Finding waste reduction opportunities
through a digital transition

The fast and unexpected switch to remote work was one of the many immediate effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now that the dust has settled, Prism Engineering has adopted a hybrid work model, where employees make up their schedule of days working between home and at the office.

To adapt to this new reality, our company has created “hotel stations”, where employees are free to use certain desk spaces on a first come, first serve basis whenever in the office. But when we began the process of resizing our resources library to open space for new acoustic cells for individual meetings, a big question emerged:

What should be the fate of a huge volume of binders, books and project folders that would have to be removed to give room for the office redesign?

“Some were outdated, and others were duplicates, so there wasn’t much to do”, recalls Anusha Hooda, People, Culture and Operations Coordinator at Prism. “We then began discussing a proper way to discard them, especially the binders, which contained cardboard, plastic and metal parts”, she adds.

To find a solution, she got help from Taniell Hamilton, Sustainability and Engagement Specialist at Prism. Together, they put out a waste reduction plan that included the recycling and donation of the material, as well as the digitization of old documents.

To spread the word, they announced the initiative on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. A total of 350 binders were diverted for reusing, repurposing, or recycling. In addition, half a ton of paper was recycled. For example, some of the binders were donated to families with children, who were invited to come to the Burnaby office to pick up the material. Others were donated to Renfrew Elementary School, located nearby the office. Even the bookshelves found their way: they were given to employees to take home and reuse.

“I am really glad we chose the right way to dispose all those items, reducing our impact on the environment”, says Anusha. “It wasn’t easy, as some of the steps weren’t obvious from the outset, like having to separate the metal spines of books for recycling. But, in the end, it was also a great learning experience”, she adds.

The beginning of the year is always a good time to take stock of what happened in the previous period and set new directions for the future. We caught up with Prism’s Team Leaders to learn more about projects and initiatives they are most proud of having accomplished last year, how new staff came to add to these successes, and what trends they foresee in the industry for 2023.

Adapting electrical systems to a new reality

Electrical Team Lead Casey Gaetz likes to describe his team as “playing the doctor’s role” when helping clients assess their electrical distribution systems to meet the needs of an ever-changing world. “This is what has been a growing focus for the last few years, and it’s what we plan to keep doing,” he says.

The Covid pandemic, the need to adapt buildings to mitigate the effects of climate change, new regulations and new technologies have created challenges that require a more comprehensive approach from our team, rather than just prescribing solutions. There is no area where this has been more interest to clients than having a Facility Condition Assessments (FCA) completed to assist in capital planning for the future.

“In a world that is constantly changing, electrical systems also need to adjust to this new reality. That’s why we are focusing on assessing each situation, analyzing it carefully, making recommendations, and elaborating on the appropriate designs to get it built to suit not just todays but also tomorrows requirements,” explains Casey.

Other areas with that we are experiencing growth with include electrical distribution upgrades to suit mechanical equipment switching from fossil fuel systems to electricity, thereby reducing our carbon footprint. Another focused area of work is the upgrading of electric services to suit the addition of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

“With all this growth in our work we have added more help to the team with three new staff to help our clients and our team to meet those challenges,” says Casey.

The path to net zero buildings

Last year the Energy Team remained committed to helping organizations maximize the efficiency of building systems that were performing poorly or in some cases not even performing at all.

“Many of these buildings had been visited over the years by other engineers that were unable to fix problems such as insufficient temperature levels, heat pump failure, or building control issues,” says Iram Green, P. Eng., Energy Team Leader. “I am very proud to see how our team approached these issues and managed to make the systems achieve their full potential,” he adds.

The key to success was not simply “checking the boxes” when approaching a problem. “There is knowledge and different considerations in every recommendation we make. You can’t just rely on one technology to get where you want to be. You must understand how that technology is going to operate within that specific situation,” explains Iram.

With six new staff onboarded this past year, the Energy Team is excited to enter 2023 with even more support to help organizations move towards net zero carbon buildings. “When you have so many things to do, you tend to do less. So, we can help organizations prioritize; helping them rely less and less on fossil fuels, improve efficiency, recover heat, and reduce their carbon emissions,” Iram says. With trends towards increased funding for greenhouse gas pathways studies and modelling, we are anticipating even more interest in this type of work.

Unique expertise in sustainability and climate change

Many organizations still struggle when it comes to knowing what first step to take towards adopting sustainable practices and preparing for climate change impacts. This is one of the many ways that our Sustainability Team has been supporting clients – by assisting organizations in creating comprehensive sustainability and climate plans to respond to these challenges.

“We support clients with strategic planning, assessments, and research to help our clients identify what impact their organization is having on people and the planet and what can be done to mitigate them,” explains Sarah Smith, M. Urb., Sustainability Team Leader. Those impacts can range from carbon emissions from buildings and fleet to ground water impacts from landfill waste and to labor rights driven by sustainable procurement practices.

“We support these organizations by assessing their current practices, demystifying the sustainability landscape, and developing a clear vision and definition of sustainability for the organization. We then pull it all together in a practical plan that outlines the priorities and actions that our client needs to take to make progress on sustainability,” Sarah explains.

Prism’s 8-person Sustainability Team has a broad set of expertise to support our clients. We focus on energy, emissions, fleet, waste, and water and in each of these areas we provide strategic planning, coaching, assessment, program delivery and reporting. We center our work on engaging stakeholders throughout any process we deliver. “Each of us is an expert in a different area, but we also draw on each other’ strengths to support our clients in meeting their climate and sustainability objectives,” Sarah says.

Synergy to meet future energy demands

In many of our buildings, mechanical systems account for the majority of building related greenhouse gas emissions. No wonder why many organizations are looking for alternative mechanical solutions to save energy and reduce carbon emissions. This has kept our Mechanical Team busy throughout last year, a trend that is expected to increase even more in 2023.

With the federal, provincial, and municipal governments jumping ahead on initiatives to reduce GHG emissions, the private sector is now taking steps to follow suit. As a result, there has been a growing demand for low-carbon electrification (LCE) projects.

“If in the past businesses were mostly interested in equipment replacements, now they are looking for opportunities for higher energy efficiency with full electrification projects”, explains Stephen Kooiman, P. Eng., M.A.Sc, Mechanical Team Leader. With more incentives available for companies to implement mechanical and electrical upgrades, this trend is expected to grow in the coming years.

To meet these demands, the Mechanical Team has grown with three new staff in the past year, and there will be even more synergy with other teams. “The scale of the projects is bigger, which requires a multidisciplinary approach. Having all expertise in-house is a great advantage. Our Mechanical Team is very collaborative, and they are used to working closely with the Electrical, Energy, and Sustainability Teams. Everyone is eager to learn, grow, and looking for ways to challenge themselves,” Stephen says.

Prism staff at Burnaby office. From left to right: Julianne Pickrell-Barr, Climate Action Specialist; Sarah Smith, Sustainability Team Leader; Sustainability and Climate Action Specialist; Taniell Hamilton, Sustainability and Engagement Specialist; and Parham Ighani, Mechanical Engineer in Training. 

Want to discuss how our services can support your organization?

Assessing the potential for energy savings is a critical step when moving forward with energy saving opportunities. Although Prism performs calculations in much of the work we do, we wanted to make some more common calculations freely available to the public on our website.

“Originally launched in 2010, the calculators were designed to help the industry move forward with energy savings,” explains Robert Greenwald, P.Eng., President of Prism Engineering. “It is not just a matter of saving energy, but also of reducing carbon emissions and having a positive impact on the environment,” he adds.

As part of our recently updated website, we are excited to launch a fully redesigned set of online calculators and make them available on our Resources page.

Who are the calculators for?

Building operators, facility managers, energy consultants, training session attendees, and energy managers can use the Energy Calculators to perform basic calculations on various system types. Developed by our team of engineers, the Energy Calculators can be applied to assess the efficiency across various systems, like condensing boilers, ventilation, conditioned air, motors, and pumps.

“The Energy Calculators can provide quick insight and help people decide if energy improvements are needed,” explains Lizz Hodgson, P.Eng., who was responsible for reviewing the functionality of the new tools to make sure all calculations were robust.

How can they be used?

The Energy Calculators are a free tool that can be used to make projections, generate insights, or conduct a quick assessment of how systems are performing, how they compare to established goals, and how their performance might be optimized.

In the picture above, the online calculator indicates the improvement in boiler efficiency (89% to 93%) that can be gained by lowering the boiler return water temperature from 60°C to 40°C.

Another way to make use of the Energy Calculators is when conducting walkthroughs audits or “Treasure Hunts”. By identifying operational opportunities for energy savings, facility operators can use the calculators to quickly assess the potential savings.

Although these calculators are a valuable tool, often the next step is a more thorough assessment. Prism Engineering can help by conducting detailed energy audits, recommissioning studies, deep carbon retrofits, and facility condition assessments to evaluate options. Our experienced team of electrical and mechanical engineers and technologists works closely with site personnel to identify, analyze, and present opportunities to reduce energy consumption and cost.

Learn more about some of our energy audit projects and related articles:

Simon Fraser University | Energy Audit
Justice Institute of BC New Westminster Campus | Energy Audit
Top 10 Energy Audit Problems

Looking for ways to optimize energy use can be challenging for many organizations. To help them reduce energy waste, maximize efficiency, decrease operating costs, and lower carbon emissions, Prism Engineering has developed a “Treasure Hunt,” also known as an Energy Scan process, as part of our Strategic Energy Management (SEM) framework. The goal of a Treasure Hunt is to empower staff to identify operational opportunities for energy savings or Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) through an on-site walk of processes and systems, as seen in Figure 1.

“During the Treasure Hunt, the team looks for new energy savings ‘treasures’ to implement and opportunities to reduce energy costs. It can be a great way to identify and implement quick wins to kickstart or re-invigorate the organization’s energy savings journey,” explains Shannon Hardman, Strategic Energy Management (SEM) Coach at Prism Engineering.

“Participants are encouraged to ask why processes and procedures are completed the way they are and if changes could be made to reduce energy and costs. The output of the Treasure Hunt is a list of low-cost opportunities to implement as a team in the short to medium term,” she adds.

The Treasure Hunt activity also offers companies the opportunity to:

• Better understanding of energy use
• Engage staff in conversations about energy use
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and cross-team collaboration
• Help drive energy and carbon reductions

Figure 1: Prism coaches facilitating a Treasure Hunt at an industrial facility in Vancouver.

How does it work?

The Treasure Hunt activity has three phases: Preparation, the Event, and Follow-Up.

Preparation

The organization’s Energy Team and Prism coach work together to confirm the scope of the activity and logistics for the day of the Treasure Hunt and review any data that could inform the process, such as site maps, equipment registers, process flow diagrams, and previous energy studies.

The Event

The Treasure Hunt is typically designed as a 4- to 6-hour on-site activity, including a Kick-Off Meeting, a Site Tour, and a Tour Debrief. When touring the facility, the team follows a 3-step Strategic Energy Management (SEM) process to identify ECMs that includes:

Step 1: Minimize Waste.
Step 2: Maximize Efficiency.
Steps 3-6: Optimize the Supply.

Here is a snapshot of some low-cost opportunities identified in a Treasure Hunt:

• Fix compressed air leakages in the plant.
• Close doors in the plant during winter.
• Upgrade lighting and controls in offices.
• Utilize welding fume extraction snorkels in welding bays to minimize overall ventilation.
• Insulate pipe for hot water tank lines.
• Update the procedures for equipment that is to be turned off during idle or non-production times.

As a passionate advocate of Treasure Hunts, Shannon acknowledges that participants typically come into the session slightly unsure and reserved. However, as new saving opportunities are identified, the atmosphere quickly shifts into excitement.

“They value seeing their facility with a new and focused lens. The total number of opportunities that get identified often surprises the client,” she says.

Prioritize and Follow Up

After the Treasure Hunt, the organization’s Energy Team works with one of our Prism Coaches to prioritize ECMs for implementation. A refined list of prioritized potential projects is delivered at the end of the day.

“The Treasure Hunt can be completed annually as a way to continue to get buy-in and engagement on identifying and eliminating energy waste,” recommends Shannon.

SEM Programs

Prism is uniquely qualified to run SEM programs. From design to implementation, we work with organizations to develop energy teams and leadership engagement strategies. Our holistic approach to energy management is focused on technical initiatives and organizational and behavioural change to achieve energy efficiency.

Learn more about some projects developed by our Strategic Energy Management team:

Colliers | Operators Training Results in $140,000 in Energy Savings
Thompson Rivers University | SEM through ISO 50001
Vancouver Community College | Energy Management and Upgrades

Modernizing elevators can be a complicated process. Building codes in B.C. now require all new and upgraded elevator systems to be interconnected with the building’s fire alarm systems. So, when a B.C. hospital recently needed nine high-traffic elevators upgraded, working within the constraints of a hospital setting compounded these challenges.

In the case of this busy urban hospital, doctors, nurses and other staff constantly use the elevators to move themselves and patients quickly from floor to floor. This meant elevator downtime had to be carefully planned to minimize the impact on patients and core hospital work. The elevator system upgrades also had to be designed to work within the facility’s existing electrical systems, which carry multiple sensitive loads that power, for example, operating rooms and life-critical equipment. In addition, the upgrades included replacing an automatic transfer switch, which switches the elevators’ power system to the hospital’s own backup power supply in the event of local BC Hydro power failures.

Primary project consultant GUNN Consultants brought Prism on to help.

“The unique thing about this project was that it required so much more electrical review and work than most elevator modernization projects because of the hospital’s complicated electrical systems,” says David Joo, Electrical Engineer and Associate at Prism Engineering and our in-house service area lead for fire alarms.

Prism designed the electrical distribution for the nine new elevators and its interconnection with the hospital’s fire alarm system. We also upgraded the automatic transfer switch so that the elevators could receive emergency alarm signals, and updated the elevator machine room with an electrical feed to the new elevators, new LED and emergency lighting, cooling units, and a fire alarm interconnection.

Unlike many other elevator upgrade projects we’ve worked on, the hospital didn’t require a fire alarm upgrade, as it had been upgraded only a few years prior. With careful work scheduling to limit impacts on hospital personnel and patients, the nine elevators, their systems and the elevator room were successfully upgraded to code.

Read more of our elevator–fire alarm system modernization case studies here.

The elevator–fire alarm system connection

British Columbia’s aging building stock means an increasing number of elevators are due to be replaced, and building codes now require that new and upgraded elevators be connected with building’s fire alarm systems.

“We often get feedback from clients looking to modernize their elevators who say they hadn’t known they also had to upgrade their fire alarm systems,’” David says.

Interconnecting building elevator and fire alarm systems is a major life-safety requirement. A properly connected modern fire alarm system automatically signals the elevators in the event of a fire in the building. Upon receiving the signal, the elevators are programmed to bring everybody already inside the elevator down to the main level, open the doors, and remain open. Newer addressable fire alarm systems identify which fire alarm device in the building was initiated and respond accordingly. Specifically, if a smoke detector in the ground-floor elevator lobby is triggered, the system instructs the elevator controller to stop on an alternate floor to avoid the fire.

Prism’s approach to elevator modernization

Every year, our electrical team completes up to 20 elevator modernization projects with fire alarm elements. With key partner GUNN Consultants, we have completed close to 100 projects to date in residential, commercial, industrial, healthcare and education buildings. Our approach to elevator modernization involves reviewing the fire alarm systems and designing needed upgrades. We review and design electrical systems to suit new elevators, including replacing power feeders and cables, specifying the proper electrical protection for the elevators’ motors, and making sure the code requirements are met. Working with elevator consultants and contractors, we also offer full fire alarm upgrades and elevator interconnection, Dedicated Detection Recall System implementation (Vancouver), and electrical work associated with complying with CSA B44 Elevator Modernization requirements.

In addition, we check and design updates to the machine rooms where the elevator equipment is housed so that it meets building code requirements. This often means improving the room’s lighting, upgrading the elevator’s electrical grounding system so that it is GFI rated, and replacing the disconnect switch to the elevator.

Read more about Prism’s approach to fire alarm upgrades here.

We can help

Is your building due for an elevator upgrade, but you’re not sure what may be involved? Email our in-house service area lead for fire alarms, David Joo, at davidj@prismengineering.com.

In response to the City of Vancouver’s Climate Emergency Action Plan, Vancouver City Council approved recommendations this past May to introduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission regulations for existing large commercial and retail buildings. The regulations include GHG intensity (GHGi) limits and heat energy limits, as well as annual energy and carbon reporting requirements.

The GHG emissions and heating energy limits for these building types will require owners and energy utilities to plan for deep carbon retrofits and investments in alternative energy sources. Key highlights:

• The energy and carbon reporting requirements come into effect in 2024.
• The GHGi limits come into effect in 2026, with a proposed $350/tonne CO₂e fee for emissions that exceed the limit.
• The heating energy limits come into effect in 2040, with a proposed $100/gigajoule fee for heating energy that exceeds the limit.

Other regions and cities, including Metro Vancouver, are now also considering following suit and introducing GHGi and heating energy limits for their regions.

Although the limits are a positive step towards decarbonizing the building sector, much work remains to be done to make these buildings comply with the regulations. Currently, many buildings do not meet the limits stipulated in the bylaw. According to PUMA’s 2021 office building benchmarking report only 10 per cent  of buildings within the dataset currently fall within 2040 heat energy limits, 80 per cent fall within the 2026 GHGi limits, and 2 per cent fall within the 2040 GHGi net-zero limits. Although 2026 and 2040 may seem like the distant future, retrofitting buildings to achieve the deep reductions targeted takes several years, effort and cost. Getting an early start on this work is critically important.

The good news is that help is available. Several programs can be leveraged to support the transition to lower GHGi and heating energy in existing buildings.

• Deep carbon retrofit studies to assess potential technical solutions are often a great place to begin and allow for planning of upgrades over time.
• Low-carbon electrification and heating plant upgrades can be effective ways to reduce building GHGi and heating energy consumption.
• The PUMA online monitoring platform also offers an effective way to track carbon and energy  to meet the reporting requirements the City of Vancouver will begin enforcing in 2024.
• Various funding streams also exist to help you move forward with these initiatives — check out this article we wrote recently on rebates and incentives.

Interested in finding out more about these new regulations and what they mean for your buildings?

Feel free to reach out to us — we’d be happy to chat. Contact Iram Green, Energy Team Lead, at iram@prismgengineering.com.

Whether you are a curious client or an interested career explorer, do you ever wonder what Prism’s Energy Engineers do in a typical day?

We are excited to be featuring a day in the life of Lizz Hodgson, P.Eng., one of the Energy Engineers working out of our Nelson office.

“I typically get into the office around 9 a.m. with my dog, Otago,” Lizz tells us. “We settle in by grabbing some water or a coffee and touching base with my team members before logging onto my computer. Having Otago here brings some levity to the office – he has quite a presence! I love that the casual setting we have allows me to include him in my office days.”

Lizz’s mornings usually involve some administrative preparation, such as coordinating site visits, gathering utility data, and scheduling planning sessions with colleagues or clients.

For example, the weekly Monday morning planning meetings gather all of Prism’s Energy team members together online from our Nelson, Kelowna, and Burnaby offices to review project priorities for the week and to highlight areas on which team members can collaborate and support each other.

Lizz’s afternoons are often filled with client meetings, presentations, facilitating workshops, or project work such as energy modelling and analysis.

On a few days each week, Lizz uses her lunch break to fit in some exercise. She visits the gym at the local recreation centre, two blocks away. She also attends a circus training school, Discover Circus, that’s located in the same building as our Nelson office. The school’s aerial silks classes allow her to engage with her artistic self and take a social break. It’s great exercise, too, she says.

“It has become important to my mental health to create work–life balance,” she says. “Living in Nelson and working for Prism allows me to keep work and play close together. I can step away from the computer to do something completely different by challenging myself physically. I come back to the office feeling accomplished and ready to tackle the rest of the day!”

On a recent fall day, we caught up with her as she was preparing to lead a 90-minute workshop for a local municipality. Lizz is the technical service area lead for Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) Planning, and she has been working with the municipality on an emissions reduction pathway feasibility study. She told us that, before the study is finalized, she will incorporate feedback from stakeholders and facilitate the discussion around the identified pathways as part of the process to foster organizational buy-in.

As with any of our Energy Engineers, Lizz’s level of involvement varies from project to project and depends on each client’s needs. For example, organizations that have their own sustainability and energy teams may already have a decision framework in place to help guide their discussions. The objectives of these discussions are to identify barriers to implementation, ensure the recommended measures are within the decision framework, gain engagement from stakeholders, and guide the setting of priorities to meet the client’s goals and targets. Clients that don’t have that kind of in-house expertise may require more of Lizz’s involvement to help them determine targets and solutions, engage stakeholders, and set client-appropriate priorities.

The work is diverse and stimulating.

“I enjoy the varied nature of my role at Prism and look forward to new challenges my projects bring me each day,” Lizz says. “I’m not always writing technical reports — I’m often on site, I’m leading workshops, I’m researching new technology. Even when I’m at my desk, I collaborate with various engineering teams within Prism to create thoughtful and integrated solutions for our clients. Along with enjoying the people I work with, I get lots of learning opportunities too.”

We are excited to share that we have three new Associates and a new Principal who have joined the Prism leadership team this summer.

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.

Faisal Emami is a great example of how an individual can grow at Prism. Since Faisal’s start as a co-op student in 2015, he has grown to be a trusted advisor for clients and now leads our electrical systems assessments and design services for distribution, generators and sub-metering systems.

David Joo is another highly valued member of the Electrical team who leads electrical design services for new construction, renovations and fire alarm upgrades at Prism. David’s enthusiasm and positive attitude fosters collaborative relationships with Prism’s partners and clients, leading to exceptional project outcomes.

Christine Obee leads Prism’s presence in Victoria and is an integral part of the Sustainability team. Her work with sustainability engagement, training and green building certification has shaped Prism’s esteemed reputation in these key services.

Our new Principal

Prism Principals provide strategic vision and leadership for the company and demonstrate expertise and experience in their field of work. They exemplify drive, passion and personal ambition which inspires their colleagues and embodies Prism’s core values. We are very excited to welcome Hamid Samani in his new capacity as a principal.

Since Hamid joined Prism in 2019, he has provided outstanding leadership in key service areas including new construction, mechanical services for district energy, HVAC and low carbon electrification implementation. With more than 30 years of project, technical and industry experience, Hamid serves as a valued mentor to team members and is recognized by Fellow of Engineers Canada (FEC) for his outstanding contribution to the advancement of the engineering profession in our country.

“I am excited by the addition of Faisal, David and Christine to our leadership team and by the expanded role that Hamid will have. Their drive and commitment are exemplary and will enable us to build on our past successes to help our clients meet their climate and energy goals.  On behalf of the entire Prism team, we are grateful to have such passionate leaders to work alongside with.” – Robert Greenwald, President.

Read more about our leadership team here.

*Top banner photo taken at the August Prism/PUMA company meeting and lunch with about 50% of our team in attendance.

Like many organizations, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) has been making great strides in managing energy performance through various plans and initiatives over recent years.  Always looking for ways to continually improve, TRU became interested in exploring ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems).  ISO 50001 is an internationally recognized standard that provides a framework for implementing a robust and comprehensive strategic energy management (SEM) system or program.

TRU approached Prism to help explore ISO 50001 and determine what level of effort would be required to become self-compliant in the standard.  With funding support from Natural Resources Canada and program support from BC Hydro, TRU engaged Prism to help from start to finish.  To begin, Prism conducted an interactive gap analysis to determine what SEM program components were currently in place, and what gaps would need to be filled in order to comply with the standard.  The gap analysis gave insights into the work to be completed, and a list of priority areas to focus on first.  Prism is now in the early stages of supporting TRU to close these gaps and work towards full implementation of ISO 50001 by 2024.

By pursuing the ISO 50001 standard, TRU intends to make energy management an integral part of what the organization lives and breathes, including with staff, students, and faculty, all while supporting TRUs climate action goals.

Natalie Yao, TRU’s long-standing Energy Specialist has this to say about the whole process. “Prism’s experience with ISO 50001 and strategic energy management in general have made this process both engaging and a great learning experience for our team. The support offered by the Prism team provides us the confidence that we can reach our sustainability goals.”

For more information on ISO 50001 and to learn how pursuing the standard might benefit your organization, check out our webpage here or contact our ISO 50001 Service Lead, Sam Thomas, at sam@prismengineering.com

In the summer of 2021, places in B.C. broke temperature records and BC Hydro experienced 19 of its top 25 all-time summer daily peak demand records[1].

The weather caused concern for British Columbians around the availability of increased electrical supply during extreme weather events. In a survey conducted by BC Hydro, 76% of respondents said they are concerned about the reliability of their electricity supply because of climate change. [2]

While our electrical utilities are working diligently to continually increase the reliability and supply of electricity, the onus is also on us as building owners, managers, and consultants to act within the facilities we work with to be better prepared. That said, balancing electrical demand requirements with energy conservation and decarbonization goals, asset renewal, occupant comfort, safety, and climate resilience in our facilities can be a daunting task.

To help break this down into bite-size pieces, Faisal Emami, one of our Electrical Engineers, offers an approach that we apply to many of the facilities we work with at Prism.

1. Review your utility data
   ▪ Look at your historical data for demand peaks to better understand your situation. Platforms such as PUMA make this particularly easy and insightful
2. Assess your current situation
   ▪ Conduct a facility condition assessment to review the condition, capacity, and remaining asset life of your building systems. Pay particular attention to your current electrical service and identify where your bottleneck in capacity is.
3. Determine your future electrical capacity needs
   ▪ Consider future requirements for EV charging, electrification of HVAC systems, and increased cooling needs during extreme weather events.
4. Free up spare electrical capacity using demand side management (DSM)▪
   ▪ Minimize waste and maximize efficiency in your existing systems to reduce consumption and lower peak electrical demand requirements.
   ▪ Energy audits and recommissioning can be great places to start to help identify ways to do this.
5. Assess opportunities for energy supply resiliency
   ▪ Alternative power sources such as solar photovoltaics and power banks may be good options for reducing your reliance on a single point of supply.
6. Develop an implementation plan
   ▪ The plan should balance the outcomes of the previous steps with asset renewal and emissions targets.
   ▪  Develop a phased approach to upgrade your electrical service to allow for security of supply as we move into the future.
   ▪  Seek incentive funding support where available to help with studies, plans, and upgrades.

If this approach sounds like something your facilities could benefit from, reach out to us and our Electrical team will be happy to work with you to identify your needs and provide customized recommendations. Contact us to learn more.