Bar manager Dan Mantilla at energy-aware Chophouse in Sydney. Source: Grieg Caroll, Evolving Images
Warehouse and hotel managers, quantity surveyors, architects and manufacturing shop floor staff, chefs, lawyers, IT professionals, engineers, tradespeople and professionals are all being trained to save power at work.
Energy Efficiency Training Program
Since June 2010, businesses, their training providers, and universities have received funding to work on courses that will increase the energy efficiency skills of workers, under a $20 million NSW Government Program.
So far, the program has provided funds for 54 training courses to be created or customised from existing courses.
'Workers and employers understand that using energy efficiently is important to save power, money and carbon pollution,' Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet (OEH) business expert, David Trewin, says
'Knowing how to be energy efficient in the workplace involves skills that workers can carry with them through their careers. These skills will become increasingly attractive to employers as NSW moves to a low carbon economy.'
This future-focused skill set is being supported through the Energy Efficiency Training Program. The Program builds the knowledge and skills of tradespeople and professionals to improve energy efficiency practices, products and services.
Best practice energy efficiency in the workplace
To design and deliver the training courses that are needed for tomorrow, the Program has established partnerships between the Government, business, education and training providers such as TAFE, private training colleges and universities.
Funding of $1.1 million is enabling the University of NSW and University of Wollongong to create 23 training courses for practising engineers and engineering students to ensure that energy efficiency is a core part of the skills of NSW-trained engineers of the future.
Hospitality workers are also learning to be more energy efficient. Restaurants, for example, all use energy 'behind the scenes' for kitchen appliances, stove tops and stove vents, along with 'front of house' for computers, air conditioning, heating, lighting and televisions.
Pacific Restaurant Group
Pacific Restaurant Group, which runs Chophouse and the Kingsley Steak & Crab House chain, is leading the way, training chefs and bar managers in reducing the energy use of stoves, air conditioners, lights and computers.
The chain's training provider, Untamed, brought international best practice in hospitality to Australia, working with the California-based Food Service Technology Centre to develop courses. Pacific Restaurant Group staff were the first to go through this training.
Expected savings per restaurant include:
- 15-20 per cent on the running costs of air conditioning
- 5-10 per cent on kitchen appliances
- 10 per cent on standby equipment (computers and TVs)
- 10 per cent on heating.
The Energy Efficiency Training Program is a joint initiative between OEH and Department of Education and Communities.
More information
Source: This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 23 November 2010 as part of the Save Power Challenge.