This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to develop effective engineering strategies for energy reduction in buildings.

It includes developing and documenting engineering strategies/methods to effectively reduce energy use in buildings. It also includes documenting and reporting engineering strategies for energy reduction in buildings.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Identify engineering energy strategies for a building

1.1

Work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) processes and workplace procedures for a given work area are identified, obtained and applied

1.2

Hazards are identified, WHS/OHS risks assessed, and control measures and workplace procedures are implemented in preparation for work

1.3

Scope of engineering evaluation is determined from specifications of building, services, plant and machinery and in consultation with relevant person/s

1.4

Advice is sought from work supervisor to ensure work is coordinated effectively with relevant person/s

1.5

Tools, testing devices and materials needed to carry out work are obtained and checked for correct operation and safety

2

Develop engineering strategies for energy reduction in a building

2.1

WHS/OHS risk control measures and workplace procedures for carrying out the work are followed

2.2

Inspection, tests and measurements are carried out in accordance with WHS/OHS requirements and workplace procedures

2.3

Energy use of building, services, plant and machinery is obtained and applied to the engineering evaluation process

2.4

Energy evaluation tests are set up in accordance with inspection and test methods and workplace procedures

2.5

Engineering strategies to reduce energy use without compromising occupancy standards are developed in accordance with energy management techniques and evaluation test results

2.6

Unexpected situations are dealt with safely and effectively in accordance with the approval of relevant person/s

2.7

Engineering evaluation is carried out without damage to systems, circuits, the surrounding environment or services using sustainable energy practices

3

Document and report engineering strategies for energy reduction in building

3.1

WHS/OHS work completion risk control measures and workplace procedures are followed

3.2

Worksite is cleaned and made safe in accordance with workplace procedures

3.3

Results of energy use evaluation and recommended engineering strategies and their criterion for energy reduction are documented in accordance with workplace procedures

3.4

Engineering energy reduction report is completed and forwarded to relevant person/s

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and include:

determining the extent of the evaluation

setting up and conducting appropriate examinations and tests

reporting evaluation including recommendation for improving energy efficiency

dealing with unplanned events

applying relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements, including:

implementing workplace procedures and practices

using of risk control measures

applying sustainable energy principles and practices

developing sustainable engineering strategies for energy reduction in buildings

documenting and reporting engineering strategies for effective energy reduction in buildings

planning to develop strategies for effective energy reduction in buildings.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions and include knowledge of:

energy efficient building design, including:

climate and thermal comfort encompassing:

characteristics of the different Australian climatic types

use of climatic data in published and electronic forms to extract the quantities relevant to energy efficient design

relationship between climate and comfort using bioclimatic or psychrometric charts

calculation of heating or cooling degree days or degree hours for various locations

calculation of thermal neutrality for a given location

solar geometry and radiation encompassing:

definition of the terms: declination, hour angle, zenith angle, azimuth and altitude angles, and the equation of time

conversion of solar time to local time and vice versa

position of the sun and the length of shadows with the aid of algorithms, tables, sun charts or computer software

daily irradiation incident on a wall, window or roof of a given tilt and orientation

relative summer and winter irradiation of windows facing the cardinal orientations

heat transfer encompassing:

thermal processes of conduction, convection and radiation apply to the transfer of heat in buildings

calculation of the summer and winter U-values of building elements using tables and software

calculation of the infiltration heat transfer in a building

glazing systems encompassing:

different types of glazing systems and their characteristics

different types of shading devices and the window orientations for which they are most appropriate

solar heat gain for different glazing types and angles of incidence

calculation of the average daily irradiation of a window partly shaded by eaves, using computer software

calculation of the average daily heat gain through a window partly shaded by eaves

insulation encompassing:

different types of insulation and where they are used

how different types of insulation are installed in roofs, walls and floors

determination of the minimum R-values of roof insulation for different locations using Australian Standard AS 2627 Thermal insulation of dwellings or similar standards

thermal mass encompassing:

advantages and disadvantages of using substantial thermal mass in different climate types and for different heating and cooling regimes

where thermal mass can be located in a building

definition of the following terms: time lag, decrement factor, admittance and response factor

comfort control strategies encompassing:

interpretation of the usefulness of a design strategy with the aid of a psychrometric chart showing control potential zones for a particular location

selection of the most useful comfort control strategies for Australian climatic regions

energy efficiency in buildings encompassing:

determination of the direction of the following: both true and magnetic, north winter and summer sunrise, winter and summer sunset

solar access in summer and winter to various possible house locations on a site and room locations within the house

how vegetation can be used to both funnel and deflect wind

using cross ventilation as a cooling strategy

thermal performance of a building encompassing:

heating requirements of a building using the heating degree day or hour method

dynamic performance predicted by a computer simulation program such as nationwide house energy rating scheme (NatHERS) or building energy rating scheme (BERS) integration of active solar systems encompassing:

active solar system types available which can provide hot water, space heating and cooling

the best location on the roof, and the optimum tilt and orientation of the collector panels

function of the main components of an air or water-based solar space heating system

schematic of the fluid circuit of an air or water-based space heating system

main solar cooling system types

energy rating schemes encompassing:

differences in approach used by house energy rating schemes in Australia

energy performance of a number of houses using a computer simulation program such as NatHERS or BERS

other methods to reduce energy consumption within and outside a building, including appliance efficiency, human behaviour changes, building management strategies and transportation minimisation

additional cost of energy efficiency measures and cost savings using life cycle cost or simple pay back methods according to AS 3595 and AS/NZS 4536 Life cycle costing

sustainable and safe building materials encompassing:

common building materials and their embodied energy content

environmental impact of the production of various building materials

problems associated with the use or disposal of building materials

engineering principles

relevant job safety assessments or risk mitigation processes

relevant manufacturer specifications

relevant WHS/OHS legislated requirements

relevant workplace documentation

relevant workplace policies and procedures

sustainable energy principles and practices.

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in suitable workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated suitable workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulations

relevant and appropriate materials, tools, facilities and equipment currently used in industry

resources that reflect current industry practices in relation to developing strategies for effective energy reduction in buildings

applicable documentation, including workplace procedures, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the UEE Electrotechnology Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Developing engineering strategies for effective energy reduction must include at least the following:

two buildings

Electrotechnology

Renewable Energy