GETTING PRACTICAL: Grace Houlbrooke checks out a ceiling space for insulation
WATER CHECK: Jessica Graham takes the temperature of water coming out of the tap. |
Two university students have returned to their studies buzzing over their summer vacation work in the Eastern Bay.
For two months, Jessica Graham and Grace Houlbrooke worked with Energy Options — gaining valuable experience to support their University degrees.
Jessica's a fourth year science and commerce student at the University of Otago, and is planning to major in energy management and commerce. Grace is a second year engineering student at Massey University, planning to major in environmental technology and sustainable energy.
Both students' courses require them to have work experience in the energy industry.
"Finding the right workplace isn't easy so this was a really lucky break," says Jessica. She comes from the South Waikato but had never been to Whakatane before — so it was ideal life experience too.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here," she enthused. "The work has really complemented my studies by showing me the very important practical side to the energy industry."
For both, the work was all about being hands-on.
After training, Jessica first worked with the Energy Options Retrofit team, visiting homeowners around the Eastern Bay to scope their homes, and provide quotes for ceiling and under-floor insulation.
"After that, I spent a few days crawling into hot ceilings and under floors."
"I helped to install the stuff I'd been scoping for — things like ceiling, wall and under-floor insulation, cylinder wraps and pipe lagging."
She then joined Energy Options' Jo Farmer to undertake energy checks for home owners.
"It's impressive how much can be saved from quite simple things like showerheads, light bulbs, and hot water cylinder temperatures," she said.
Next she was climbing onto a home owner's roof.
"I have a real passion for solar water heating and it was neat to see a working system all come together. The solar team also took me to a building site to help install the pipework for under floor heating."
|
Grace confessed that, initially, working full-time through summer was not very inviting.
"But I have to say it has been remarkably rewarding, educational and enjoyable!"
Grace comes from Whakatane, and her parents live here, which made things easy — she was due to spend the summer here anyway.
"Louise Maple took me under her wing. She taught me a lot about Energy Options and energy efficiency in general."
Her main challenge was working on the Safe & Smart packs, funded by the Eastern Bay Energy Trust for families with young children.
"I helped to distribute packs throughout the Eastern Bay. Once that was done, I worked on a report to assess the benefits - and recommend funding to produce another 2000 packs this year."
When that recommendation was accepted by the trust, Grace helped to plan and order all the contents.
For both girls much of their final few weeks was spent on a project that should prove invaluable for any future career — especially in energy management.
They both worked on the Warm Homes Clean Air Project funded by South Waikato District Council. This involved joining Charles Wilkie of the energy trust and Jo Hunt of Energy Options to design a home energy advisory service for Tokoroa.
"We aimed to make practicable recommendations to householders on creating a warm, healthy and energy efficient home," Grace said.
Jessica managed the project, while Grace led planning for an expo display, including the children's activities and brochures to be handed out.
As well as all this, Grace worked on staff and company resources such as an Energy Options staff induction booklet. Like Jessica, she scoped for and installed insulation, visited a solar installation, and went out on energy checks.
She also spent a week as Energy Options' receptionist.
"I am extremely pleased to have stumbled across this opportunity. It has been wonderful for my studies, and beyond that — for my career."
|
