Working Energy

Date: 1999-2000, 2002
Client: Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO)

Working Energy is a comprehensive energy management package that helps Commonwealth and Local Government bodies meet their energy services needs efficiently and effectively.  The Working Energy package includes an energy reference guide, training materials, motivational materials, and a comprehensive method for identifying and assessing energy efficiency and occupant comfort issues in buildings.  The package was originally commissioned by the Government Operations Team at the Australian Greenhouse Office, which plays a key role in encouraging Commonwealth government agencies to reduce their greenhouse emissions.  More recently, an update and expansion of the package targeted at local councils was commissioned by the AGO Community Partnerships Team.

Exergy had complete responsibility for the design and content of the Working Energy package, which includes:

• A web-based Resource Kit, with technical reviews of key energy management topics such as lighting, air conditioning, office equipment, purchasing energy, monitoring and benchmarking energy use, and setting up an energy management program.  Local Government users can access a chapter on street lighting, and a new chapter on fleet management is currently being prepared.  While most of the kit is targeted at Energy Managers, there is also information for other key energy decision makers, such as CEOs and general staff.
• A Training Package.  The Training Kit gives a brief overview of key issues from each chapter of the Resource Kit.  The training package is fully interlinked with the Resource Kit, and includes self-assessment pages to help readers review their progress.
• The Post Occupancy Building Evaluation Methodology (POEE).  POEE assists building occupants to assess the occupant comfort and energy efficiency performance of their building.  The building is rated against performance indicators that take into account factors such as building type, location, occupant comfort and energy use.  Exergy developed a database where energy managers can store their POEE ratings and information.
• A Tool Kit, with additional materials to help in the implementation of energy management programs.  The toolkit includes form letters for tendering for energy supply, commissioning energy audits, guides to selecting efficient products and enabling efficiency features, and much more.

This project highlights our abilities to:

• Conduct stakeholder research aimed at identify the needs and capabilities of our intended audience;
• Communicate detailed issues about energy efficiency to technical and non-technical audiences;
• Develop formal energy efficiency training modules;
• Identify the barriers to energy efficiency that exist in many organisations, and assist energy-managers and other key decision makers in overcoming these.