Assessor Resource

MSS015011A
Conduct a sustainability energy audit

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit applies inside organisations and their value chains. The unit has been developed with manufacturing operations as a focus. However, because of the range of organisations in a typical manufacturing value chain it may also be applied to other types of organisations (e.g. supplier of goods or services or a customer).

The energy audit may be conducted to assist in regulatory compliance or as part of a strategy to improve the sustainability of manufacturing operations. The emphasis in the unit is on informing decision making in regards to energy use in a value chain or site. Where complex electrical and other energy analysis skills are required appropriate units should be selected from the MEM05 Metal and Engineering Training Package.

It would typically be undertaken by a manager or technical specialist who had a major responsibility for sustainability as part of a broader work role, or sustainability may be their primary work responsibility. The manager or technical specialist may undertake this alone or as part of a team.

The technical measurement of operational performance or measurement of emissions or other environmental impact is not covered by this unit. However, there is a requirement to present and organise data. The complexity of this requirement will vary according to the type and scale of the organisation’s processes. Where required, appropriate mathematics and statistics units should be selected from the MEM05 Metal and Engineering Training Package or other appropriate Training Package.

This unit of competency covers conducting an audit for the specific resource of energy in an organisation or part or all of its value chain and to prepare recommendations for a reduction of, and more efficient use of, energy.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Employability Skills

THis unit contains employability skills



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to conduct an energy audit, including calculation of theoretical and actual use of energy and preparation of recommendations for energy use reduction.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

defining appropriate boundaries for the sustainability energy audit

conducting energy balance analyses for a site or value chain

identifying high energy use/waste units/areas

undertaking benefit/cost ratio analyses

ensuring improvement strategies proposed reflect stakeholder needs and regulatory environment.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with other relevant units addressing sustainability at the enterprise level or other units requiring the exercise of the skills and knowledge covered by this unit.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Method of assessment

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.

Guidance information for assessment

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required knowledge includes:

nature of energy wastage:

efficiency

friction/fouling/scaling

temperature/pressure range of operation

energy balancing techniques for process and process steps (sometimes known as heat balancing)

methods of measuring actual process amount/flows

waste reduction/energy efficiency strategies and methods along with costs, effectiveness and alternative strategies (e.g. efficient lighting, efficient window glass and efficient motors)

cost-benefit analysis

relevant legislation, regulation and protocols

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standards

Required skills include:

mapping processes and energy flows

interpreting schematics and drawings

calculating, manipulating and interpreting numerical data, including establishing series, means, correlations and rates of change

ranking energy consumption and waste based on energy balancing

consulting with technical and operative staff on possible non-obvious energy wastes

consulting and negotiating with stakeholders on implementation process for sustainability improvement

preparing recommendations

Energy/energy type

Energy/energy type includes:

operational heating and cooling

motive energy

lighting

waste energy

Theoretical use of energy

The amount of energy (work) required to move a mass or heat matter is a basic physics calculation. This is the theoretical use of energy. Anything used above this is waste (although in physics it may be referred to as inefficiency)

Energy intensity

Energy intensity includes:

required temperature, power and pressure, as relevant

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Identify all sources of energy external to the site 
Identify all sources of energy within the site 
Identify all uses of energy by process unit 
Identify energy type and intensity required by each process unit 
Calculate theoretical net use of energy by type and intensity for each process unit 
Calculate overall energy balance for process/site 
Evaluate the need for energy consumption by process and units within the process compared to alternative processes/units 
Determine actual net energy use for overall process/site 
Determine actual net energy use for each process unit 
Calculate difference between theoretical and actual energy use by unit and overall 
Identify actual energy type used by each process unit 
Rank units by difference between theoretical and actual energy use 
Rank units by actual energy use 
Identify units using higher intensity energy than required 
Develop strategies to reduce energy consumption and/or use lower intensity energy 
Consult with key stakeholders 
Identify strategies required to meet regulatory or similar requirements 
Rank strategies by benefit/cost ratio 
Short-list preferred energy reduction strategies 
Prepare recommendation for improving energy usage 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MSS015011A - Conduct a sustainability energy audit
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

MSS015011A - Conduct a sustainability energy audit

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: