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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Explain the impact of building thermal performance on domestic energy use to clients.
   • Building thermal performance is explained to clients.
   • Impact of building design and materials on thermal performance of building is identified and communicated to clients.
   • Relationship between building thermal performance, heating and cooling, and energy consumption is explained to clients.
   • Main uses of energy in buildings and the proportion attributed to heating and cooling are explained to clients.
   • Correct industry terminology for energy use is applied when communicating with clients.
   • Correct units of measurement are applied when describing power and energy.
   • Environmental and social impacts of energy use are explained to clients.
2. Explain the process of heat transfer in residential buildings to clients.
   • Heat transfer is explained to clients.
   • Meanings of key terms used to describe heat transfer are explained to clients.
   • Ways in which residential buildings lose and gain heat are explained to clients.
3. Explain factors that impact on thermal comfort to clients.
   • Thermal comfort and its use in building thermal performance assessments are explained to clients.
   • Physical factors that influence thermal comfort are explained to clients.
   • Requirements for thermal comfort are established based on occupant needs and are explained to clients.
4. Explain how climatic conditions influence residential building thermal performance to clients.
   • Major Australian climatic zones are identified and their key characteristics relevant to thermal performance assessments explained.
   • Types and uses of climate data used in carrying out thermal performance assessments are explained to clients.
   • Impact of local climatic conditions on building thermal performance is explained to clients.
   • Ways of improving thermal performance appropriate to the relevant climatic zone are explained to clients.
5. Explain the role of passive design in improving thermal performance to clients.
   • Principles of passive design are explained to clients.
   • Application of principles of passive design to planned and existing residential buildings is explained to clients.
   • Factors that diminish the thermal performance of buildings are explained to clients.

Range Statement

This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below.
Environmental and social impacts must include at least three of the following:	climate change energy cost energy security greenhouse gas emissions operational costs resource depletion.
Key terms must include:	conduction convection radiation.
Physical factorsmust include:	air movement humidity radiation temperature.
Principles of passive design must include:	building envelope construction materials construction methods glazing house plan ratio insulation orientation thermal mass ventilation zoning.

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Performance Evidence

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.

The person must also competently explain the principles of residential building thermal performance to two different clients.

In doing the above, the person must:

use correct terminology

explain the process of heat transfer in residential buildings, including the ways in which residential buildings lose and gain heat

explain the factors that impact on thermal comfort

explain how climatic conditions influence thermal performance of residential buildings, including the ways of improving thermal performance appropriate to particular climatic zones

explain the principles of passive design, their application in planned and existing residences, and the factors that diminish thermal performance.

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Knowledge Evidence

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:

Australian climatic zones:

characteristics of climatic zones

climate data used in thermal performance assessment:

diurnal temperature range

humidity

irradiance

maximum and minimum temperature

solar geometry

wind speed and direction

impact of climate on thermal performance of residential buildings

environmental and social impacts of energy use:

climate change

energy cost

energy security

global warming

greenhouse gas emissions:

operational costs

resource depletion

heat transfer in residential buildings:

impact on heating and cooling

mechanisms:

evaporation

radiation

convection

conduction

modelling

U and R-values of building materials

R-values of wall constructions

Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) scheme:

assessors

key features

NatHERS software tools:

accreditation

building and external elements included in a NatHERS thermal performance assessment

features and types of software tools

function

protocol

scope

objectives

passive building design principles:

building envelope

construction materials

construction methods

glazing

house plan ratio

insulation

orientation

thermal mass

ventilation

zoning

sources of information on climate

thermal comfort:

definition of thermal comfort

role of thermal comfort in building thermal performance assessments

influences on thermal comfort:

air movement

humidity

radiation

temperature

models of thermal comfort

requirements for thermal comfort

thermal sensitivity of individuals

thermal performance:

factors that diminish and enhance the thermal performance of buildings

impact of local climatic conditions on building thermal performance principles

relationship between building thermal performance, heating and cooling and energy consumption.

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