These online assessment ideas focus on selected required knowledge from the MSS11 SS1 Audit energy usage for a work area Skill Set. They do not cover all assessment requirements for the Skill Set.
UPDATE: These resources have not been designed or mapped to the units in the updated MSS Sustainability Training Package. However they do cover some of the key aspects of the MSS units of competency.
The following abbreviations have been used to show where the requirements are in the Skill Set units:
- E – Element
- PC – Performance Criteria
- RK – Required Knowledge
- RS – Required Skills
Sustainability issues and interactions
This is a requirement in MSS014002A (E1, E2, RK) and MSS014006A (PC 1.2, Range)
Guidance
The Skill Set requires the sustainability interactions to be defined for each step of the process.
In order to identify the sustainability issues for the work or process area the learner will need to understand the sustainability issues that are common in the industry, what resources are used and typical sources of waste material and energy. For example the industry may be an energy intensive industry such as cement manufacture, or an industry with high water use such as textiles.
The learner will need to be able to apply knowledge of the process steps and the environmental impact of energy use to identify the sustainability interactions and answer the question “how does this step interact with the environment?”
Sample question
This question is presented as ‘multiple choice’. In an online assessment the user typically sees an explanation if they select a wrong answer. In a formative assessment they keep trying until they get it right. In a summative assessment only the first answer is likely to be accepted and ‘marked’.
A Waste water going down the drain
Not correct. Disposal of water is a sustainability interaction, but the issue is related to water not energy, unless the water is taking energy with it in the form of heat, cold, or pressure.
B Machinery making noise that can be heard by the neighbours
Not correct. Emission of noise is a sustainability interaction, but the issue is primarily related to noise not energy, unless the noise is caused by friction in which case the friction is consuming energy.
C Use of electricity for lighting
Correct. Use of electricity is a sustainability interaction related to energy because electricity is a type of energy and the generation and distribution of electricity can affect the environment, for example by producing greenhouse gases.
D Scrap going to landfill
Not correct. Disposal of waste is a sustainability interaction, but it is not primarily energy related. However, waste typically carries with it embodied energy from generating the material/product and there may be significant energy (eg fuel) used in transporting the waste.
Carbon equivalence
This is a requirement in MSS014002A (RK) and MSS014006A (Descriptor, RK)
Guidance
To understand the environmental impact of the energy used the learner will need to understand concepts and relationships between sources of energy, carbon and carbon equivalence and that different energy sources have different greenhouse gas emissions which are measured on equivalent tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Sample question
This question is presented as a ‘true or false’. In an online assessment the user typically sees an explanation if they select a wrong answer. In a formative assessment they keep trying until they get it right. In a summative assessment only the first answer is likely to be accepted and ‘marked’.
A printing company using power generated from black coal would be expected to have a higher carbon footprint for energy use, measured as CO2-e, than a printing company which uses hydroelectricity.
The correct answer is True.
The environmental impact depends on the type of energy used, how much is used and the source of the energy. Different sources of energy have different impacts, for example electricity generated from black coal produces substantially more greenhouse gases than solar or hydro generated electricity. This is due to the release of greenhouse gases as the coal is mined and burned, which are measured in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-e).
False is not correct. Hydroelectricity has lower greenhouse gas emissions than electricity generated from back coal. Substantially fewer greenhouse gases, measured in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2–e), are emitted during the generation of hydroelectricity.
Identifying energy consumption
This is a requirement in MSS014006A (E2, RK)
Guidance
The learner will need to be able to identify the main sources of energy and what they are used for in the work or process area to be able understand the environmental impact of energy use.
Sample question
This question is presented as matching items. The learner is given a list of energy sources and a list of equipment/processes that use energy and matches them up.
Online this could be a ‘drag and drop’ function where an incorrect answer won’t drop into place. Only a correct answer will stay in place and allow the learner can move on to the next pairing. On paper this can be done by drawing lines from one group the other.
Energy sources
- petrol
- diesel
- mains gas
- electricity
Energy uses
- road transport (cars, trucks)
- hot water
- heating the workshop/office
- drying ovens
- kilns
- forklift
- furnaces
- pumps
- lighting
- office equipment
Correct answers
- road transport (cars, trucks) – petrol, diesel
- hot water – electricity, mains gas
- heating the workshop/office – electricity, mains gas
- drying ovens – electricity, mains gas
- kilns – electricity, mains gas
- forklift – electricity
- furnaces – electricity
- pumps – electricity
- lighting – electricity
- office equipment – electricity
