OEH Executive Director Heritage, Pauline McKenzie said the course is targeting small businesses, community organisations and local councils – in particular owners and managers of publicly accessible heritage sites.

“The cost of energy and the efficiency of its use have become major factors in operating any business,” Ms McKenzie said.

“At our free training course to be held in Macksville, participants will learn the ins and outs of energy management to help maintain their organisation’s competitive advantage and increase productivity.

“This training course also qualifies participants to apply for the current round of the Heritage Green Energy Grants for heritage sites, worth up to $100,000 per applicant to a total of $1.5 million across the state,” she said.

The course consists of two 30-minute online components and a half-day workshop, to be held at each of the six locations. The Macksville workshop will be held at the Nambucca Shire Council Chambers on Monday, July 23, from 9:30am.

The online component will cover energy basics, concepts and principles as well as how to read and understand your energy bill, while the half-day workshop looks at identifying energy cost savings, interpreting energy data and implementing an energy action plan.

This training course complements the Heritage Near Me program's Heritage Green Energy Grants, which seeks to support the implementation of energy efficiency projects for heritage items listed on a local council’s Local Environment Plan and/or the State Heritage Register.

To find out more and to enrol in the training in your area, call 1300 361 967, email energy.saver@environment.nsw.gov.au or go to http://energysaver.environment.nsw.gov.au/course/view.php?id=50 to register then enrol.

For more information about the Heritage Near Me Green Energy Grants go to www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritage-near-me-incentives