Published: The Daily Telegraph Date: 23 November 2010
Save Power Challenge... Bar manager Dan Mantilla at energy-aware Chophouse in Sydney.
Source: Grieg Carroll, Evolving Images
Chefs, lawyers, beauty therapists, engineers, tradespeople and professionals are being trained to save power in their business, and yours.
Since June this year, businesses, their training providers, and universities have been working on courses that will increase the energy efficiency skills of workers, under a $20 million NSW Government Program.
So far, the program has given funds for 41 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," Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (DECCW) business energy 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 be even more attractive to employers in a low carbon economy."
This future-focused skill set is on offer 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.
To design and deliver the training courses that are needed for tomorrow, the Program has established partnerships between the Government, business and education and training providers such as TAFE colleges and universities.
Funding of $1.1 million is enabling the University of NSW and University of Wollongong to create 23 training courses for practicing 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, which runs Chophouse and Kingsley Steak and 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) and 10 per cent on heating.
Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Training Program.