Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to integrate sustainability concepts and policies into information and communications technology (ICT) planning and design projects. These projects typically involve upgrades of equipment hardware and software or new installations of next generation networks (NGN) using emerging technologies.
It applies to individuals who have high level specialist technical skills and knowledge in optical communications and IT networks using internet protocol (IP) systems.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements | Performance Criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare to integrate sustainability into planning and design stages of ICT project | 1.1 Evaluate suitable ICT projects into which sustainability can be integrated 1.2 Negotiate with stakeholders to establish extent to which sustainability is to be integrated 1.3 Research and identify suitable technology solutions applicable to project 1.4 Gather power consumption data on ICT equipment required for energy audit based on agreed standard |
2. Devise strategies for incorporating sustainability into ICT project | 2.1 Determine and oversee implementation of short term technology solutions to achieve reduction of power consumption 2.2 Initiate and progress sustainable management principles that result in reduced environmental impact 2.3 Establish, regularly review and improve key performance indicators (KPI) on sustainability performance 2.4 Incorporate innovative planning and design rules for ICT projects that foster sustainability and environmental best practice |
3. Analyse energy audit data | 3.1 Identify energy usage within scope of ICT project and provide detailed report 3.2 Estimate potential energy savings and payback periods for recommended actions 3.3 Estimate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for nominated project 3.4 Evaluate estimated CO2 emissions with comparable benchmarks 3.5 Make recommendations in order of priority and give estimates of implementation costs on integration of sustainability for other ICT projects |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
plan and integrate sustainability into information and communications technology (ICT) projects by devising strategies to conserve resources
analyse energy audit data on enterprise resource consumption
develop and monitor policies for review and improvements, benchmarking against industry best practice and attempting new approaches continuously over time.
Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.
Evidence of Knowledge
To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:
discuss best practice approaches relevant to own work area
explain environmental or sustainability legislation, regulations and codes of practice applicable to the industry and organisation
discuss and explain work health and safety (WHS) implications for new policy
explain how to estimate CO2 emissions
summarise ICT power consumption calculations
discuss policy development processes and practices
summarise power consumption audit methodology
identify principles, practices and available tools and techniques of sustainability management relevant to the telecommunications industry
describe quality assurance systems relevant to own organisation
summarise systems and procedures to aid in the achievement of workplace sustainability.
Assessment Conditions
Gather evidence to demonstrate consistent performance in conditions that are safe and replicate the workplace. Noise levels, production flow, interruptions and time variances must be typical of those experienced in the telecommunications – sustainability field of work and include access to:
sites on which planning, design and integration of sustainability may be carried out
relevant legislation, standards, guidelines, reports and equipment specifications and drawings
a range of workplace documentation, personnel, information and resources including:
compliance obligations
organisational plans.
Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.
Foundation Skills
This section describes language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills incorporated in the performance criteria that are required for competent performance.
Skill | Performance Criteria | Description |
Reading | 1.4, 2.3 | Gathers, interprets and analyses a range of complex textual information from a range of sources and identifies relevant and key information |
Writing | 1.2, 3.1, 3.5 | Records technical requirements and procedures for diverse audiences using precise language and specialised terminology to convey an understanding of outcomes and alternatives |
Oral Communication | 1.1, 1.2 | Clearly articulates and validates policy and strategy benefits for project requirements using specific language suitable for different audiences to convey requirements Uses listening and questioning techniques to confirm understanding Effectively negotiates contracts with suppliers |
Numeracy | 2.3, 3.1-3.5 | Uses complex mathematical formulae to estimate CO2 emissions, analyse and confirm capacity requirements and plan budgetary and workforce needs |
Get the work done | 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1-3.3, 3.5 | Develops plans to manage relatively complex, non-routine tasks with an awareness of how they may contribute to longer term operational and strategic goals Takes responsibility for own workload, negotiating some key aspects with others Systematically gathers and analyses all relevant information and evaluates options to make informed decisions Reflects on the ways in which digital systems and tools are used or could be used to achieve work goals, and recognises strategic and operational applications Uses analytical processes to decide on a course of action, establishing criteria for deciding between options |
Sectors
Telecommunications – sustainability