We’ve had a lot of questions about the content of the training and of the four main sessions of the programme. This post will cover the training for Group Leaders and the four sessions themselves. Each of the four sessions will last two hours and you will be provided with detailed session plans describing how to introduce each activity, with estimated timings.
Group Leader Training
This will take the form of a three hour online session (with a break, don’t worry!). It will go over the four main sessions in detail, as well as giving advice on how to facilitate the sessions. In essence, it aims to equip you with all of the tools that you will need to fulfil your role as Group Leader while working in tandem with the volunteer engineer.
Session One
This will include an introduction for each member of your group and for the programme. Following on from this, you will explore why it is difficult to heat buildings like yours and what Net Zero means for the space, with input from your engineer. The group will also determine where best to place the thermal monitor unit that we provide and set it up. The session wraps up by pooling the group’s knowledge of the building and its uses, then identifying actions you can take to fill in gaps in this knowledge.
Session Two
The primary objective of this session is to learn more about heat loss, efficiency and ventilation. By first looking at these concepts at a theoretical level, you will then be able to immediately apply them in a walk-around survey of the building before starting to explore potential solutions with some engaging materials created for HeatHack that you can apply going forwards.
Session Three
The third session aims to determine whether your heating is adequately and efficiently serving the users of the building. You will consider the results of the thermal monitoring and comparing the times that the building is warmest and coldest against the times that the building is most occupied, and you will learn about how to best use your heating controls. Having identified issues, the group matches them against potential solutions identified in session two. Considering all of this, how the building is used and what the wider community would need from the building, the group then creates a list of recommendations of ways to improve the building’s thermal efficiency.
Session Four
Having had time to think about possible solutions, your group will take some time to finalise the list of recommended improvements. Then, finally, you will plan an event to involve the rest of your community in the carrying out of your improvements.
If you have any questions or concerns, including about COVID risk, please consult our FAQ page and if your question isn’t answered, please get in touch either through our Contact Us page or via admin@heathack.org