Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Need for assessment may include:
assessment for building design advice purposes
assessment for energy conservation purposes
assessment of greenhouse gas emissions
assessment for legislative, regulatory and compliance purposes.
Residential building refers to:
any building categorised as Class 1, 2, 4 and 10a of the National Construction Code or in accordance with jurisdictional requirements.
Effective communication strategies may include:
active listening
being non-judgemental
exploring problems
expressing an individual perspective
providing sufficient time for questions and responses
providing summarising and reflective responses in conflict situations
using appropriate words, behaviour and posture
using clarifying and summarising questions
using clear and concise language
using culturally appropriate communication
using plain English
using verbal and non-verbal communication.
Client may include:
architect
builder
building designer
construction manager
government agency
property developer
property manager
property owner
tenant.
Functions of software package may include:
building thermal performance:
conditioned mode
non-conditioned mode
non-building thermal performance:
embodied carbon dioxide
energy consumption
lighting
operational carbon dioxide
plug-in appliances
water heating
water use.
Risks may include:
awareness of current legislative and regulatory requirements
confidentiality
data accuracy
data integrity
data loss
insurance
privacy
professional indemnity
work health and safety.
Information may relate to:
appliances
non-standard and complex building materials, designs and other features
occupant usage.
Outputs may include:
cooling loads
embodied carbon dioxide
emissions
energy use
heating loads
histograms
latent cooling
rating and non-rating mode.
Advanced features may include:
automatic calculations
calculators
libraries
thermal bridging capability.
Sources of technical advice may include:
architects
building designers
building thermal performance assessors
colleagues
consultants
government agencies
home sustainability assessors
professional associations
research bodies
supervisors
suppliers of products relating to energy efficiency
utility companies.
Assumptions may include:
building use
climate data
comfort
material properties
occupancy profiles
thermostat settings
uses of windows, doors, curtains and blinds.
Options may include:
behaviour change
construction materials
energy-efficient appliances
glazing
indigenous planting
insulation levels
landscaping and planting
orientation
overshadowing
passive heating and cooling
reuse and recycling of products
size
style
thermal mass
type of glazing
ventilation
water conservation strategies
window
zoning and layout.
Criteria may include:
availability of rebates and other assistance programs
cost
intended use of the building
occupant preferences
ownership of the building
practicality.
Results and recommendations may relate to:
compliance with regulatory requirements
cost implications
practicalities.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
This unit of competency could be assessed by candidates using the regulatory and non-regulatory functions of a house energy rating software tool to assess the thermal performance and other energy-related features of residential buildings.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
A person should demonstrate the ability to:
gather the required building information for assessment
correctly enter this information into a software tool with appropriate functions
conduct assessment of a residential building using a software tool with appropriate functions
identify and analyse the outputs of the assessment
make recommendations to improve the energy performance of residential building.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of this unit:
must be in the context of the work environment
may be conducted in an off-site context, provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills
must meet relevant compliance requirements.
Resource implications for assessment include:
access to residential buildings from which building and other relevant information required for conducting an assessment may be obtained
residential energy assessment software tools with appropriate advanced functions
relevant codes, standards and government regulations
building plans and full specifications, including hot water heaters, space heating and cooling appliances, lighting and water using appliances, fixtures and fittings for residential buildings to be assessed
computer equipment suitable for using residential energy assessment software tools and generating printed copies of reports
technical reference library with current publications on building design and materials, house energy rating schemes, residential sustainability, building thermal performance for planned buildings, Australian climatic zones, and manufacturer product information on building products and materials.
Method of assessment
Assessment for this unit must verify the practical application of the required skills and knowledge, using one or more of the following methods:
written and/or oral assessment
observed, documented and/or first-hand testimonial evidence of the candidate using the regulatory and non-regulatory functions of a house energy rating software tool to assess the thermal performance and other energy-related features of residential buildings.
Guidance information for assessment
This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function.
Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.
Assessment processes and techniques should, as far as is practical, take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.