With the increase in energy costs and the growing importance of how energy is produced and used, the concept of energy efficiency is gaining ever greater significance. Companies that lose energy through imprecisely planned processes and insufficient management systems not only incur higher costs, but also unnecessarily cause environmental pollution, primarily by increasing emissions. Customers are increasingly asking companies to provide assurances regarding responsible environmental practices and the ability to demonstrate energy efficiency. Meeting these expectations creates an opportunity to stand out from competitors and to show current and potential business partners a commitment to achieving energy efficiency and continuously improving energy management systems.
ISO 50001 is an International Standard developed by ISO (the International Organization for Standardization). Published on 15 June 2011, ISO 50001 sets out requirements for Energy Management Systems (EnMS). It is based on management system models that are already well known and widely implemented by organisations around the world. ISO 50001 brings benefits to both large and small organisations, in the public and private sectors, in manufacturing and services, across all regions of the world. It also provides a framework for energy management in industrial plants, commercial enterprises, offices and institutions.
ISO 50001 specifies requirements for organisations to establish, implement, maintain and improve an EnMS, enabling them to apply a systematic approach to achieving continual improvement in energy performance. An EnMS establishes structures within an organisation that facilitate the management of energy supply, use and consumption, including measurement, documentation, reporting, design, and practices related to energy-consuming equipment, systems and processes. ISO 50001 applies to all factors affecting energy use that can be monitored and influenced by the organisation.
ISO 50001 enables organisations to establish the systems and processes necessary to improve energy performance, including energy efficiency, use, consumption and intensity. Implementing the standard leads to reduced energy costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation of other environmental impacts. Compliance with ISO 50001 demonstrates that an organisation has implemented sustainable energy management systems, established an energy baseline and committed to continuous improvement of its energy performance. Improving energy efficiency provides rapid benefits to organisations through optimisation of internal energy resources, energy supply and other assets, thereby reducing both costs and energy consumption.
In the case of implementing an energy management system compliant with ISO 50001 together with conducting an energy audit, a large enterprise is exempt from the obligation to carry out a periodic (every four years) mandatory energy audit of the enterprise, in accordance with the Energy Efficiency Act.