ISO 50001 – Management System Standard for Energy

Recently I have come across couple of initiatives like seminars, training programs and conclave on Energy Management. So far, energy management has been a part of ISO 14001 (EMS) or an isolated effort through Energy Audit. Though most of the times, the efforts end up with replacing few lamps to CFL and switching off the ACs and lights when you are not in the room / workplace.

Interestingly, this is the first time, things are happening in a logical and structured manner.
GHG emissions are under scanner and organisations are working to reduce them (along with substantial financial benefits from Carbon Credit in the developing countries). I
SO 50001 - Energy Management Standard is under development and
BS EN 16001 - Energy Management Standard has been released on 31st August 2009.

Let’s start with ISO 50001.

ISO has identified energy management as a priority area meriting the development and promotion of International Standards. Effective energy management is a priority focus because of the significant potential to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. As per Mr. Alan Bryden, ISO Secretary-General - “The urgency to reduce GHG emissions, the reality of higher prices from reduced availability of fossil fuels, and the need to promote efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources provide a strong rationale for developing this new standard, building on the most advanced good practices and existing national or regional standards.”

In my opinion, this development will initiate a new global approach to systematically address energy performance in organizations – pragmatically addressing energy efficiency and related climate change impacts. The future ISO 50001 will establish a framework for industrial plants, commercial facilities or entire organizations to manage energy. This will be next step of BS EN 16001- 2009. An energy management standard is expected to achieve major, long-term increases in energy efficiency. ISO 50001 implementation is expected to address what the organization does to effectively manage energy resources and performance that is relevant to global standards.

As per the industry analysts, targeting broad applicability across national economic sectors, the standard could influence up to 60 % of the world’s energy use.

The new standard will consider common elements found in all of ISO’s management system standards. This will ensure maximum compatibility with key standards such as ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 14001 for environmental management.

The project committee is working towards an ambitious schedule and aims to have ISO 50001 ready for publication by the end of 2010.

Background:

Discussions between US experts and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) led to a formal proposal for ISO to establish a committee on this subject. In February 2008, the Technical Management Board of ISO approved the establishment of a new project committee (ISO/PC 242 – Energy Management) to develop the new ISO Management System Standard for Energy. Early on, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) recognized industry’s need to mount an effective response to climate change and to the proliferation of national energy management standards. In March 2007, UNIDO hosted a meeting of experts, including representatives from the ISO Central Secretariat and nations that have adopted energy management standards. That meeting led to submission of a UNIDO communication to the ISO Central Secretariat requesting that ISO consider undertaking work on an international energy management standard.

The work will be carried out in a new ISO committee PC 242 Energy Management. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will serve as the committee Secretariat in partnership with Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT). ISO 50001 will establish an international framework for industrial plants or entire companies to manage all aspects of energy, including procurement and use. The standard will provide organizations and companies with technical and management strategies to increase energy efficiency, reduce costs, and improve environmental performance

Content:

The standard is expected to address issue like:

• measuring, reporting, benchmarking energy use improvements.

• assess energy improvement projects impact on GHG emissions.

• create transparency in the management of energy resources.

• evaluate the improvements in implementation of energy efficient technologies.

• validate continuous improvement in energy management.

• promoting a framework for efficient use of energy in the organization.

• helping organizations make a better use of their energy assets.

• helping in procurement practices for energy using equipment and systems.

• emphasis management's commitment to energy use and efficiency.

Future:

Corporations, supply chain partnerships, utilities, energy service companies, and others are expected to use ISO 50001 as a tool to reduce energy intensity use and carbon emissions in their own facilities (as well as those belonging to their customers or suppliers) and to benchmark their achievements.

The future standard will provide organizations and companies with a recognized framework for integrating energy efficiency into their management practices. Multi-national organizations will have access to a single, harmonized standard for implementation across the organization with a logical and consistent methodology for identifying and implementing energy efficiency improvements.

Let’s hope for the best.