The ISO 50001 standard not only proves that your energy management system has been certified against international standards and found compliant, it will also address measurement of current energy usage, and implementation of a measurement system to document, report, and validate continuous improvement in the area of energy management.
DNV Business Assurance is the first certification body to receive the RvA accreditation for the new ISO 50001 certification standard. On July 26, 2011 Business Assurance was granted the full scope RvA accreditation without limitations.
Why an Energy Management Standard?
Most energy efficiency in industry is achieved through changes in how energy is managed in an industrial facility, rather than through installation of new technologies
An energy management standard provides a method for integrating energy efficiency into existing industrial management systems for continuous improvement
All existing and planned energy management standards are compatible with ISO 9000/14000
Companies who have voluntarily adopted an energy management plan (a central feature of an EM standard) have achieved major energy intensity improvements.
Key features of ISO 50001
• A strategic plan that requires measurement, management, and documentation for continuous improvement for energy efficiency
• A cross-divisional management team led by a representative who reports directly to management and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the strategic plan
• Policies and procedures to address all aspects of energy purchase, use, and disposal
• Projects to demonstrate continuous improvement in energy efficiency
• Creation of an energy manual, a living document that evolves over time as additional energy saving projects and policies are undertaken and documented
• Identification of key performance indicators, unique to the company, that are tracked to measure progress
• Periodic reporting of progress to management based on these energy measurements
Business Benefits
Implementation of an energy management plan assists a company to:
• Develop a baseline of energy use
• Actively managing energy use and costs
• Reduce emissions without negative effect on operations
• Continue to improve energy use/product output over time
• Document savings for internal and external use (e.g. emission credits)
Catalyst for change
The cost of fossil-fuel based energy is forecasted to increase significantly in the next couple of decades. This change, along with the imperative need to reduce GHG emissions, will prompt organizations to re-focus on energy management as an effective approach to reduce both their carbon emissions, and their energy purchasing costs.
As mentioned in DNV’s 2009 Annual Report, energy efficiency gains might contribute with up to 57% to the goal of reducing emissions of green house gases and limiting a temperature rise in our atmosphere to 2°C, by 2030. So, without a doubt, energy efficiency is a measure which clearly has a global impact and supports our sustainability endeavor.
How ISO 50001 is different
ISO 50001 is a significant departure from many other ISO Management System Standards, such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000, etc. The primary reason for the difference is the fact that ISO 50001 will focus on performance; energy performance in this case. The document will enable organizations to establish the systems and processes necessary to improve energy performance, including energy efficiency, use, consumption and intensity.
Implementation of this standard should also lead to reductions in energy expenditures and greenhouse gas emissions. Further, effective implementation of an EnMS (Energy Management System) should also mitigate other environmental impacts, through systematic management of energy.
Although we expect to see large, high energy consumption, industrial organizations to lead the implementation efforts, potentially seeking accredited certification, and participating in regional energy efficiency programs, based on ISO 50001, the standard will be applicable to all types and sizes of organizations irrespective of geographical, cultural or social conditions.
The organization requirements for ISO 50001 include developing and implementing an energy policy, as well as establishing objectives, targets, and action plans, which take into account the legal requirements and information pertaining to significant energy use.