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Spotlight on Jana Jamnicky – 2019 Energy Manager of the Year

September 7, 2021 – “For large organizations, a dedicated energy manager is one of the best hires you can make,” says the IESO’s Carrie Aloussis, Senior Manager, Business Strategy and Content, adding that its Energy Manager program is the largest of its kind in North America, helping to save energy and drive Ontario’s competitiveness.

One of those dedicated energy managers is Jana Jamnicky of Cameco, one of five 2019 Energy Manager award recipients.

Working with the IESO’s Save on Energy team, Energy Manager Canada interviewed Jana to learn how she became an energy manager in the first place, to discuss her successes, and to understand the importance of energy managers and proactive energy management to any organization.

PART 1 of 5: Jana Jamnicky, Save on Energy – CIPEC Industrial Sector Energy Manager of the Year

Meet Jana, who helped Cameco save over $250,000 a year in electricity costs, and has been a driving force in making energy efficiency a point of pride for all employees at Cameco.

Energy Manager Canada: How did you get into the field of energy management and/or how did you become an energy manager in your organization?

JANA: During my time at Western Mining Corp. [now BHP] in Australia, I worked with a team of business analysts to develop an energy consumption model for the mine site. This model provided a tool for understanding when, where and how much electricity was being used, as well as for forecasting and budgeting purposes.

Since then, I developed a passion for energy management and, when the opportunity presented itself to join the team at Cameco’s Port Hope Conversion Facility, I became the facility’s energy manager.

Energy Manager Canada: What excites you the most about the work you do in your organization?

JANA: Clean energy is the heart of Cameco. We’re the world’s largest uranium producer. Our Port Hope Conversion Facility provides the uranium used in Ontario’s nuclear generating stations, which produce 60% of all electricity in Ontario. All of our employees are committed to providing reliable and clean energy, so we also make every effort to reduce our own energy consumption.

For me, that’s why investing in an energy manager is so important. The current average cost of electricity in Ontario is $0.13 per kWh, or $130 per month, assuming an average monthly usage of 1,000 kWh. Imagine the cost of powering a facility like Port Hope Conversion!

Since 2013, this facility has been part of the IESO’s Save on Energy program, through which we’ve saved approximately 2,000 MWh of electricity annually… enough to power 150 houses for a year.

Energy Manager Canada: What is a “win” (or some “wins”) of which you are really proud?

JANA: Our approach to energy conservation is very comprehensive, ranging from energy data and supply management to behavioural programs. But a big reason we can make this all happen is that we have a philosophy in which every employee is an energy manager!

We know our employees play a direct, active role in how we use energy, so we involve them in our energy-efficiency efforts wherever we can. We created an initiative to encourage behavioural and other changes, like shutting down equipment, fixing air and steam leaks, turning machinery off or down during weekends or shutdowns, fine-tuning equipment to be more efficient, installing LED exterior and interior lights, turning down variable-frequency drives during idle times, replacing old HVAC units, implementing several capital projects, and many more.

These changes resulted in a significant reduction of electricity and/or natural gas consumption. We have also implemented a Lean Six Sigma program to reduce waste throughout the plant across different processes.

Energy Manager Canada: How did the support services provided to energy managers by Save on Energy help you to succeed at your organization?

JANA: The Energy Manager Support Services have helped me enhance and develop my skills through the specialized training and tools, such as coaching, it provides to energy managers. I was also able to earn my Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Measurement & Verification Professional (CMVP) designations by taking the necessary certification courses, which are subsidized by Save on Energy.

Energy Manager Canada: Why is it important for organizations to have people like you?

JANA: Having an Energy Management Program is important for organizations because energy conservation is becoming part of our culture. The energy manager, in the meantime, helps ensure every employee understands and actively contributes to energy efficiency, because their engagement is as much a priority as our corporate investments.

Energy managers = project success

“Energy managers have the strategic and technical expertise to recommend the energy-saving equipment and technologies that are right for your business,” added Carrie Aloussis. “They also have the skills to implement an energy management strategy for your business that supports project success and benefits a company’s bottom line.”

Learn more about the other 2019 Energy Manager award recipients:

• Benjamin Ratcliffe of the Peel District School Board

• Olga Horolskaya of Canadian Tire Corp.

• Rod Michalko of Dunn Paper

• Cristina Guido of the Town of Caledon