ISO 50001: overview
In the context of energy management (EMS), the reference standard is ISO 50001. Published in 2011 and revised in 2018, it aims to provide a framework for integrating the issue of energy into the management practices of organisations in order to improve their energy performance. Energy-intensive companies will be particularly interested in the objectives of this standard and their benefits:
- to promote energy efficiency throughout the supply chain;
- to promote organisational aspects: identify best practices, reinforce good behaviour;
- to promote technical factors;
- to facilitate improvement in the context of greenhouse gas emission-reduction projects;
- to establish a communication scheme on the management of energy resources;
- to ensure integration with other management systems already in place (health and safety, quality, environment, etc.).
Parties involved in the process:
- management must commit to this process and lay the foundations
- the Energy Manager will be the Management representative and will bear responsibility for, and have authority over, the operation of the SME
- all business functions, i.e. potentially each employee in their daily tasks having an impact on energy performance
How ISO 50001 works:
The ISO 50001 process involves two successive work phases:
- Planning
- Management commitment
- development of an energy policy, a document defining the company's commitment
- Energy Planning including the Energy Review, establishing reference consumption figures and energy performance indicators, and defining energy objectives and targets
- maintaining an action plan
- Cyclical operational phase based on the following requirements:
- implementation, including arranging the purchase of equipment, energy services, products and equipment
- checking (monitoring, legal and other requirements and management of non-conformities)
- management review (annual management review)
Implementing an ISO 50001 system is a long-term project (approximately 18 months until certification).
ISO 50001 certification by an accredited external organisation ensures that the organisation meets all of the requirements of the standard.
Continuous improvement
Energy policy
Energy planning
Implementation and operation
Checking process
Monitoring, measuring and analysing
Managing non-conformities, taking corrective and preventive actions
Internal audit of the SME
Management review
Continuous improvement
More information on the website of the ISO.
Official contact point in Luxembourg: ILNAS
ISO 14001: the alternative through environmental management
ISO 14001 is an international standard published in 1996. It sets out the requirements for implementation of an environmental management system based on a continuous improvement cycle and the aspects of this topic that apply to the company:
- emissions into the air
- discharges into water
- discharges into soil
- use of raw materials and natural resources
- use of energy
- energy produced (vibrations, heat, etc.)
- waste and by-products
Benefit from the full potential of your ISO 14001 process by including energy!
An ISO 14001 certified company can therefore include energy-related matters in its scope of certification, but in a less specific and detailed way than covered by ISO 50001.
The current version of the standard is ISO 14001:2015.
More information: ISO website
Official contact point in Luxembourg: ILNAS