In 2011, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) published the ISO 50001 standard, thanks to the collaboration of over 60 countries. Like the ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 standards that preceded it, it provides guidelines for setting up an environmental management system in a specific field: energy.
On 21 August 2018, a new version was published to maximise energy savings.
Context
Energy consumption is responsible for over 60% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As part of an ecological transition, it is therefore necessary to reduce energy consumption and improve energy efficiency. The ISO 50001 standard is not compulsory, but it does enable companies to implement energy management. And so reduce their energy consumption.
Aim of ISO 50001
The main objective of ISO 50001 is to reduce energy consumption by improving energy efficiency.
This standard does not offer a practical solution for everyone, but it does define a method that can be applied by all willing companies. This method enables them to :
- Optimise the use of energy resources,
- Make financial savings
- Improve consumption behaviour,
- Promote transparency in energy management,
- Be part of a more general, voluntary approach to sustainable development,
- And to project the image of a company committed to combating global warming.
Operating principle
Like ISO 14001 and 9001, ISO 50001 is based on the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) principle. By establishing this virtuous cycle, the standard provides a framework for continuous improvement in energy management.
More specifically, under this system, companies must :
- Draw up a policy to propose more efficient use of energy
- Plan the implementation of this policy
- Use data to measure the impact of changes,
- Verify the effectiveness of the policy put in place,
- And proposing solutions to continuously improve energy use.
With a management system for quality (ISO 9001), the environment (ISO 140001) and energy (ISO 50001), companies can ensure unrivalled efficiency while making a strong, visible commitment to sustainable development.
How do I get certified?
Only certification bodies are entitled to certify companies. There are several dozen such bodies in France, and they can also help companies with the certification process.
They may or may not be accredited. When they are accredited, this is a guarantee of competence and enables the certificate to be recognised internationally.
It should be noted that ISO, which drafts and publishes the standard, is not a certification body.
iQspot, your ally in implementing ISO 50001
Thanks to the iQspot solution and its real-time monitoring, you have a clear view and measurements of your consumption. This makes it easy to spot and regulate any anomalies in consumption. You can instantly measure the impact of any improvements or changes in behaviour.
Several times a year, you can also benefit from an analysis of your consumption carried out by our experts.
Setting up a management system then becomes child’s play.
Interested in iQspot? Would you like to find out more? Then don’t hesitate: contact us!
