Providing high-quality education, training, and service
Education and training are keys to a strong workforce. At Spark, we take both very seriously and are committed to providing first-rate service in all that we do, with a strong emphasis on safety. In May, we were excited to announce new funding from the Government of Ontario’s Skills Development Fund that will help us continue to support employee training and advancement initiatives. At the new Spark Power Campus – our head office set to open in 2022 – we will have a state-of-the-art training facility to provide technicians with the highest level of education and mentorship so they can excel in their careers. This will not only help us strengthen and build our workforce within Ontario, but also position us to launch training programs across the communities in which we live and work in North America.
In this issue of Off the Wire, you can learn more about all that we do, and how the Spark team can meet your facility’s needs with excellence, from start to finish.
— Najlaa Rauf, Vice President of People & Culture (HR)
SAFETY MOMENT
Tips on managing heat stress
At Spark, safety is the top priority for both our customers and employees. During the summer months across North America, extreme temperatures can rise. For individuals in the field, working outdoors can mean exposure to this extreme heat. To ensure you are working safely and avoiding heat stress, drink small amounts of water every half hour – don’t wait until you are thirsty! Avoid beverages like coffee and tea and hot heavy meals. Remember that physical conditions such as weight, age, and health conditions can increase your chances of suffering from heat stress.
Heat stress can occur in two ways: heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion is when your body cannot keep blood flowing to vital organs and to the skin for cooling. Symptoms include weakness/feeling faint, headaches, breathlessness, nausea or vomiting, and difficulty continuing work.
More severely, heat stroke is a potentially deadly medical emergency where your body uses up all its water and salt, and therefore cannot cool itself any further, resulting in body temperature rising to a dangerous level. Symptoms include confusion and irrational behavior, convulsions, unconsciousness, hot/dry skin, and high body temperature — 40°C or more.
With over 35 branches across North America, Spark is in your community and ready to meet your power needs!
Our location in Raleigh, NC has a diverse range of end-to-end offerings, and has recently completed work in construction, controls and automation installation, new commercial construction, service and industrial plant work, IR scans, preventive maintenance, arc flash, co-ordination studies, and high, medium, and low voltage services.
“We have made a commitment to our customers, and to each other here at the branch, that we want to be the best electrical contractor in the Raleigh market. We try to hold each other accountable to this and make sure we enjoy ourselves along the way. This culture allows us to have fun at work while still delivering a quality install, product or service to our customers and co-workers.
We are #proudtobeSparkPower.” –
Greg Quail, Spark Power Branch Manager, Raleigh, NC
Looking for more information about this branch? Connect with us today at 984-349-5130.
GO GREEN!
Cheers to green natural gas! Distillery partners with Bullfrog Power for green energy purchase
Hiram Walker & Sons Limited, a Canadian-based distiller, has partnered with Bullfrog Power – Spark’s sustainability division – to procure green natural gas for their distillery in Windsor, ON. Their annual purchase of 80,000 GJ of green natural gas will reduce their operation’s emissions by approximately 4,000 tonnes of CO2e each year. That’s like taking 868 cars off the road!
Bullfrog Power’s green energy producers will inject renewable natural gas into the pipeline system to match the amount of conventional natural gas that Hiram Walker’s Windsor facility uses. Bullfrog’s green natural gas is sourced from methane-capture projects situated at various landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, and anaerobic digestion sites.
Check out our latest In the Field video featuring one of our BESS sites. Spark's marketing team joined Matt Stewart, Director of Operations for Energy Solutions, Andre Bigi, Renewable Energy Technician, and Kody Brant, Electrician, at a 10 MW energy storage project in Belleville, ON. While on site, the team explained what BESS is and how Spark is using this technology to help customers like you reduce electricity costs while also helping to reduce peak loads on the electrical grid.
Same great people, even more services — all under one brand.
Spark offers Automation & Controls services
We know how important streamlined processes are for reaching your productivity and performance goals. Our Automation & Controls services, including 24/7 emergency support, help maximize your facility’s efficiency by providing new equipment machine integration, continuous improvement initiatives such as legacy PLC upgrade programs and safety upgrades, data collecting and reporting solutions, energy efficiency initiatives, and more!
We’re excited to share that, in partnership with GP JOULE – a global renewable energy company – Spark has been awarded three new solar power projects in Alberta. All sites are owned by Concord Green Energy and include Monarch, a 23.6-MW site, Coaldale, a 22-MW site, and Vulcan, a 22-MW site. Spark will be providing full engineering, procurement, and construction support for the substation interconnection portions of each project, including electrical house supply and commissioning scope. We are set to begin construction in the fall of 2021, with completion of the last project in early 2022.
Connect with us today to learn more about how we can meet your power needs 1-833-775-7697.
SPARK IN THE COMMUNITY
Spark and the United Way
In May 2021, Spark Power began collaborating with the United Way to further foster relationships within the communities in which we work and live, as part of our Spark100organizational initiative. The Show Your Local Love campaign, which Spark recently participated in, was a United Way initiative aimed to inspire positivity through communities and group activities, amidst the impacts of COVID-19. Through this campaign, Spark team members wrote generic letters of hope and inspiration, which were then delivered to individuals living in isolation.
Our Spark100program is dedicated to inspiring positive, long-term social and environmental change that will better serve our employees, customers, and communities, now and over the next century. Learn more here.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Spark’s Executive Vice President, Renewables was a guest speaker at Trades Week
In May, Spark Power’s Executive Vice President, Renewables, Grayson Swan, sat down with Nour Hachem-Fawaz, Founder & President of Build a Dream to talk about what it takes for young people to spark their careers in the skilled trades.
Spark and Bullfrog Power offer solar solutions in California
Our solar offerings have expanded to include California! We’re thrilled to now offer customers in the Golden State customizable solar solutions to help lower their electricity spend, protect them from rising energy costs, and shrink their carbon footprint. Spark and our sustainability division, Bullfrog Power, will take care of everything – from engineering, construction, through to operations, and maintenance. In addition, we provide a range of financing options to manage cashflow.
Spark launched energy efficiency services across North America
We’re excited to offer energy efficiency services for your small and medium-sized businesses. This unique offering can lower your electricity costs, shrink your carbon footprint, and provide convenient, end-to-end services from assessment to implementation!
Energy efficiency projects have the potential to reduce commercial and industrial energy usage by 4-17%. Find out more about these services by contacting ayang@sparkpowercorp.com or call 1-833-775-7697.
Saving energy pays off!
With high energy demands throughout the summer months, here are some ways that energy efficiency services can help your facility with short payback periods and environmental benefits.
Do you want to learn more about out full range of Pole-to-Product™ services? Do you need a quote on a power project for your facility? Contact Spark Power today!
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