Meet Our EIP Team: Ian Pointer, Energy Engineer

Each EIPer brings a unique background, experience, and story to our organization. In our new blog series, we’re shining a spotlight on the people behind the scenes, who make EIP a trusted partner in this industry.

In the first employee Q&A, you’ll get to learn more about EIP Energy Engineer, Ian Pointer. Ian is a two-time Syracuse University graduate, with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Engineering Management. Ian has a wide breadth of experience across the energy industry, from conducting energy audits for small- and medium-sized manufacturers in New York State to helping companies achieve ENERGY STAR certification, supporting local and state energy mandate compliance, and assisting customers with utility incentives and rebates.

How would you explain your role at EIP to someone who knows nothing about energy programs?

My work revolves around reducing energy use in a variety of facilities, mostly industrial and manufacturing facilities. I tour these buildings and find opportunities to increase the energy efficiency of their processes, whether that’s through equipment replacement or changes to equipment control systems.

Once the tour is over, I take my findings from the site visit and then do energy-saving calculations to determine a more precise measurement of how much energy could potentially be saved.

What customer challenge does your work help solve?

There are a lot of customers who our services because they know that there are energy inefficiencies in their facility but may not have the technical knowledge to do anything about it.

My program is very forgiving in that it is free for the customer, and there is no requirement for them to implement the measures that I recommend. It is important that the customers who request our services are enthusiastic about energy-saving measures and bring other leaders in the organization on board so actual changes can be made.

What part of your personality helps you do this work well?

I’ve always thought that I had a good listening ability. Every time we go on site, I try to have the customer do as much talking as possible. With regard to their facility, I don’t know what I don’t know. If they keep talking, they will eventually share useful information that tells me more about their facility than if I had just been talking the whole time. Having that listening ability, along with lot of curiosity to learn more about each place that I go to, helps me stay passionate about this work.

What is one part of this program that feels especially connected to who you are or how you naturally work?

Growing up, I would always hear about climate change, and global warming, and the energy crisis. It was something that seemed constant. In college, when I had the opportunity to work at the Syracuse University Industrial Assessment Center, it felt like a perfect field for me. It was centered around energy efficiency, something that could help the greater good.

In my personal life, I can make as many changes as I’d like to live as efficiently as possible. But last month, I used a total of 250 kWh in my one-bedroom apartment. Over the last year, I used 2,706 kWh. Cutting my annual usage by 20% would save about 540 kWh.

I’ve been able to recommend millions of kWh worth in savings over the past year at this company. Having the ability to effect change at a higher level is something that brings me great joy and gives me the motivation to continue every day.