Changing systems for a better world:
Key trends in 2024

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

In the fall of 2022, the Operations team at Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 contacted Prism Engineering to help them explore the potential to reduce carbon emissions and operating costs by replacing some of the District’s fossil fuel-powered maintenance and operations fleet with electric vehicles (EVs).

Prism’s study determined that Rocky Mountain School District No. 6 can meet its operational needs, reduce annual fleet costs, and cut energy consumption and carbon emissions by nearly 80% by electrifying a portion of its fleet.

The School District has three operations yards and 35 maintenance and operations vehicles, including light, medium, and heavy-duty models, as well as several school buses for student transportation. It serves 3,500 students across 18 schools in Golden, Invermere, Kimberley, and surrounding communities. It is located on the unceded lands of the Secwépemc and Ktunaxa People and the chosen home of the Metis People of BC.

Prism provided the School District with an EV Ready Fleet Plan designed to meet the requirements of CleanBC’s Go Electric Fleets Program, a provincial initiative that supports public and private fleets’ transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). The project also included an EV Charging Infrastructure Assessment and the development of an EV Charging Strategy.

“We conducted a full assessment of their existing fleet of maintenance and operations vehicles and evaluated the existing electrical and charging infrastructure at their three operations yards to determine if the School District has sufficient electrical capacity to support EV adoption,” explains Julianne Pickrell-Barr, Climate Action Specialist at Prism Engineering.

Zero-emission calculator to evaluate impact

Prism’s Electrical and Sustainability teams worked together to evaluate the School District’s needs. Our Sustainability team developed a Zero-Emission Fleet Assessment Calculator to help identify which district vehicles can be electrified and quantify the financial and carbon emission reduction benefits of doing so.

“A variety of vehicle replacement options were considered in the evaluation process. Each vehicle selected and included in the plan was chosen based on several aspects, such as suitability to meet needs and preferences, purchase cost after incentives, and availability in Canada,” says Julianne.

The Sustainability team used the calculator to compare two scenarios. The first looked at the impact of transitioning to EVs across various factors, including carbon emissions, capital costs, operational and maintenance costs, and carbon offsets. The second looked at these same factors if the School District’s current vehicles were replaced with like-for-like models.

The EV Ready Fleet Plan also includes projections of the number of Low Carbon Fuel Credits the School District could potentially earn from EV fleet charging and estimates of the current market value of those credits, adding further value to the study.

Assessment of the charging infrastructure needed

Meanwhile, the Electrical team completed an Electrical and EV Charging Infrastructure Assessment by evaluating the School District’s existing infrastructure and comparing this to its future charging needs based on the fleet transition schedule created by the Sustainability team.

With this information, Prism was able to develop an EV Charging Strategy, which can be used to help the School District plan for the future by identifying the number and types of chargers it will need, as well as the level and timing of electrical infrastructure upgrades (including electrical service upgrades) required to support EV fleet vehicle charging.

“Prism’s contributions have been pivotal in creating a path forward for our changeover to electric fleet vehicles,” says Russell Wagner, Operations Supervisor at Rocky Mountain School District No. 6.

“Their team left no stone unturned, meticulously analyzing every facet of our EV Fleet and Infrastructure Project. And their rigorous analysis ensured that no potential issue went unnoticed, resulting in a comprehensive strategy that addressed all challenges, leading us to 2035,” adds Lisa Clifton, the School District’s Operations Coordinator.

80% reduction in GHG emissions

Prism found that almost 75% of the School District’s current fleet could be replaced with electric vehicles since the vehicles would mainly serve three central locations with a range below 350 km (refer to Figure 1). Meanwhile, for the two vehicles that routinely complete longer trips, Prism recommended plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). The medium and heavy-duty trucks used for snow plowing were identified as exceptions since no viable EV options currently exist in that category.

Figure 1: Maximum daily driving distance by location and vehicle category.

The assessment also found that EV adoption could reduce the School District’s total annual fleet costs (including capital and operating costs) for six of the next ten years, even considering the required electrical infrastructure upgrades and EV charger installations. In addition, EV adoption could significantly impact the organization’s carbon footprint, reducing GHG emissions by nearly 80% by 2036 (refer to Figure 2).

Figure 2: GHG emissions projections under EV scenario.

Ready to transition to EVs

Prism is now supporting the School District to implement the EV Ready Fleet Plan.

“This level of thoroughness instilled us with confidence that our project was in the best possible hands and allowed us to obtain additional grant funding for the next phase of the project, Charging Infrastructure and Vehicle Procurement, for which we have opted to keep Prism engaged,” explains Russell Wagner.

As part of this phase, the Electrical team will provide detailed design drawings for the electrical and EV charging infrastructure upgrades required. The team will also provide implementation assistance during the tender and construction phases.

The Sustainability team will provide specifications for EV procurement and implementation coaching to help smooth the School District’s transition to electric vehicles. As part of this coaching, the team will support the School District to gain internal buy-in and support for this initiative, as well as help staff become more familiar and comfortable with the new EVs entering their fleet.

Figure 3: Gino Folino, of the Operations team, at one of the SD’s EV charging stations.

Prism is here to support your organization’s success.

Connect with our Climate Action Specialist
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Learn more about our how our services can best support your organization
Transportation Decarbonization Planning

Learn more about EV Ready Fleet funding programs:
BC Hydro Electric Fleets
CleanBC Go Electric Fleets
CleanBC Go Electric School Bus
Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund (Transportation)
Zero Emission Transit Fund

In the last couple of years, British Columbians have been impacted by several extreme weather events, including a devastating forest fire near Kelowna last summer and an intense rainfall causing catastrophic flooding in the Fraser Valley in 2021. Adapting to climate change and mitigating the risks associated with a warming climate is becoming a necessity for many organizations across the province, and around the world. To help organizations assess the impact of extreme weather events on their infrastructure and make informed decisions, Prism Engineering developed a Climate Resilience Assessment Tool.

Our Energy, Mechanical, and Sustainability teams collaborated to create this valuable new resource that combines climate data and site-specific information. With our technical support, building owners and managers can generate a report that provides actionable recommendations to prepare and adapt to climate change by understanding site-specific measures available to mitigate potential risks.

“The framework we’ve developed is important because it prioritizes the actions that should be taken to improve the resilience of buildings in the face of extreme weather events,” explains Sam Thomas, Principal and Kootenay Branch Manager.

“Many organizations are unaware of what they should do to better adapt to a changing climate. Some are hesitant to get expert advice because of the associated efforts involved. The tool is intended to make it more accessible and easier for them to anticipate the impacts of climate change,” he adds.

A scoring system to assess vulnerability

To use the tool, a user enters information about a building’s location, use and attributes. Buildings constructed using significant combustible materials, for example, may pose a greater risk in areas prone to wildfires. Similarly, facilities in regions affected by floods could be at risk if their backup generators are placed at ground level.

The tool then uses the inputs provided by the user along with publicly available climate data to estimate the likelihood and consequence of a climate event on different aspects of the site. This is achieved by applying a scoring system, as shown in the chart below. The overall score is determined by multiplying the likelihood rating by the consequence rating. The scoring is intended to help the user make informed decisions based on the level of risk and priorities.

“The goal is to determine each possible scenario, the likelihood that a certain climate event might be an issue for the facility and the consequences if it does happen,” explains Sam.

Scoring system chart.

After analyzing the data, the tool generates a report with a concise summary of suggested measures. The increasing frequency of heat waves, for example, could trigger investing in building envelopes to reduce the indoor temperature. Similarly, the smoke from frequent forest fires might require modifications to the filtration and ventilation systems.

“One of the main advantages of this tool is that building owners or managers can use the information they already have about the facility to carry out the assessment themselves,” explains Sam. “This makes it quick and easy for them to identify what measures they can take to enhance their climate resilience,” he adds.

Prism is here to support your organization’s climate adaptation journey

We have extensive technical expertise to support your organization through its climate adaptation journey and proactively prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Reach out to our Climate Action Specialist to discuss how our services can best support your organization.

Related Services

Climate Action
GHG Planning
Low Carbon Electrification
HVAC

We are delighted to share that two new Associates joined the Prism Leadership Team this fall.

Prism Associates are individuals with the experience, expertise, and passion to help grow our company to have an even bigger impact. Each Associate takes on company-level responsibilities, leading different aspects of our business, from quality assurance to business development to employee wellbeing. Our Associates also support the growth and development of our junior team members and are key to fostering our company culture of care and collaboration.

Bartjan Kiers joined Prism in March 2020. He brings a wealth of experience in heating and cooling plant upgrades and low-carbon implementation projects. Bartjan has been instrumental in supporting the Mechanical Team and the expansion of our presence in the Okanagan region, where he is based at our Kelowna office.

Julianne Pickrell-Barr is a valuable addition to our Sustainability Team, bringing with her extensive experience in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Since she joined Prism in 2021, Julianne has helped us to expand our sustainability services and provided support to our clients in various areas, such as assessing GHG emissions footprints, developing practical, action-based climate action and sustainability plans and climate-hazard assessments, among others.

Learn more about our Principals and Associates.

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?
Connect with our Team

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)