32
Reports Energy Consultant
Xella Sustainability Report 2012
Xella Sustainability Report 2012
Reports Energy Consultant
Training To Be an Energy Advisor
Know-How for People and the Environment
Around 40 percent of Europe energy consumption can be traced back to the
building sector, which is a major field of action for energy consultants, who receive
comprehensive training at Xella.
Today, on the fourth day of instruction, participants in Xella’s training program for
energy advisors have the chance to apply the knowledge they have learned in the
program thus far. Their task: To rigorously examine one of Xella Research and
Development’s training hubs, which is located in Emstal in the German state of
Brandenburg. They are to answer questions such as: Where are the building’s thermal
bridges located, and how can I calculate them? How can I evaluate whether or not the
building is airtight and appraise its thermal properties? The five-day training program
will conclude with a comprehensive final exam the following day. After passing the
exam, graduates are able to call themselves “Energy Advisors as per the European
Energy Efficiency Directive.” Pavel Pancek, a Xella sales consultant working in the
southern Bulgaria, is convinced: “Questions on energy efficiency are becoming
more and more important for our professional life on a day-to-day basis. Thanks to
this hands-on training course, I will be able to provide more extensive information
to my customers about the environmentally friendly, resource-saving features of
Xella products.”
Certified expertise
Energy efficiency advisor
Xella Research and Development’s new
energy consultant training course was
introduced in 2009. Since then,
p117 Xella employees from Germany,
p151 Xella employees working
internationally and
p75 external participants
PROTAGONIST
have received the coveted energy consultant
certificate.
The Xella Research and Development’s training center is
located in Emstal, Germany.
Alongside practical training, participants deal with all the other questions surrounding energy consulting: What does the current European Energy Saving Ordinance
require planners and owners to do? Can alternative energy sources be used? Which
retrofitting measures result in energy savings? What funding programs are available
to customers?
Saving Money, Protecting the Environment
The training program for energy advisors at Xella Research and Development
Center has been around since 2009; its first participants were German employees
working in the building material sales unit. The training sessions were expanded to
include international staff in 2010. External participants such as building experts or
architects, construction engineers, or builders merchants also receive customized
training.
External building expert Bertram Augustin completed the course: “As a certified
energy advisor, I work with my customers to explore the quickest and most fruitful
option for them to carry out modernization – from an environmental perspective,
as well.” After having been advised in regards to power consumption, owners of
buildings are generally ready to make higher investments that don’t weigh on their
wallets – but make a measurable contribution to environmental protection as well
as to climate change mitigation.
| 12
Torsten Schoch is the managing director of the Xella Research
and Development Center.
Graduates who have earned the right to the title “Energy
Advisor as per the European Energy Efficiency Directive”.
33
Energy Advisor Training
A Successful Training Concept
Torsten Schoch, managing director of the Xella Research
and Development, and his team developed a master plan
for the training program on energy efficiency issues.
Why does Xella offer the training program for energy
consultants?
The issue of energy-efficient construction has always
been a top priority for Xella. That’s why we decided to
train our staff members so they can provide expert advice
on energy-saving measures and sustainable construction
to our customers, no matter if they’re architects, construction engineers, building-material merchants, or
do-it-yourself builders.
How was the training program adapted to international
participants? Don’t the rules and regulations vary in
different places?
This was relatively uncomplicated process. The European
Energy Efficiency Directive, published in 2002, stipulates
that buildings constructed in EU countries have to reach
a certain level of energy efficiency by 2020. All new
constructions built after 2020 have to be “zero-energy
houses”, for instance. Although the responsibility for
implementing the directive rests with the individual
nations, the knowledge does not – it can be transferred
across national boundaries.
Is the qualification also recognized outside of Germany?
From the very start, we didn’t just develop the training
program for Germany, but created a concept that could
work across the whole of Europe. That is why we have been
working with DEKRA – a testing organization authorized
with the right to issue the course qualification “Energy
Advisor as per the European Efficiency Directive”. Participants, who come from all over Europe to be trained by us,
are examined by DEKRA, so that when they receive
qualification it is internationally recognized.
What does the training program for energy consultants
have to do with the Xella Group’s sustainability strategy?
Xella continuously works on developing innovative
products that make sustainable construction possible.
Included in our understanding of how to act sustainably is
the idea that our employees should be excellent advisors
on issues relating to energy efficiency. The energy
consultants we train help ensure that our building
materials are used in an optimal manner and in doing so,
they make sure that our customers can achieve the
largest possible energy savings. It is also important that
we train competent employees so we can secure our
company’s future, as well as make a valid contribution to
sustainability.
www.forschung.xella.com