV to 25kV), building owners and managers will need to consider this change when replacing or upgrading the main electrical service to larger buildings. They will also need to consider purchasing new equipment that is rated for both their buildings’ existing voltage requirement, as well as 25kV.

“A Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) is the best way to identify capital planning needs, such as building upgrades and new equipment requirements,” says Casey. This assessment reviews building system performance and provides a plan to either renew, repair or replace equipment.

“An FCA is also useful to anticipate certain situations. Facility owners and managers, for example, may realize they don’t have enough space for the new equipment, or how to deal with power outages while the new equipment is installed. We can help them with planning and how to make these decisions,” he adds.

Energy Studies

Iram Green, P.Eng., Principal and Energy Team Leader, believes recommissioning, energy, and energy feasibility studies are important for organizations wanting to achieve higher levels of energy efficiency and meet their carbon reduction targets.

Last year, BC Hydro expanded its program offering for large commercial customers. This offering includes Integrated Energy Audits and feasibility studies, incentives, as well as strategic energy management (SEM) programs.

“Energy and energy feasibility studies are two of the most effective ways to identify energy and cost saving opportunities, develop a decarbonization plan, assess what can be done to upgrade the systems and move forward with implementation based on a solid plan,” he explains.

One fun way to kickstart an energy study or a feasibility study is by conducting a “Treasure Hunt”. This activity encourages employees to “hunt” for energy conservation opportunities during a virtual or on-site walk through of processes and systems. This activity helps to develop a trusting relationship between the organization’s operations team and the consultant, sparks conversations about ideas to address existing issues and fosters a culture of continuous improvement towards energy management.

Considering Impacts Across Systems

Facility owners and managers need to be aware that any changes made in a building can have far-reaching impacts on various systems. This is especially true for mechanical systems, which tend to use the most energy in a building.

“Projects today are far broader than they were in the past, and their implementation phases have become more complex,” says Stephen Kooiman, P.Eng. and M.A.Sc., Principal and Mechanical Team Leader.

“In the past, we used to upgrade and optimize specific systems to achieve 20-30% energy savings. Today, with the current need for clean electricity usage to aggressively reduce emissions by 70-80%, we end up having to take into consideration many more elements to integrate to make this happen,” he explains.

This is especially true for Deep Carbon Retrofit projects, which require a cross-disciplinary approach involving the traditional electrical, energy and mechanical engineers, along with architectural and structural expertise. These projects can be extremely effective in reducing GHG emissions because it takes a wholistic approach to minimize energy consumption and maximize low carbon heating options.

Steps Towards a Low Carbon and Resilient Future

These key trends paint an exciting picture. From the consolidation of global ESG reporting standards to preparing our local buildings and fleets for low carbon electrification opportunities, efforts to mitigate and address the impacts of climate change are gaining momentum. Industries and organizations are moving from planning to implementation. At all levels of government, from global to local, and across industries and communities, we are progressing towards a low-carbon and resilient future.

Prism is committed to helping organizations achieve their energy, climate, and asset renewal objectives by integrating engineering, energy management, and sustainability services.

Want to discuss how our services can support your organization?

Prism Engineering is thrilled to share that we have won the 24th Annual Burnaby Business Excellence Award for Environmental Sustainability! 

The winners were announced at a gala ceremony attended by nearly 400 businesses at the Hilton Metrotown Hotel in Burnaby on November 16. The evening was a great success as we celebrated with other finalists and caught up with local organizations.

Presented by the Burnaby Board of Trade and City of Burnaby, the Environmental Sustainability Award recognizes organizations “that have made protecting, sustaining and enhancing natural resources an integral part of their business plan by adopting strategies and activities that reduce energy and materials consumption and/or eliminates waste and pollution.”

Congratulations to the other finalists – Eco Planet Property Services, Ekona Power, Hydrogen In Motion Inc. (H2M), and Nano One Materials Corp. TSX: NANO. Being short-listed among these impressive organizations makes us very proud.

Supporting local energy reduction and decarbonization projects

We are thrilled to receive recognition for our work in helping local organizations from different industries achieve their energy, climate, and asset renewal objectives by integrating our engineering, energy management, and sustainability services.

Over the years, we have built a long-standing relationship with the Burnaby community by designing and delivering energy reduction and decarbonization projects and sustainability programs for multiple local organizations in the commercial, governmental, and industrial sectors.

As program designers, facilitators and coaches for the BC Hydro and FortisBC Energy Wise Network Program, for example, Prism supports local organizations to develop and deliver energy conservation and staff engagement initiatives that address climate change. These projects include work for the City of Burnaby, Simon Fraser University (SFU), Burnaby School District No. 41, Colliers, and Shape Properties.

Environmental and social responsibility is part of our culture of care

The award also recognizes Prism for our internal sustainability initiatives.

At our head office in Burnaby, we have implemented smart lighting systems for energy efficiency and comfort, heat pumps to reduce energy consumption and emissions, and other initiatives to lower office waste such as recycling, donations, and the digitization of documents.

In terms of social responsibility, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. Our team is made up of employees from a multitude of backgrounds and nationalities, and women represent over 40% of our staff, including leadership positions. We offer flexible work hours for new parents, more training hours and funding for youth without prior work experience, and partner with funding agencies to support the wages of co-op students for long-term hiring.

Thank you

A heartfelt thank you to our employees and our clients. Your vision, hard work and dedication made this award possible. We couldn’t ask for better motivation to keep us committed to a low-carbon and inclusive future.

Prism staff during the gala: From left to right: Marcos Lobo, Marketing Communications Specialist; David Joo, Associate, Electrical Engineer; Tim Aske, Associate, Energy Engineer; Hamid Samani, Principal and Senior Mechanical Engineer; Stephen Kooiman, Principal and Mechanical Team Leader; Casey Gaetz, Principal and Electrical Team Leader; Julianne Pickrell-Barr, Associate, Climate Action Specialist; Sarah Smith, Principal and Sustainability Team Leader; Lyn Papio, Associate, People, Culture and Operations Leader; and Sam Thomas, Principal and Kootenay Branch Manager. 

Learn more about the 24^th Annual Burnaby Business Excellence Awards

We are delighted to announce the opening of our Victoria office space!

For more than 30 years, Prism Engineering has provided engineering, energy management and sustainability services to over 120 organizations across Vancouver Island. Given our strong connections with local organizations, having a permanent presence in the region was only a matter of time.

“We are excited to establish a local presence on Vancouver Island that will enable us to maintain and deepen our working relationships with existing clients, and we also look forward to meeting new ones,” says Robert Greenwald, P.Eng., President of Prism Engineering. “Being on the island allows us to respond faster for onsite work, be more available for face-to-face meetings and interactions, and deliver services more cost-effectively,” he adds.

Our office is located in the heart of downtown Victoria. If you are in town, please stop by! We are in a historic building that offers an open lounge area, private meeting spaces, parking, and, of course, great coffee. Whether for a catch-up or to discuss current or future projects, our Victoria team would be delighted to see you in person.

Senior expertise in electrical systems and sustainability

Our Victoria office houses two members of Prism’s leadership team: Adam Franklin, P.Eng., Associate and Electrical Engineer, and Christine Obee, Associate and Engagement Specialist. Both have extensive experience in helping clients improve systems, reduce energy usage, and lower their emissions.

Adam Franklin

“Since moving over, I have heard from several clients that having a Victoria office gives them more confidence in working with us, knowing that we can provide quicker response times for onsite projects,” says Adam.

Adam moved to the island last summer motivated by good public schools, more space for his kids, and quick access to the ocean and other outdoor activities.

Christine Obee

Christine has more than 12 years of experience designing and delivering staff engagement initiatives and programs to support organizations to achieve their decarbonization and sustainability goals. She also facilitates networking and training sessions for clients and provides support and guidance for BOMA Best certifications. Christine loves working with people and supporting clients to bring key stakeholders together to move their organization’s sustainability programs and projects forward.

“Being closer to clients on the island is important. Although Teams calls with clients and colleagues are a part of our new work routine, I can now easily bike downtown to meet a client for coffee or drive up the Island to facilitate in-person client events or meetings”, says Christine.

Christine moved back to Victoria a few years ago with her family after attending UVIC in her undergraduate days. She loves the access to sailing and the outdoors, as well as the family-focused lifestyle.

Expanding Prism’s support on the island

Prism Engineering first set foot on Vancouver Island in 1990 to work on a project for BC Buildings Corporation (BCBC). Over the years, our support has expanded across the region, and we are now proud to assist several local organizations in decarbonizing their operations, including BC Ferries, District of Saanich and Island Health.

BC Ferries is a great example of our efforts to support sustainability on the island. To help the company achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 24% below 2008 levels, we completed electrification assessments for its Island Class and New Major Vessel ferry fleet sand terminals.We are also currently providing lighting design services for the Swartz Bay and Duke Point terminals. In addition, Prism is supporting BC Ferries to transition its on-road vehicle fleet to electric with vehicle assessments and modelling as well as charging infrastructure assessments and strategy planning.

Since 2016, we have collaborated with the District of Saanich on several projects. Our primary focus is to assist the organization in keeping its buildings running efficiently while reducing operational expenses and helping it achieve its climate goals. Some projects include mechanical upgrades, the development of a zero-emissions fleet strategy, fire alarm system review, and ongoing optimization studies.

Island Health is another example of our long history on Vancouver Island. For over 13 years, Prism has supported the organization with sustainability staff engagement campaigns, green team programs and training workshops to help operators run buildings more efficiently. Other projects include continuous optimization studies, a heating plan review, and a vulnerability risk assessment.

If you are in Victoria, or travelling to the area:

Connect with Adam
Connect with Christine

Read more about Prism’s work on Vancouver Island

BC Ferries | Terminals Power Quality Review
Millstream Village | Power Factor and Quality
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital | Vulnerability Risk Assessment
Nanaimo’s Federal Building (BGIS) | BOMA Best Certification
School District #79 Lake Cowichan | Biomass Boiler

Banner photo: Inner Harbour Causeway, Downtown Victoria BC by ChrisJohnstone86 via Wikimedia Commons