Training Modules

The Training Modules

Overall there are a total of 21 modules which you can chose from, or combine together, which have been grouped under the following subject areas:

Carbon Reduction

1.   Carbon Footprinting
2.   Introduction to Combined Heat and Power for Buildings
3.   Reducing Carbon Emissions from Transport
4.   The Carbon Reduction Commitment for Business

Energy Awareness

5.   Energy Awareness for Carbon Champions
6.   Starting an Energy Awareness Campaign

Energy Management & Monitoring

7.    Degree Days for Energy Management
8.    Introduction to Monitoring & Targeting Energy Savings

Energy Policy

9.    Energy Policy and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Energy Saving

10.  Energy Saving in the Office
11.  Saving Energy with Motors
12.  Saving Energy with Compressed Air systems
13.  Saving Energy with Boilers
14.  Saving Energy with Lighting
15.  Saving Energy with Steam Systems

Funding

16.  Financing Sustainable Energy for Business
17.  Financing Sustainable Energy for the Public Sector

Renewable Energy

18.   Achieving 10% and Beyond to Carbon Neutrality
19.   Introduction to Renewable Energy

20.   Wood Fuel Heating

21.   Wood Pellets – Market Trends

22.   Photovoltaics - Investing in PV for a low carbon future

NEF aims to have a full programme of Training Modules for both the Private and Public Sectors.  Further Modules are currently in development, but if you do have any suggestions for further Modules let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

1. Carbon Foot Printing

This Module provides an explanation of key footprinting concepts, a definition of the term ‘carbon footprint’ and an overview of the key issues in calculating an organisation’s carbon impact.  It also provides an introduction to established corporate emissions reporting approaches, such as the GHG Protocol, produced by WRI and WBCSD and the Carbon Trust Standard.  The module explains key concepts such as definition of the organisational boundary, and how to classify different direct and indirect emissions sources, helping build a complete picture of an organisation’s carbon impact.

2. Introduction to Combined Heat and Power for Buildings

The Module explains what CHP is, discusses the available technologies and their application in buildings. It also focuses on project appraisal as the feasibility study underpins the future.

3. Reducing Carbon Emissions from Transport

This Module looks at carbon emissions by transport type and ways in which the need to travel can be reduced.  It also includes tips on energy efficient driving and how to identify energy efficient cars (including a comparison of the relative benefits of petrol v diesel).  It also provides an overview of the current debate about bio-fuels and other alternatively fuelled vehicles and considers how organisations might influence their employees’ choice of transport so that they use as less carbon intense altenative such as bicycle, train or bus.

4. The Carbon Reduction Commitment for Business

Announced in the Energy White Paper 2007, the Carbon Reduction Commitment Scheme (CRC) (formerly the Energy Performance Commitment) will apply mandatory emissions trading to cut carbon emissions from large commercial and public sector organisations.  It will cover large business and public sector organisations whose annual half-hourly metered electricity use is above 6,000 MWh. From early 2009 the Environment Agency (the administrators of the scheme) is due to contact all billing addresses with half hourly meters.  The scheme itself is due to start in January 2010 with a three year introductory phase featuring simple fixed price sales of allowances.  From 2013 it is proposed that there will be a Government imposed cap on the number of allowances, and all allowances will be sold each year via an auction.  This Module will look at how the CRC might affect your business and what is needed to comply.

5. Energy Awareness for Carbon Champions

Many forward thinking organisations have appointed Carbon (or Energy) Champions in order to help them reduce their carbon emissions.  This Module is aimed at Energy Managers and Carbon Champions and will focus on working with Carbon (or Energy) Champions in order to help them identify where energy savings can be made within an organisation and how to communicate the benefits of making savings to other members of staff.

6. Starting an Energy Awareness Campaign

This Module will provide ideas and resources to motivate every individual within your organisation to save energy, ensuring long-term benefits for people, the organisation and the environment. Creating an energy awareness programme depends on organisations’ particular circumstances. Some organisations are more advanced than others, while some individuals are less energy aware than their colleagues. This module will help to make energy awareness part of your organisation, using four essential steps: planning, implementation, reviewing and maintaining commitment.  An important part of this Module will be looking at case studies of what other organisations have done to motivate staff.

7. Degree Days for Energy Management

If heating energy is to be managed effectively it is necessary to monitor and analyse its usage regularly and set realistic targets for improving energy efficiency. Heating energy consumption depends in part on external (weather-related) temperatures. This Module provides an introduction to degree days and shows how simple analysis can be a powerful tool in understanding weather-related energy consumption. This module is designed for Energy Managers or for those with specific responsibilities to reduce energy consumption in the workplace.

8.  Introduction to Monitoring & Targeting Energy Savings

This Module explores monitoring and targeting techniques, and shows how organisations can adopt an appropriate level of monitoring and targeting to help save energy and cut costs.  The purpose of monitoring and targeting (M&T) is to relate your energy consumption data to the weather, production figures or other measures in such a way that you get a better understanding of how energy is being used. In particular, it will identify if there are signs of avoidable waste or other opportunities to reduce consumption. The Module will provide brief key facts to allow businesses to make a quick initial assessment of whether a technology is right for them and help them decide whether it merits further investigation.

9. Energy Policy and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

This Module examines what an organisation’s overall energy strategy might be with reference to policy guidance and incentives being given to organisations to make energy savings.  In particular this Module will look at whether it is possible for an organisation to go ‘carbon neutral’.  It will include a discussion on green electricity tariffs (the use of which are no longer to be counted as responsible for zero emissions under DEFRA’s Best Practice Voluntary Reporting Guidelines) and the effect of Ofgem’s proposed tightening of the ‘green tariff’ code. The Module will also look at the use of carbon offsets including which schemes might offer the most credibility.  This Module will conclude with a look at the energy strategies put in place by a number of top companies and a workshop during which delegates will focus on a strategy (or an updated strategy) for their organisation.

10. Energy Saving in the Office

Office equipment is the fastest growing energy user in offices currently accounting for around 15% of total office energy consumption, but this is set to double by 2020.  This Module  looks at how an organisation can reduce its carbon footprint and covers the range of equipment usually found in offices, including computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, photocopiers, vending and hot drinks machines. It considers the costs of operating equipment to organisations and explores simple measures for cutting costs through more efficient operation and through intelligent purchasing of new equipment.  It also covers the Energy labelling schemes related to office equipment.

11. Saving Energy with Motors

Industrial use of electric motor power accounts for almost two thirds of the entire industrial electricity consumption in the UK. This Module introduces some basic energy saving opportunities for businesses using motors and drives. Most are simple and low cost, but all can contribute to a better bottom line. This Module includes information on maintenance, purchasing and motor management policies and provides a clear set of next steps to take.

12. Saving Energy with Compressed Air Systems

This Module provides an overview of compressed air systems and gives straightforward tips on reducing their running costs. This Module is applicable to both mobile and fixed compressed air systems and gives simple tips covering inspection, maintenance, and control to help improve their energy efficiency. It is useful for any business tackling energy usage in their compressed air systems for the first time, or as a reminder for more experienced users when carrying out regular maintenance.

13. Saving Energy with Boilers

This Module provides an overview of boiler systems and gives straightforward tips on reducing their running costs. It gives simple tips covering inspection, maintenance, and control to help improve their energy efficiency and is useful for any business tackling energy usage in their boilers for the first time, or as a reminder for more experienced users when carrying out regular maintenance.

14. Saving Energy with Lighting

Lighting can account for up to 40% of a company’s total electricity bill. Even making small adjustments to lighting can significantly improve the working environment and save money.  The advice in this Module is aimed at business leaders and energy managers and provides an overview of the main types of lighting in general terms so it is relevant to most organisations, whatever sector they are in. It touches on both daylighting and electric lighting, however, it does not provide detailed design guidance but describes the issues that need to be addressed and where to get further help.

15. Saving Energy with Steam Systems

This Module presents typical energy losses and potential savings in steam generation and distribution systems. This Module gives attendees the opportunity to compare and analyse the steam consumption of their own company with that of others. A number of heat recovery methods are also presented together with an action checklist to allow steam users to take the first steps towards reducing their energy costs.

16. Financing Sustainable Energy for Business

This Module will look at the financing options for business who wish to improve their energy efficiency or to install renewable energy technology.  Topics covered will include Enhanced Capital Allowances; Heat Supply Contracts; Carbon Trust loans & support, commercial wind power agreements, income generation from the Renewables Obligation and the likely return on investment in the different renewable energy technologies.

17. Financing Sustainable Energy for the Public Sector

This Module will look at the funding and financing options open to public sector organisations that wish to improve their energy efficiency or to install renewable energy.  Topics covered would include; The Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2 & utility company funding for the public sector. It will also cover other methods of financing a project such as Heat Supply Contracts; Carbon Trust loans & support and commercial wind power agreements.

18. Achieving 10% and Beyond to Carbon Neutrality

Planning Policy Statement 22 and the Merton Rule, together with the Code for Sustainable for Homes has made it imperative for developers and their advisors to consider renewable energy as an option in larger scale developments.  This Module is aimed at developers, their advisors, planners and development control officers and will look at which might be the most appropriate renewable energy technology for any given development and start the process of evaluating what percentage of the development’s energy requirements could come from any renewable energy system installed

19. Introduction to Renewable Energy

This Module will provide an overview of the common types of renewable energy technologies and provides the basic essential facts for each. It also outlines how organisations should investigate the suitability and cost implications of renewable energy for their organisation. The module will be a useful first step for anyone who is approaching renewable energy technology for the first time. The Module will provide brief key facts to allow organisations to make a quick initial assessment of whether a technology is right for them and help them to decide which renewable source merits further investigation. It will be of interest to both private and public sector organisation’s particularly Local Authorities who are considering incorporating renewable energy into their existing building stock.  It will also be of interest to Local Authorities wishing to offer renewable energy awareness training to their Local Councillors and/or staff.  

20. Wood Fuel Heating

With space heating being responsible for 47% (DBERR) of the UK’s carbon emissions switching to a wood fuel heating system can result in substantial carbon savings.   This Module will look at how this can be done by examining the three main types of wood fuel used for heating - logs, chips and pellets.  It will look at matching fuel to boiler and the appropriate application(s) for each.  It will also cover the delivery and storage requirements of each type of wood fuel; fuel standards and sustainability; emissions and Part J of the Buildings Regulations; planning and grants.

21. Photovoltaics - Investing in PV for a Low Carbon Future

The development of PV is entering a new stage with new technologies able to reach efficiencies higher than ever before. With the feed-in tariff coming into place soon, this technology is fantastically well placed to become main stream in the UK and provides an excellent option for reaching targets for reducing carbon emissions. Whether you're an architect, a developer, or a planner working on a specific project or looking at low carbon options on a larger scale, come and find out from this Module what solar electricity has to offer.