Prism News

February 2012

Sustainability Workshops at the Canadian Air Force Take Flight

Prism Engineering has been working with the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Sustainability Office to create a customized behaviour change workshop and Sustainability Toolbox to engage Sustainability Teams at Air Force Wings across the country.  The workshop is designed to train Wing Sustainability Teams in behaviour change techniques and help them plan their first energy reduction campaign.  The Sustainability Toolbox contains a collection of customized tools and techniques for facilitating effective campaigns.

Prism is delivering these customized sessions as a part of National Resource Canada’s Dollars to $ense Energy Management Workshops. 

January 2012

We Practice what we Preach.

The Prism Office is ringing in the New Year with the completion of a major lighting retrofit project.  We installed 50 high efficiency fluorescent luminaires that are individually controlled at each workstation via the user’s personal computer.   Photosensors in each zone also dim the lights to counterbalance the increase in light levels due to incoming daylight, while occupancy sensors monitor activity around the workspace to ensure lights stay on only when needed.

This upgrade is part of BC Hydro’s Advanced Energy Office Demonstration project, a new pilot program that takes a holistic approach to upgrading office spaces.  For Prism it is an opportunity demonstrate different technologies to our clients and to show our commitment to continuous improvement.

Read more about this exciting project.

December 2011

Boiler Retrofits Achieve Savings.

Environment Canada is calling for a colder than normal winter this year.  This means that the boilers and HVAC systems that heat our buildings will be working overtime to keep occupants warm. 

Prism recently completed a study of FortisBC's Efficient Boiler Program (EBP) to determine the level of savings that were achieved due to their incentive program.  The results confirmed that the boiler retrofits achieved on average 16% in savings compared to pre-retrofit energy use.  .   The energy saved in 2010 for the 135 sites that participated in the study totaled over 110,000 GJ.  That’s equal to the annual GHG emissions from 41,313 passenger vehicles.

Of course the savings percentage depended on building type, pre and post boiler efficiency, and whether or not other energy management measures were implemented along with the boiler replacement.  But the message is clear: Boiler retrofits create savings.  And with a cold winter heading our way, why not contact us about taking advantage of the incentives offered by FortisBC’s Efficient Boiler Program.

Visit FortisBC's website to read more about the study.

November 2011

Less Power More Powder - helping Whistler Blackcomb run an efficient Snowmaking Operation.

Ski season is around the corner.  And as the rest of us get our gear in order, Whistler Blackcomb is prepping their snowmaking equipment to top up snow levels.  

Supported by BC Hydro’s Monitoring, Targeting and Reporting Program, Prism Engineering has been working with Whistler Blackcomb to monitor and investigate the mountain’s snowmaking operations, find inefficiencies and provide recommendations for energy savings. 

As part of the project, Prism Engineering assisted Whistler Blackcomb with the evaluation, equipment selection and modeling of an Energy Management Information System (EMIS), which will be used to optimize the energy used for snowmaking on the mountain. 

To find out more about what Whistler Blackcomb is doing to save energy, visit their energy page. 

November 2011

Vote for Prism as Best Green Business. 

We're on the list for Small Business BC's “Successful You Award” in the Best Green Business Category. View our profile on the Small Business BC site, follow our progress on twitter and vote for us. 

October 2011

Regina Hotel installs Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) air conditioning system

Construction is underway at the Regina Inn.  The building is undergoing a substantial renovation of its mechanical services and the hotel has taken this opportunity to install a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system designed by Prism Engineering.  The new system will increases comfort for occupants, while creating a substantial reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions.   The VRF system transfers energy from rooms demanding cooling to rooms demanding heating, thereby reducing the amount of energy consumed. For the Regina Inn, which is a North – South oriented building with 240 hotel rooms, this system is expected to bring about significant energy savings. 

These systems, originally developed in Japan and widely used in Europe and Middle and Far East, are now implemented in numerous projects in Canada and proven to be effective in offices, hotels and other buildings.  Contact our office for further information about this system design and VRF systems.

September 2011

Prism Engineering is a proud sponsor of this year's BC Hydro's Power Smart Forum. 

The forum is the province's leading energy conservation conference and  will welcome delegates, speakers and industry experts from across North America to the downtown Vancouver venue in October 2011.  The focus of this year's conference is on Resilience & Adaptation: Adjusting to a Changing Climate and will feature three days of workshops, presentations and breakout sessions. 

Prism is also participating in the forum.  Robert Greenwald, President of Prism Engineering, is facilitating a full-day Natural Resources Canada Workshop on Monday October 17, Energy Conservation Demystified: Uncovering a Starting Point, for those new to energy conservation. 

Tuesday October 18, Sarah Smith, Social Marketing Program Coordinator, will discuss Social Marketing: The Untapped Energy Management Tool. 

 Wednesday October 19, Brad Wong, Energy Management Engineer at Prism, will present on DDC controls and how to Keep the "Continuous" in Continuous Optimization.

Come join us for this exciting event. 

August 2011

Top 10 Energy Audit Problems and how Prism Engineering carefully addresses each one. 

When commissioning an energy audit for your facility, it is important to know that the savings are realistic and the list of recommended measures is comprehensive.  However,  it is often the case that building owners and managers have little experience with judging the quality of the work that they are provided. 

Prism Engineering conducts an average of 50 energy audits a year.  Our highly-trained energy, electrical and mechanical engineers and technologists devote a great deal of their time and effort to conducting energy audits.  Based on a February 2011 ASHRAE article that outlines 10 common issues with energy audits, we walk you through the top 10 issues found in energy audit reports and takes a closer look at how Prism addresses these industry issues.

So when we heard that the February 2011 issue of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Journal featured an article entitled “The 10 Most Common Problems in Energy Audits,” our ears perked up. Using the framework set out by the ASHRAE article, we review these 10 industry issues and explain what Prism is doing, in each case, to ensure that our audits remain as reliable, informative, and valuable as possible.

July 2011

Prism Helps BC’s Largest Office Building Reduce Water Consumption By 60%

Park Place, a signature skyscraper on Burrard Street, stands out in Downtown Vancouver as one of the tallest and largest in the city.   Prism recently completed a multi-stage water system project which resulted in significant water usage savings.   In 2007, a thorough audit of the building's water data and systems revealed that consumption was 63% higher than average due to the use of “once through” water-cooled condensers in air conditioning units.  Prism recommended installing a closed-loop condensing water system to reduce water consumption.   When completed in 2010, the project delivered a reduction of nearly 60% from 2007 levels. Read the whole story here.

June 2011

Prism Launches New PUMA website

Prism has launched a new website dedicated to PUMA, our online utility management software. PUMA enables clients to use utility billing data to manage their energy and water consumption by establishing baselines and benchmarking consumption and emissions by sites, buildings or meters.  Clients use PUMA to track and report on savings through weather normalization, baseline adjustments, as well as cumulative sum reports on both energy and emissions. 

The new PUMA site offers an overview of the services and features provided by the monitoring software.  Visit the site and learn about how PUMA can benefit your company by helping you set and track energy reduction goals and manage your utility costs.  Read through the case studies of companies that are using the software to gain control of their energy and water consumption.  Let us answer any questions you have with our FAQ page or find out how you can contact us directly for a free demonstration of the tool. 

Take a moment to visit the site at http://www.pumautilitymonitoring.ca

May 2011

Featured in BCIT's Info/Exchange publication, a new article by Prism Engineering provides practical tips on how to take a holistic approach to energy management.

The article explores how successful energy management goes beyond simply knowing what equipment to buy and how to properly set controls.  Instead, effectively managing the energy performance of facilities requires a holistic approach to enerrgy management.  The article outlines eight key areas critical to successfully managing energy, using examples and case studies from Langara's energy management program.  Read more...

April 2011

Prism’s Energy Team members attended BC Hydro's annual Power Smart Alliance appreciation event in February 2011.  Held at the Rocky Mountaineer Train Station, the theme of this year's Alliance event was Oktoberfest, which was celebrated with German beer on-tap, Bavarian style hor d'oeuvres and plenty of live entertainers in Lederhosen polka dancing and playing traditional and not-so traditional Oktoberfest music. 

Prism has been a proud member of the BC Hydro Alliance since its inception in 2001.  The Alliance, a BC Hydro administered customer-referral program, provides prospective purchasers of energy-efficient equipment and services with a list of preferred consultants and contractors selected by BC Hydro as service and quality leaders in their fields.

March 2011

BC Hydro’s Industrial MT&R (Monitoring, Targeting & Reporting) program supports companies that want to combine a pre-assessment, workshop and opportunity assessment that together form a business case for the organization to pursue MT&R.  BC Hydro offers incentives to industrial clients who use more than 10 GWh annually who adopt an MT&R program – including 100% funding for workshops and planning, and up to $30,000 for the implementation stage. 

Whistler-Blackcomb’s snowmaking machinery comprises nearly a quarter of their annual electricity usage.  Prism is using a comprehensive approach to management of the snowmaking operation with respect to minimizing energy consumption with the BC Hydro MT&R program.

For more information on BC Hydro’s Power Smart Industrial MT&R program, click BC Hydro's Power Smart Industrial MT&R program.

February 2011

Prism undertook a project for BC Agriculture to determine the sector’s key energy efficiency needs and opportunities, as well as to develop a framework for measurement and assessment. 

By completing the BC Farm Energy Assessment (FEA) Tool for 27 farms, a total of 752,120 kWh of annual electricity savings were identified, 57,152 GJ of annual natural gas savings, and 338 GJ of annual propane and diesel savings.  This equates to a total annual cost saving of $553,230, and an annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 2,895 tons of equivalent CO₂ for the 27 farms assessed.

The BC FEA Tool will soon be made available to the agricultural industry, so that many other farms in British Columbia can identify potential energy management opportunities.

View Prism's presentation of this proejct.  For more information, read an article by Fortis BC or visit the Fortis website.

January 2011

Prism is pleased to announce that we have been selected as a pre-qualified supplier of utility data management services for British Columbia’s public sector and local governments.

BC’s Ministry of Citizens’ Services was looking for utility data management service providers to support the government’s ongoing commitment to becoming carbon-neutral and to provide organizations with resources to strengthen their energy management potential.

Prism’s utility accounting software – “Prism Utility Monitoring and Analysis” (PUMA) - includes an online interface for clients to view utility monitoring and targeting reports.  This web interface enables users to review trends regularly and to identify problem areas.

Prism will help public sector organizations and local governments establish and manage a comprehensive energy and environmental data foundation.  Prism will support these organizations through our web-based energy portal, which will track, analyze and measure cost, consumption and emission data.

For more information, click here.

October 2010

Prism has been hired by the University of the Fraser Valley to act as the Energy Manager for their Abbotsford campus. Prism’s experience in providing Energy Manager services includes programs with Air Canada, Vancity Savings Credit Union, Cadillac Fairview, and Langara College. Together with our near decade-long relationship with UFV, our experience puts us in a position where we can bring both insight and experience to the UFV Energy Manager program.

Prism offers complete energy management services, including study and implementation of energy projects, creating energy policies for companies, monitoring of energy savings results, and establishing and running complete company energy management programs.

Click here for more information.

September 2010

The Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada (BOMA Canada) launched the national version of “e-Energy Training for Building Operations”, an online course developed by Prism Engineering to teach building operators and engineers how to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in commercial and institutional buildings.

The training is offered in both French and English and begins with an overview of basic energy management principles such as metering and billing. It then teaches specific practical skills in subjects such as lighting, HVAC and controls optimization. The course also presents operators with strategies to influence building occupants’ energy consumption behaviour and tips on how to best “sell” the benefits of capital projects, such as energy retrofits to management.

Tailored specifically to meet the needs of building operators, whose work requires that they remain on-site during the day, the course requires approximately 30 hours of study, which can be spread out over several months.

July 2010

After 19 years in the same north Burnaby location, Prism has outgrown our space and has moved to the spacious and very “green” Discovery Place at 3605 Gilmore Way in central Burnaby. This state-of-the-art building clearly reflects what our company stands for. The building is designed to significantly reduce energy consumption and reduce waste and water use, and is surrounded by trees in a quiet area.

Our approach to the renovation was also in line with our values, as we reused office walls, doors, glass, cabling, carpeting and a server room. We also installed the latest in lighting technologies, such as LED downlights, dimmable T5 boardroom lights, and local switching and occupancy sensors.

May 2010

Prism is very pleased to share with you that we are celebrating our 20th anniversary this month. From the very beginning of our journey, we focussed on saving our clients energy, finding ways to improve efficiency in their buildings and operations, and changing the “energy use culture” within their organizations. Two decades later, our work of helping businesses and government lead the way to a more sustainable future has never been more relevant or important.

Our success over the years has been largely due to our dedicated team approach. We have now grown to nearly 30 employees that come together on individual projects to create the synergies that produce results for our clients. We have worked hard to create the open atmosphere of learning, communication and support that permeates our corporate culture. “Thank you” to all our employees, past and present, for being such an integral part of Prism’s 20-year journey.