ISO 50001 – Energy Management
Uncontrolled energy consumption can have a negative impact on both business performance and environment. One of the essential social responsibilities of the firm hence includes an important aspect which is preserving energy and exploiting it as effectively as possible. Preserving energy brings organizations with benefits such as cost reduction, efficient utilisation of energy resource and improved energy performance. A firm, however, needs an effective energy management system (EnMS) to achieve this.

ISO 50001
ISO 50001 is an energy management system (EnMS). It defines the requirements of an efficient energy management system within an organization. It emphasises on those aspects which an organization should comply with to establish, implement, maintain and improvise energy management. Having ISO 50001 enable firms to adapt to a systematic approach to consistently maintaining efficient EnMS. The impact of such improvements leads firms to use their energy resource in a secure way. It is also proven to leverage the performances of energy resources.
Is ISO 50001 relevant to me?
Just like any other ISO standards, ISO 50001 is also based on management system approach to continual improvisation. This standard addresses dual concerns of environmentalism and improved quality as it integrates the efficient energy management system with an organizational system. An efficient energy management system is a great means of saving both energy resource and costs. Hence any business intending to benefit from the above should find this standard relevant to them
The path to energy preservation:
Given that ISO 50001 promote sustainable practice by preserving energy resources and enhancing its effectiveness, this standard also unfolds better quality and sustainable environmental policy. The EnMS path of an organization is determined by the standard in following ways:
- It develops a policy for efficient use of energy resource. It does so by reviewing the existing energies, developing baselines, creating energy performance indicators, establish targets and develop necessary action plans to monitor the organizational energy policy
- It reviews the energy efficiency and consumption periodically
- It monitors and determine the energy performances and identify needs for further improvisation
- It ensures that the declining performances are improvised.
- It develops a systematic approach to attaining continuous improvement of energy performances
Am I Eligible?
ISO 50001 is relevant to all forms of organizations irrespective of their nature, size and sector. As long as firm concerns to efficiently use its energy resources and improvise its performances it can seek ISO 50001 certification. It is designed in such a way that it can be integrated with other management systems. It is directly relevant to concerns relevant to quality and environment.
Industries that are energy intensive, and sectors prone to legislation concerning greenhouse gases (GHG), in particular, should specifically adapt to this standard so that they can be formalised into an energy-oriented firm.
ISO 50001 merits:
This standard offer organization with an opportunity to become more resilient towards increasing energy costs. Be it, large retailers or small manufacturers, ISO 50001 help firms to become legally and environmentally abiding. It reduces energy relevant costs and enhances organizational sustainability.
An ISO 50001 certification displays a firms’ sensitivity towards environmental concerns. An efficient EnMS enable a firm to control CO2 emissions thus contributing towards sustainable environmental practice. The effect of this can prevent fluctuations in climate conditions.
ISO 50001 certification:
Owing to the intensity of complex energy systems, a number of factors are assessed prior to getting certified under these standards. The size of the firm, the extent of energy capacity used, the status of current management systems and the concerning legal requirements are some of the main factors that are assessed prior to being certified. Although lengthy and complex, the benefits brought in by the ISO 50001 can weigh a lot more than the efforts employed.