Technology and Trends
in Energy Management
for BuildingsRobert Greenwald, P.Eng., MBA
CEP Member Webinar – November 18, 2020
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Session Agenda
1. Introduction to Prism Engineering
2. Holistic Energy Management
• Projects
• Programs
• People
3. Climate Change
• Mitigation
• Adaptation
Introduction
• About Prism Engineering Limited
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We operate in the following sectors:
• Commercial buildings, including retail and hospitality
• Institutional and government facilities
• Multi-unit residential buildings
• Industrial and agricultural operations
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Who We Are
From design to implementation, we provide
energy management, electrical and mechanical
engineering, utility monitoring and sustainability
consulting to help our clients create a greener,
more energy efficient world.
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Our Team
Pre-COVID picture!
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Our Core Values
Impact
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People
Our people are our most
important asset. We foster
an engaging, collaborative
and supportive workplace.
Relationships
We build trust by
understanding our clients’
needs, communicating with
them effectively and
building strong
relationships.
Quality
We deliver effective
solutions that provide value
for our clients.
Improvement
We are committed
to continuous improvement.
We invest in our people,
systems and tools to become
better at everything we do.
Integrity
We run our business with
integrity. We act honestly
and ethically.
We have a part to play in
creating a more energy
efficient and sustainable
world.
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Prism Differentiators
• Depth and breadth of experience and expertise
• Diversity of team members
• Accuracy, quality and reputation of work
• Unique innovative solutions
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We work
with great
people.
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Energy Management Software
PUMA is Prism Utility Monitoring & AnalysisSoftware as a service.
Your utility bills–consumption and cost–consolidated
in one place.
Based on your historicalconsumption and weather,
we predict if your consumption is high or low.
Holistic Energy ManagementProjects
Programs
People
Projects: Improving Building
Energy Performance
1. Building HVAC Controls
2. Chilled Water Plants
3. Heating Plants
4. LED Lighting
5. The Building Envelope
6. Fuel Switching
7. Deep Carbon Retrofits
8. Contracting Issues
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Building HVAC Controls
1
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Match the Need with DDC
(Direct Digital Controls)
• Schedules
• Setpoints
• Sequences
• Operations and
Maintenance Practices
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Recommissioning (RCx) or
Retro-commissioning
Overtime, buildings
need to be reassessed
for:
• Operation
• Efficiency
30-50 Year Building Life Cycle
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DDC System Concept Design District of North Vancouver
• Reviewed the Building Automation Systems in
20 facilities
• Site-specific recommendations were made
• Results: sites were upgraded based on priority
to increase energy efficiency and occupant
comfort; a central system was developed to
facilitate access to the various DDC systems
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Chilled WaterPlant Upgrades
2
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Kootenay Boundary
Regional Hospital
Old New
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Inefficient absorption chiller,
multiple chilled water plants
operating at low loads & efficiency
Efficient variable speed chiller, piping
to connect 3 plants, convert to
variable flow, efficient controls-
Upgrade Cost: $840,000
Energy Savings: $50,000 per year
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Chiller UpgradeNew Gold Afton Mine
• Replacing existing air-cooled chillers with
two 300-ton water cooled chillers using
existing fresh water for the chillers
condenser loop
• Anticipated annual demand saving of 173
KVA and electrical saving of 1.47MWh Site Plan
Mill BuildingExisting Air-Cooled Chillers
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Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Upgrade
• Retrofit existing HVAC
system with air or water
source VRF fan coil system
• Use boiler and chiller
for peak heating and
cooling loads
• Energy Recovery Ventilation
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Heating Plant Upgrades
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Boiler UpgradesCity of Nanaimo - Beban Park Pool
• Originally engaged to prepare
Energy Study. Implementation of
Hybrid heating plant completed
in January 2019.
• Scope of work grew to include
the implementation of heating
plant upgrades.
• Reduced gas costs by $68k/year and
fuel use and GHG emissions by 42%
• Upgrades included: high efficiency
boilers, Dual temperature return, VSD
pumps, DHW heat exchanger, air to air
heat recovery, controls
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Boiler UpgradesCity of Trail – Memorial Centre
• Before:
– 2 x 1670 MBH atmospheric
boilers for heating and
Domestic Hot Water (DHW)
• After:
– Replaced 1 boiler with 1800
MBH dual return port
condensing boiler
– Offset boiler load by heat
recovery from ammonia ice
plant for DHW pre-heat
– Re-configured heating plant
piping and controls
Savings: 1,980 GJ/year (31%) or
$19,500/year
Rebate: $68,600
Cost before rebate, including
engineering: $300,000
Existing plant
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LED Lighting and Controls Upgrades
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Prism Office Expansion
• > 50% reduction in lighting energy use
• Reduced to 0.2 W/ft2 or 2.1 W/m2
• incorporated LED, daylighting, occupancy and user controls
Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total
Savings kWh 5,685 4,972 5,925 6,026 6,329 6,444 35,000
% 54.6 52.2 53.7 55.7 50.0 48.3 52%
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Vancouver Convention CentreExhibition Halls
335 kW 193 kW Power 42% Reduction
1,100,000 kWh 500,000 kWh Energy 51% Reduction
Upgrade Cost: $900,000 Energy Savings: $100,000/year 9-year payback
Old New
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Award Winning Lighting Projects
2019
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Lighting Control Systems
*Courtesy of Lutron Canada
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5
Building EnvelopeUpgrades
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Deep Energy RetrofitsGovernment of Canada
• Low Carbon Studies
• Challenge the status quo
in existing buildings
• Federal government
leading the way
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Air Tightness Thermography
Windows & Doors
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Retrofit Opportunities
External Insulation
Windows >
< Roof
< Walls
Air Tightness
Photographs courtesy of RDH Building Science
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Fuel Switching and
Energy Supply
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CO2 Heat Pump for DHW
• Heat from outdoor air
• Environmentally friendly
refrigerant
• Split system (air to water)
• Direct exchange (refrigerant
line runs from tank to
outdoors)
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Photovoltaic
• 35% of annual electrical
consumption displaced
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ElectrificationMarine Electrification Study
• BC Ferries purchased two hybrid Diesel-Electric ferries
• Our study analyzed options for charging the hybrid battery
with BC Hydro shore power when docked
• Review, research and analysis related to:
– existing service capacities at each terminal and associated limitations;
– hybrid ships power consumption profile and associated opportunities;
– shore power upgrade requirements;
– shore ship connection opportunities; and
– business case of various options for BC Ferries.
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Deep Carbon Retrofits
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Deep Carbon Retrofits
A deep carbon retrofit (DCR) maximizes
energy efficiency and significantly reduces
greenhouse gas and carbon emissions
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How do different studies compare?
Characteristic Energy Study Deep Energy Retrofit Study Deep Carbon Retrofit Study
Measures to minimize waste ✔ ✔ ✔
Measures to maximize efficiency ✔ ✔ ✔
No-cost / Low-cost measures ✔ Limited focus Limited focus
Measure investment criteria ROI / Simple payback ROI / Life cycle cost ROI / Life cycle
& environmental impact
Investment outlook Short – Medium Medium – Long Long
Climate impact focus Low Low/Med High
Energy resiliency N/A ✔ ✔
Example measures Identify Measures
• Controls
improvements - Boiler
upgrades
• VFDs on pumps/fans
• Lighting upgrades
• Heat recovery
Energy Study Plus:
• PV
• HVAC Redesign
• Envelope upgrades
DER Plus:
• Fuel
switching/Electrification
• Heat pumps
Co-generation
• Heat recovery chillers
• On-site generation
• Biomass heating
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DCR Study - Sample Scope of Work:
Levels of Analysis
1. Typical Retrofit – retrofit opportunities for the
relevant systems with a positive NPV
2. Maximum energy/GHG savings –maximum
possible savings that will approach net zero energy
and net zero carbon
3. Custom and optimized solution – a balanced
approach with a positive NPV that provides best
ROI while meeting carbon reduction objectives
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DCR – Stakeholder engagement
workshops
CASE STUDIES PESC
LANGARA COLLEGE
KITS CC
Pacific Environmental
Science Centre
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• Energy-intensive lab equipment
• Support needed to reach energy
efficiency goals
Challenges
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• Replace hydronic heating boilers with
dual return condensing boilers
• Upgrade domestic hot water heating
with new condensing water heaters
• Hydronic system and HVAC upgrades
for optimizing efficiency
Solutions
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Solutions
• An automated controls strategy
• Chiller system upgrade to implement
air sourced heat pump system
• Purchase of locally generate Renewable
Natural Gas to offset remaining fuel use
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0
20
40
60
80
100
2016/17
(Baseline)2018/19
(Active) 2020/21
(Projected)
Project Outcomes
• Outcome: combined project savings of 33%
in natural gas in 2018/19 and planned 46% in 2020.
This was offset by the purchase of RNG.Natural Gas Use
100%
67%
54%
Pe
rce
nta
ge
of
Ba
seli
ne
Langara College
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Challenge: A Growing Campus
• Over 40% growth since 2007
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Building A
• Constructed in 1969
• 268,000 ft2 (more than 50% of campus
before Building T built)
• Comprised of lecture halls, classrooms,
faculty offices, cafeteria and art studio
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Building A - Focus for Deep Retrofit
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Solutions
• Constant volume reheat system to variable
air volume system (coils to 140 VAV boxes)
• Reduces air flow to unoccupied or partially
occupied zones using carbon dioxide sensors
• Replace and upgrade existing
air handling units
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Design Considerations
• ASHRAE 62.1
– Minimize O/A requirements
• ASHRAE 90.1
– Demand Control Ventilation
– Variable Flow
• Future Considerations
– Low Temperature Design
– Classroom Upgrades
– Lab Space Renovations
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• “Fan wall” technology; upgrade controls;
pumps; valves and piping
Project Scope – innovation
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Project outcome: initial retrofit results
indicate carbon reductions exceeding 50%
Kitsilano Community
Centre and Arena
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Site Plan
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• Community center constructed
1950, 34,000 ft2
• Arena constructed 1975, 40,000 ft2
Low Emissions Retrofit Strategy:
• Add heat recovery to ice rink
• Gas boiler to heat recovery
heat pump conversion
• Conversion of heating distribution
from high temperature to
moderate temperature
• Snowmelt using heat recovery
waste heat
Project Summary
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Innovative Heat Recovery System
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Results
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ContractingIssues
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Project Lifecycle Costs
Energy Study, 0.5%Detailed Design, 2.4%
Construction , 19.2%
Energy , 71.9%
Operations & Maintenance , 6.0%
• Heating plant upgrade
• 25 year lifecycle
• $450k construction costs
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Contract Forms
• Canadian Construction Document Committee (CCDC)
– Develops standard form documents
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Contract Delivery Method
• Standard Contact types:
– Design-Bid-Build
– Cost Plus
– Unit Price
– Design-Build / Operate
– Design-Build-Operate-Finance
– Construction Management
Programs
1. Net Zero
2. Benchmarking
3. BOMA Best
4. LEED
5. PassivHaus
6. Demand Response
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What is Net Zero?
“An energy-efficient building where,
on a source energy basis, the actual
annual delivered energy is less than
or equal to the on-site renewable
exported energy.”
Also applies to campuses, portfolios, and communities.
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Net Zero Energy & Carbon
Buildings make up about
30% of global energy and GHG emissions
Net Zero Energy
A building that produces as much
energy as it consumes, over 12
months, in terms of on-site usage
Net Zero Carbon
A building that has a net zero
emission of GHGs into the
atmosphere, over 12 months,
related to the source of energy
used on-site
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How to Get to Net Zero
Reduce first
• reduce waste
• improve efficiency
• deep retrofit or new
construction
Generate on-site
energy
Purchase offsets and
renewable energy
credits for remainder
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New Construction –
BC Building Code
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BOMA Canada’s
Net Zero Challenge
• Developed in response to NRCan’s call for
a national challenge to recognize high-
performance design and operation of
buildings
• Recognize and celebrate buildings on path
to Net Zero Energy and Net Zero Carbon,
facilitating the path for others to follow
• 3 Categories: Best in Class;
Most Improved; Innovation
• Launched in 2018; inaugural awards
at Calgary BOMEX
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Winners 2020
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National Benchmarking
• K-12 Schools
• Commercial office
buildings
• Hospitals
• Supermarkets and
food stores
• Medical offices
• Senior care and residential
care facilities
• Ice/curling rink
• Municipal buildings
Score of 75 or more indicates
top performance
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PUMA Benchmarking
View at: pumautilitymonitoring.ca/news#Oct2020
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BOMA BEST
• Programs such as BOMA BEST help owners
certify their performance.
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LEED EBOM Recertification
• Work with clients closely to obtain
LEED certification or recertification
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PassivHaus
Photo courtesy of phlus.org
The most rigorous voluntary energy-based standard
in the design and construction industry today
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Demand Response (DR)http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Future_of_Electricity_2017.pdf
Definition: an electricity grid investment or project that uses non-traditional
transmission and distribution solutions
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Demand Response ExampleALC – Global Temperature Adjustment
• The DDC increases the heating / cooling dead band
based on a call by the utility (3 levels of DR)
• The HVAC equipment is unloaded, reducing demand
Prism is leading a pilot of 5 buildings in Vancouver
for BC Hydro (October 2020 to March 2021)
People
1. BOMA e-Energy Training
2. Energy Wise Network
3. Sustainability Engagement 7-Step
Campaign Planning Model
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BOMA e-Energy Training for
Building Operations
• Helps building operators,
engineers and facility
managers identify energy
reduction opportunities
and engage stakeholders in
saving energy
• Delivered online in a self-
learning format, accessible
wherever there is an internet
connection
• 11 modules to choose from
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Provincial Coaching & Mentorship Energy Wise Network
• Partnership with BC Hydro and FortisBC to develop and lead
training for a cohort of 40 organizations from across BC
• Participants benefit from peer learning, professional training
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Energy Wise Network Program
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7 Step Campaign Planning
Engage stakeholders
Investigate and interview
Select the behavior
Select the strategy and measurement
Finalize campaign plan
Implement
Evaluate, celebrate, and report back
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Office Doctors Campaign
2.6% Energy Savings
http://www.prismengineering.com/sites/default/files/upload/BCIT-Office-Doctors-Campaign-White-Paper.pdf
Climate Change
1. Mitigation
2. Adaptation
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Why this topic matters
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The impact on buildings:
services
• Severe climate events, impose risks on the
infrastructure services
Risks may not be directly on the facility, but may
still impact the facility services:
energy supply | road access | clean water supply
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The impact on buildings: comfort and safety
• Occupants comfort and safety
(staff, students, tenants, …)
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The impact on buildings: business continuity
• Service provider accountability and revenue
– private sector office landlord
– insurance costs
– etc.
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Mitigation
In context of buildings:
Mitigation involves
modification of building
systems to reduce the
building’s environmental
impact by lowering energy
and water use
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Adaptation
In context of buildings:
Adaptation involves
modification of building
systems to address
vulnerability to climate
change by improving
infrastructure resilience
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Mitigation & Adaptation Interrelation
Adapted from Cohen and Waddell, 2009
LOW CARBON RESILIENCYADAPTATION
MIT
IGA
TIO
N
Vu
lne
rab
ility
re
du
ced
Vu
lne
rab
ility
incr
ea
sedEmissions increased Emissions reduced
Sustainable win-win
Unsustainable
Adaptive emissions
New Vulnerabilities
• Air conditioning
• Energy hog building • Expanded reliance
on hydropower
• On-site Renewables
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Low Carbon Resiliency
• Reduced
energy demand
• Controls
• Heat recovery
• Fuel source
diversity
• Passive options
• Renewable options
• Etc.
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Where to get started
Lay of the land
• Identify your critical buildings
– any that are used in emergency services?
• Identify key stakeholders within your organization
– asset planning
– risk management
– operations
• Start with a training if needed
– shared language
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High level assessment All facilities Case Study
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Detailed assessment One location Case Study
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Detailed assessment
Over 150 components in areas of Mechanical, Electrical, Enclosure, Structural,
Civil and Water service were assessed in the project.
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Adaptation retrofit examples
• Install sensor to bring elevator above flood level
• Indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring
– Forest fires, Extreme heat
• Incorporate passive cooling
– window film, shading
• Incorporate self sufficiency
– on-site energy generation/storage,
heat recovery, water filtration
• Move critical equipment and documentation
above flood level
• Back up documentation off-site
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Review
1. Introduction to Prism Engineering
2. Holistic Energy Management
• Projects
• Programs
• People
3. Climate Change
• Mitigation
• Adaptation
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Thank you.
Robert Greenwald, P.Eng., MBA, President
www.prismengineering.com
@Prism_Eng
@Prism Engineering