Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to improve energy efficiency in micro or small business operations, where energy efficiency improvements are readily apparent and easily made within existing budgets and business processes.
It applies to individuals responsible for implementing change who use analytical skills to implement identified energy efficiency options.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Determine where energy savings can be made | 1.1 Identify types and sources of energy, and where energy is used in the business 1.2 Review business documents to determine which energy uses are significant expenses for the business 1.3 Collect information from a range of sources about energy saving options to identify areas for improvement |
2. Evaluate options for saving energy | 2.1 Prepare a list of energy saving options that apply to the business 2.2 Determine costs and benefits for the business that apply to each option 2.3 Rank options according to costs and value of benefits to the business |
3. Implement preferred options | 3.1 Decide which options to implement in the short term, and those which may be implemented in future 3.2 Set specifications and parameters for preferred options to assist in determining if improvements have been made 3.3 Plan how to implement preferred options 3.4 Engage staff, and external specialist services where required, in implementing preferred options |
4. Monitor outcomes of change | 4.1 Check options have been introduced to specifications 4.2 Monitor costs to check whether savings have been made 4.3 Gather information on other benefits to the micro or small business 4.4 Determine if outcomes have been met and savings are ongoing |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
access and review information relating to energy efficiency savings for a business
compare costs and benefits to decide which energy efficiency option to choose
make energy efficiency changes, involving other people and advisors if needed
monitor energy efficiency improvements.
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:
explain key energy efficiency terms and concepts
discuss amount and type of energy used in the business
outline information sources on energy efficiency for micro or small business, and options specific to a particular business.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities experienced in the Small Business field of work and include access to:
business equipment and resources
relevant legislation, regulations, standards and codes
relevant workplace documentation and resources
case studies or where possible, real situations.
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 | 1.2, 1.3, 4.1, 4.3 | Organises, evaluates and critiques information from a range of textual material |
Writing | 2.1, 2.3 | Uses clear, specific and industry-related terminology to complete and update workplace documentation |
Numeracy | 2.2, 2.3, 4.2 | Analyses numerical information to determine business costs and benefits, and analyse and compare usage data |
Interact with others | 3.4 | Cooperates with others as part of familiar routine activities and contributes to specific activities requiring joint responsibility and accountability |
Get the work done | 1.1, 1.3, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1-3.3, 4.3, 4.4 | Systematically gathers and analyses all relevant information Takes responsibility for outcomes of routine decisions directly related to own role Applies formal processes when planning more complex/unfamiliar tasks, producing plans with logically sequenced steps, reflecting some awareness of time and resource constraints Recognises value of continuous improvement within own work context where this involves incremental change |
Sectors
Management and Leadership - Small and Micro Business