Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to educate clients, including tradespeople, building professionals and end users, about the thermal efficiency features incorporated into the design of residential buildings. It includes assessing client awareness of the thermal efficiency features of buildings, educating clients about these features, and providing follow-up services.
The unit supports the work of NatHERS assessors engaged in educating clients about residential building thermal efficiency.
In some jurisdictions, this unit of competency may form part of the accreditation, licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements for NatHERS assessors.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Assess client awareness of thermal efficiency features of residence. | 1.1. | Effective communication strategies are used to establish rapport with client and respond to client questions and concerns. |
1.2. | Client awareness of thermal efficiency features of residence and the ways to maximise the benefits of those features is identified. | ||
1.3. | Influences that impact on client attitudes to thermal efficiency features of residence are identified. | ||
1.4. | Potential barriers to client maximising thermal efficiency features of residence are identified. | ||
1.5. | Information needs of client in relation to the thermal efficiency features of residence are identified. | ||
2. | Educate client about thermal efficiency features. | 2.1. | Information on thermal efficiency features of residence and potential benefits of these features is provided to client. |
2.2. | Practices and behaviours that maximise the effectiveness of the thermal efficiency features of residence are explained to client. | ||
2.3. | Proactive strategies for supporting client adoption of recommended practices and behaviours are identified. | ||
2.4. | Potential barriers to client adoption of recommended practices and behaviours, and strategies for overcoming these barriers, are identified in consultation with client. | ||
3. | Provide follow-up services. | 3.1. | Need for follow-up services is determined in consultation with client. |
3.2. | Required follow-up services are identified and provided as agreed with client. | ||
Evidence of Performance
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 educate one client about the ways of maximising the effectiveness of the thermal efficiency features of a residential building.
In doing the above, the person must:
apply effective communication and interpersonal skills to build rapport with clients
assess client awareness of thermal efficiency features of their residence and ways of maximising the effectiveness of those features
explain to client how their practices and behaviours impact on the effectiveness of the thermal efficiency features of their residence
educate client about thermal efficiency features of their residence, including promoting client practices and behaviours that encourage effective use of the energy-efficient features of their residence
provide client with follow-up services.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
behaviour change:
barriers to voluntary behaviour change
conditions necessary for behaviour change
factors that increase likelihood of voluntary behaviour change
models of behaviour change
personal and environmental factors that impact on behaviour change
stages of change
strategies for dealing with relapse
strategies to promote behaviour change
consultation models and approaches
patterns of occupant use of housing:
times of use
types of use
ways of determining types and times of use
thermal efficiency of residential buildings:
benefits of increasing thermal efficiency of residential buildings
role of assessor in promoting behaviour change
thermal efficiency features of houses
ways of optimising benefits of thermal efficiency installations in residential buildings
sources of information on thermal efficiency of residential buildings.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
computer equipment suitable for generating reports and accessing information on energy efficiency
materials:
clients requiring information on thermal efficiency of residential buildings
relevant codes, standards and government regulations
technical reference library with current publications on:
behaviour change
thermal efficiency
communication strategies
consulting models and strategies
relationships with team members and supervisor:
assessment activities are performed on an individual basis under general supervision.
Assessor requirements
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Learning skills to: | maintain up-to-date knowledge of thermal efficiency features of residential buildings. |
Numeracy skills to: | analyse benefits of thermal efficiency measures interpret information on potential energy savings associated with use of different measures designed to improve the thermal efficiency of residential buildings. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions to clarify client requirements facilitate discussion that overcomes client barriers to adopting practices and behaviours that maximise the thermal efficiency of residential buildings. |
Reading skills to: | identify and interpret documents, reports and information relating to the information needs of clients on the types and benefits of thermal efficiency measures. |
Technology skills to: | access online databases to gather information on thermal efficiency features of residential buildings. |
Writing skills to: | prepare detailed text identifying specific courses of action to be taken to improve the thermal efficiency of residential buildings. |
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. | |
Thermal efficiency features | construction materials draught proofing floor coverings glazing insulation levels landscaping and planting orientation passive heating and cooling shade skylights thermal mass ventilation window coverings window size, location and type zoning and layout. |
Sectors
Home sustainability assessment