The Energy Manager's Playbook

With a key energy milestone approaching, the Town of Ajax needs a bold plan to engage staff and get those last savings to achieve their goal. Will introducing some competition be enough?

In this episode, Supri Vaithianathan, Energy and Sustainability Coordinator at the Town of Ajax, shares how the Town worked to make energy management more visible and get people excited about saving energy across its municipal buildings.

If you would like to share your energy management story, or have any feedback or suggestions about the podcast, reach out to us at [email protected] 

Links and resources discussed in this episode:

Town of Ajax Battle of the Buildings
https://ajax.ca/news-notices/battle-of-the-buildings-returns-for-a-second-year-to-help-power-a-more-sustainable-ajax/)

Town of Ajax Battle of the Buildings results
https://ajax.ca/news-notices/toas-energy-saving-initiative-battle-of-the-buildings-achieves-savings-of-over-116000-kwh/ 

Strategic Energy Management (SEM)
https://saveonenergy.ca/For-Business-and-Industry/Programs-and-incentives/Expanded-energy-management-program

For more resources to help you on your energy management journey, please visit
https://saveonenergy.ca/Training-and-Support

At a fast-paced manufacturing facility, a strong leader is needed to set priorities and keep energy 
management efforts on track. But with so many responsibilities and competing priorities, how will they find the time needed to focus on energy efficiency?

In this episode, Joel Bamsey, General Manager at Cemtol Manufacturing (part of Linamar Corporation), builds on our previous episode and shares how the actions of their energy champion helped him fulfill his role as the energy management executive sponsor.

If you would like to share your energy management story, or have any feedback or suggestions about the podcast, reach out to us at [email protected] 

Links and resources discussed in this episode:

Strategic Energy Management (SEM)
https://saveonenergy.ca/For-Business-and-Industry/Programs-and-incentives/Expanded-energy-management-program

Save on Energy programs and incentives
https://saveonenergy.ca/For-Business-and-Industry/Programs-and-incentives

Save on Energy 2025 Energy Management Excellence Awards
https://saveonenergy.ca/For-Business-and-Industry/Programs-and-incentives/Energy-Management-Excellence-Awards

For more resources to help you on your energy management journey, please visit:
https://saveonenergy.ca/Training-and-Suppor

The Energy Manager’s Playbook is back for Season Two!

Presented by the IESO through its Save on Energy brand and hosted by energy management expert Jay Mullin, this season brings a fresh lineup of bite-sized episodes spotlighting compelling stories and real-world experiences from Ontario’s energy management community.

From industrial facilities and commercial buildings to municipalities and major institutions, we dive straight into the practical realities of energy professionals on the front lines. Through candid conversations, expert insights and good-news success stories, we explore how energy leaders are overcoming obstacles, securing leadership buy-in and driving real organizational change. Whether you need field-tested strategies or fresh inspiration, this podcast delivers the tools and community connection to make your job easier and less isolating.

Hit subscribe so you never miss an episode when Season Two drops.

Got a story to share or feedback on the show? Reach out at [email protected] or visit https://www.saveonenergy.ca/Training-and-Support

How do energy managers make progress without authority? They play a key role in driving energy 
performance but are not typically in a position to set organizational priorities, assign resources, or hold people accountable. 

In this episode, Emily Dabrowski, EHS Coordinator and Energy Manager at Cemtol Manufacturing, part of Linamar Corporation, shares how the General Manager took on the role of "Executive Sponsor" to help her achieve results.

This story continues in the next episode with Joel Bamsey, who shares the executive sponsor’s side of keeping energy work moving.

If you would like to share your energy management story, or have any feedback or suggestions about the podcast, reach out to us at [email protected] 

Links and resources discussed in this episode:
Save on Energy’s Strategic Energy Management Program (SEM)
https://saveonenergy.ca/For-Business-and-Industry/Programs-and-incentives/Expanded-energymanagement-program

Save on Energy programs and incentives
https://saveonenergy.ca/For-Business-and-Industry/Programs-and-incentives

Save on Energy 2025 Energy Management Excellence Awards
https://saveonenergy.ca/For-Business-and-Industry/Programs-and-incentives/Energy-ManagementExcellence-Awards

For more resources to help you on your energy management journey, please visit
https://saveonenergy.ca/Training-and-Support

Matthew is part of George Brown College’s sustainability team.  The college is in the early stages strengthening energy management efforts across its diverse campuses as part of their broader sustainability plan.   He and the sustainability team will need to build on existing operational strengths, creating shared data systems, partnerships and recognition to bring people from across the organization on-board with a new, more efficient, way of doing things. 
 
We would love to hear your feedback about the podcast, the challenges you’re facing, or the successes you’ve had. Please reach out to us at [email protected]. 

For more resources to help you on your energy management journey, please visit https://saveonenergy.ca/Training-and-Support. 

George Brown Vision 2030, Strategy 2026
https://www.georgebrown.ca/about/strategy-2026 

Save on Energy: Existing Building Commissioning Program
https://saveonenergy.ca/en/For-Business-and-Industry/Programs-and-incentives/Existing-Building-Commissioning-Program

BOMA Enspire
https://bomaenspire.ca

Canadian Institute for Energy Training (CIET)
https://cietcanada.com/

Green Will Initiative
https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/net-zero-homes-buildings/better-buildings-partnership/green-will-initiative/

Capacity Buyback Program
https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-envi

Reliable energy and utility data are essential for any organization that wants to manage energy use, track results and plan with confidence. At The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), years of work to reduce energy consumption and improve energy efficiency had delivered results, but a patchwork of meters and submeters installed over time meant that data gaps and inconsistencies were starting to limit what the campus could do next. Edward Newton is hired as an energy manager to help sort out this situation and turn that scattered metering system into a reliable foundation for the university’s energy management efforts. 

We would love to hear your feedback about the podcast, the challenges you’re facing, or the successes you’ve had. Please reach out to us at [email protected]. 

For more resources to help you on your energy management journey, please visit https://saveonenergy.ca/Training-and-Support. 

Links and resources discussed in this episode:
The University of Toronto Mississauga Climate Positive Document 
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/green/home/climate-positive

Existing Building Commissioning program https://saveonenergy.ca/en/For-Business-and-Industry/Programs-and-incentives/Existing-Building-Commissioning-Program

In this episode we present the complete recordings of the panel discussions that took place at the 2025 Energy Management Excellence Awards. The first panel focuses on the Order of operations for electrification: Prioritizing operational improvements, efficiency upgrades and efficient electrification, moderated by Michael Oriahi from the IESO and featuring Nicholas Dumoulin from Dream, Graham Timperon from Algonquin College and Allan Dai from The Hospital for Sick Children. The second panel focuses on What they don’t teach you in school: Ensuring energy managers have the right skills moderated by Aja Staples from the IESO and featuring Tony Campbell from Landmark Cinemas and Emily Dabrowski from Cemtol Manufacturing (part of Linamar).

Watch videos of the 2025 EMEA winners on the IESO website to learn more about their achievements.

If you are interested in learning more about the Save on Energy programs mentioned in this episode check out the Retrofit Program, Existing Building Recommissioning Program, Expanded Energy Management Program, and others.

If you are working in Ontario to improve your organization’s energy management practices, register for Save on Energy’s Energy Management Community of Practice to receive updates and connect with peers.

We would love to hear your feedback about the podcast, the challenges you are facing or the successes you have had. Please reach out to us at [email protected].

In this episode, host Jay Mullin speaks with Tam Wagner, the Director of Demand Side Management at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to share practical takeaways from the 2025 Energy Management Excellence Awards (EMEAs). They explore how award-winning teams sequence efficiency, optimization and efficient electrification, align energy goals with safety and production, and keep reviews simple so local teams can lead. They also highlight the importance of soft skills alongside technical expertise, where programs like Strategic Energy Management, Existing Building Commissioning and Retrofit provided momentum, and how the EMEAs are helping energy management gain a higher profile across organizations.

Watch video of the 2025 EMEA winners on the IESO website to learn more about their achievements.

If you are interested in learning more about the Save on Energy programs mentioned in this episode check out the Retrofit Program, Existing Building Recommissioning Program, Expanded Energy Management Program, and others.

If you are working in Ontario to improve your organization’s energy management practices, register for Save on Energy’s Energy Management Community of Practice to receive updates and connect with peers.

We would love to hear your feedback about the podcast, the challenges you are facing or the successes you have had. Please reach out to us at [email protected].

In this episode, Allison shares how she and her colleagues at Votorantim Cimentos are transforming energy management into a shared mission that’s reshaping daily operations. What started with a backlog of 500+ energy-saving opportunities at two cement plants became the catalyst for a broader cultural shift, one that empowers plant teams to take ownership of their energy performance. By aligning energy goals with safety and production, streamlining reviews, and providing just enough guidance, Allison helped build a framework that gives local teams the confidence and tools to lead. The successful model is now being expanded to additional facilities and operations across the region, bringing lasting results and renewed momentum to the entire organization.  

We would love to hear your feedback about the podcast, the challenges you’re facing, or the successes you’ve had. Please reach out to us at [email protected]. 

For more resources to help you on your energy management journey, please visit https://saveonenergy.ca/Training-and-Support.

In this episode, Behzad shares how his transition from plant-level energy manager to a corporate sustainability role at Maple Leaf Foods is helping the company bring greater alignment and momentum to its energy goals. Drawing on his hands-on experience, Behzad emphasizes the value of site-specific targets, practical support tools and direct relationships with facility teams. Rather than managing from a distance, he collaborates closely with plants to tailor goals, build trust, and empower local teams. His story shows how on-the-ground experience provides a strong foundation but needs to be complemented with new skills and new approaches to create a system where every facility contributes meaningfully to sustainability goals. This episode illustrates how building strong connections and adapting strategies to fit plant-level realities can lead to lasting, company-wide energy performance improvements. 

We would love to hear your feedback about the podcast, the challenges you’re facing, or the successes you’ve had. Please reach out to us at [email protected]. 
For more resources to help you on your energy management journey, please visit https://saveonenergy.ca/Training-and-Support.