Wendy Simmons will tell you that she got into the sustainable energy field by accident. But to hear the North Attleboro native talk about the work her firm does, it sounds like she was born to help companies save energy – and in turn, save money.
Quincy-based Prism Energy Services has performed energy audits and installed energy-saving systems at banks, hospitals and universities throughout New England. The firm was recently selected as a 2012 “Top Business” award winner by DiversityBusiness.com in recognition of its workplace diversity.
Wendy Simmons
Title: President and founder, Prism Energy Services; Quincy
Age: 50
Experience: 28 years
You say that you sort of fell into the green technology and services industry. Where did you begin that trip?
My father was an industrial engineer and he ran a million-square-foot textile mill. One day he had an energy audit performed that was funded by the state. The engineer that performed the audit was a gentleman who he got to chatting with about their children. The engineer said he was looking for an office manager. So I interviewed for that job and got it. It was an engineering firm that specialized in energy audits and designing energy-efficient mechanical systems, and I was editing their technical reports. I started to learn and it progressed to where he started using me as a project manager. We won one of the first contracts for the first utility-sponsored energy efficiency programs from then-New England Electric, now National Grid. It was primarily for energy-efficient lighting. Those services grew in that organization and I ultimately became the manager running that set of services. Then the company decided to move their offices and the commute became too much, especially since I had small children at the time. I left there and started Prism 13 years ago. We won the first program contract at the end of 1998 just after we incorporated.
What kind of platform does your company operate on?
Most of our work is done under the umbrella of utility companies. You’re given a budget to spend, and they want you to spend the whole budget giving incentives to customers. But for every dollar we give away we have to create a certain unit of energy savings. When we walk in the door of a facility, we don’t know what we’re going to find and we can’t control what we’re going to find. We could walk into one property and maybe there are no inexpensive measures for that customer to take because they’ve already implemented a lot of energy-efficient measures. So we have to dig a little bit deeper to find more complex measures to implement, but those cost more to implement. Customers sometimes like to cherry-pick the things that have a one-year payback, but want to eliminate the things that have a three-year payback. If you do them together you’d end up with a two-year payback. But with companies struggling with the economy the way it is, they might need to make a different decision. Even so, we’ve tripled the business we were doing three years ago.
What kinds of measures is your own office taking that exemplify the kinds of technology or methods you’re offering to customers?
All of the space was designed with energy-efficiency and the best practices we could afford in green practices. The carpet is made from recycled materials. A lot of the furniture is made from recycled materials. We have a lot of refurbished furniture. Our conference table was somebody else’s table … so trees didn’t need to be cut down to build us a new one. All the lighting is energy efficient. Our heating is on set-back thermostats [that switches itself on just before employees arrive in the morning and turns off after they’ve all gone home]. Virtually everything in here is on a sensor.
Is sustainability and green technology a personal passion?
[Yes, but] I’m especially passionate about the business component of it. Most of how we sell what we do is based on the financial return on investment for customers. I don’t think that’s a dirty word. You have to be able to afford your values, so to speak. It’s great to eat organic food, but it’s expensive. We help find ways to make if affordable for people. We’re reducing a lot of greenhouse gas emissions and I’m able to make a living at it, which is great.
Wendy Simmons’ Top Five Things Commercial Building Owners Should Know About Saving Energy:
It adds to the bottom line, saves resources and helps the environment for future generations.
Take advantage of utility-sponsored programs. There are tens of millions of dollars available from utility companies to underwrite commercial projects.
Take advantage of grants, rebates, financial incentives and energy efficiency tax deductions for any work performed.
Purchase electricity from a third-party provider, not from the major utility company. Shop around for the lowest price.
Understand your energy pigs –things that run long hours and/or constantly, like incandescent light bulbs, exterior lighting, domestic hot water and any equipment more than 10 years old.
