We’re losing two bright lights to retirement…Isaac Prashad and Henry Gomolka. Between them, they have helped UHN save a gazillion gigjoules of energy and a few olympic swimming pools worth of water. On the one hand, we’re happy for them… they get to kick back, unwind, and enjoy their free time after many years of service. On the other hand, they’re leaving very large shoes (with very tiny carbon footprints) to fill.
Henry Gomolka and his wife enjoy his retirement party. Image credit: Chad Berndt
Henry Gomolka and his wife enjoy his retirement party. Image credit: Chad Berndt

According to  Ed,  Henry has been our lighting guru since the beginning of time. He led the way (lit the way?) in the early 2000s with the Encelium lighting control system installed in the R. Fraser Elliot building at Toronto General Hospital. This won UHN a national award from National Resources Canada, and our undying respect.  More recently, he’s helped us with installing LEDs (finding them, installing tests, monitoring, results and then installing for real).  Not only did the LEDs save a lot of energy, they gave a better quality and quantity of light. Our ultrasound techs said they could read their scans better with LED lighting…proof that these little things can affect patient care. Henry also worked on localized controls, sensors and countless other ways that made Toronto General a brighter yet more efficient place.
Isaac Prashad retires from TWH. Image credit: Scott Patterson
Isaac Prashad (left) retires from TWH. Songyang Hu hands him an LED – always a nice present. Image credit: Scott Patterson

Isaac has been a champion for all things energy since the early Jurassic period.  It’s with his support that we kicked off TLC at Toronto Western Hospital in 2007 and then used its success to launch it at the other sites.  Since then, Isaac has really shown how the Energy & Environment Department (that’s us here on the blog) can work together with the Facilities Department, particularly around retro-commissioning (“Retro-commissioning” means to improve how a building’s equipment and systems work together, fixing problems from way back during design/construction, or issues that developed over time … it has nothing to do with putting on your old bellbottoms and firing up the lavalamp like it’s 1979, though please do that and send pictures).  

Let’s not forget Isaac’s wonderful work with water that earned Toronto Western Hospital the Proof Not Promises Leadership Award from GE. A new water treatment program for the cooling towers reduced water use by more than 16,000 litres a year and maintenance costs for the cooling towers by $18,000 per year! It’s no surprise that Toronto Western Hospital is the sole site to meet its Operation TLC targets for 2013/14.

So raise a glass of your best local-organic bubbly beverage of choice and toast our two friends from facilities. Henry and Isaac, you will be missed but not forgotten. You’ve started something and we’ll try to follow in your footsteps. Enjoy your retirement! You’ve earned the rest.