Caroline Reid is a Senior Energy Engineer for Rede Energy Solutions
The job of an energy manager can sound very straightforward.
“The basis of being an energy manager is to reduce energy costs,” says Caroline Reid, an energy manager for the Interior Health Authority in British Columbia and Senior Energy Engineer with Rede Energy Solutions.
“That is what everything is based around.”
When it comes to the daily tasks of an energy manager, the answer is not so succinct.
Energy managers use a variety of approaches to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency. Whether through infrastructure projects, campaigns with staff and building occupants, or developing new policies and strategic plans, the energy manager’s toolkit is vast. And the complexity all depends on the size and approach of the organization.
This unique role offers direct benefits to an organization’s utility costs. Energy managers work alongside building operators, and they add extra technical support, analysis and time to ensure projects have the positive results that were expected.
“We can figure out what the savings will be and can verify the savings once it is finished.”
Monitoring, tracking and analysis is a key part of an energy manager’s duties.
“You need to know where you came from, you need to where you are right now and you need to know where you are going.”
From there, energy managers facilitate positive relationships between operators and stakeholders. They are an asset for operators and facilities staff, and energy managers “help them with the work they are already working on.”
Reid is a mechanical engineer and has a background in building systems and operations. Her experience is invaluable as an energy manager, but she finds her primary role now is to be a bridge between all stakeholders.
“Communication is the number one piece that an energy manager needs. We are facilitators. We enable a lot of things,” said Reid.
“If you don’t have open lines of communication, it is hard to make real change in an organization.”