One of nine finalists in the European Union Sustainable Energy Awards this year is from Cyprus. Project WE-Qualify, coordinated by Cyprus Energy Agency, passed the procedure in which almost 200 applicants were involved in the selection of the greatest success in sustainable energy.
The island country needs to educate and equip at least 4,500 workers and installers to ensure that the building industry can meet environmental targets, according to project documentation. In fact, qualified knowledge, experience, skills and attitudes are required in all sectors related to energy efficiency and the utilization of renewable energy sources in construction, according to participants, including Cyprus Productivity Centre, Cyprus Organisation for Standardisation and Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber.
WE-Qualify seeks to reduce the green skills gap by developing a training and qualification scheme for workers and installers that focuses on the most critical issues. The listed points are placement of thermal, conventional insulation or thermal insulation plaster, external insulation, thermopanes and exterior sunshades, highly energy efficient thermopanes, and maintenance of biomass heating systems.
Outcomes of WE-Qualify are expected to help upgrade standards or draft standards of vocational qualifications (SVQs), to be included in the future national qualification framework (NQF).
A jury decides the winner in three categories – businesses, public sector, consumers. All four winners will be announced during the ceremony on June 14, as part of European Commission’s initiative EU Sustainable Energy Week (Eusew).
