Article by Sheethal Ann, Consultant, Stellar Management Consultants P Ltd.
Energy is one of the most important inputs for a wide range of activities and plays a pivotal role in sectors such as industry, commerce, telecommunications, transport etc. To ensure its continuous supply to meet its ever increasing demands, an organization’s focus should be to adopt an energy management system. This can bring about a positive effective on the organization by increasing its revenues and subsequently contribute towards reducing depletion of energy resources.
Energy Management System
ISO 50001:2011-Energy Management System standard is based on continual improvement which is also a key factor in other well-known standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001. This standard outlines the requirements and practices for energy procurement and efficient energy use that are considered to be the best worldwide. This system implements strategies that significantly marks down energy costs and helps in sustaining those savings overtime. ISO 50001 allows an organization to choose its own strategic ways of implementing energy efficiency methods and to create an action plan to achieve the targets. Also an organization adopting this system gives clear evidence that they have considerable value for energy, the demand of which is increasing on a daily basis and that they focus their attention on its efficient use in the best way possible.
Purpose of ISO 50001:2011
The main purpose of ISO 50001 standard is to enable organization to implement systematic systems and processes to improve energy performance and to contribute to more efficient use of available energy. All aspects of an organization where energy use is affected are monitored. EnMS helps in improving management processes and practices that controls an organization’s functions and activities with significant energy use. The structured approach and continual improvement of this management system will eventually lead to a distinct improvement in energy performance and also tangible financial benefits.
Benefits of ISO 50001:2011
Certification to ISO 50001 is a proven fact that the organization has an enormous value for energy and aims to save it through efficient use of it. The key benefits are:
- Identifies, measures and monitors energy use in all areas within the organization where the efficiency of energy can be improved.
- Early adoption and conformance with the standard results in greater productivity and lower maintenance needs.
- Reduces the vulnerability of an organization with respect to availability of energy and fluctuation of energy prices.
- Creates awareness and commitment about energy consumption, use, efficiency etc among employees at all levels within the organization.
- Improves the transparency of energy usage within the organization and the use of existing energy assets.
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
- Assists in implementation of new energy efficient technologies.
- Improves operational efficiencies and reduces environmental impacts.
- Significant improvement in energy performance.
- Reduces energy cost and improves profitability.
Features of ISO 50001
ISO 50001:2011 follows a structural and systematic approach in achieving continual improvement of energy performance which includes energy efficiency, use, consumption and conservation. ISO 50001 audits cover the following:
- Energy policy statement (commitment of top management to improve energy efficiency)
- Documented objectives, targets and action plans (continual improvement)
- Competence, training and awareness (ensures availability of right person)
- Communication (with internal and external interested parties)
- Control of documents (for ensuring compliance)
- Procurement of energy services, products, equipment and energy(for energy saving)
- Operational controls (established working conditions)
- Monitoring, measurement and analysis of performance (for better controls)
- Nonconformities, correction, corrective action and preventive action (provides mechanism for improvement)
- Management review (ensuring organization system is complied with)
Certification process for ISO 50001:2011
This certificate ensures and demonstrates that the organization meets all the requirements of ISO 50001:2011. Implementation of this standard reassures customers that they are working with an ethical, responsible and systematic organization. Since the emphasis of this certification is on continual improvement, this will consistently make the organization to get better at managing its energy. Furthermore, a certified organization shows that it is responsible and committed towards energy conservation measures. Routine audits are carried out by a team of competent auditors appointed by certification body and these audits are done at defined intervals. After a period of every three years, re-certification audit is conducted to ensure extension of validity of certification for the organization.on with two decades of expertise that offers an entire portfolio of Management development and Training services built around the internaS 9100C, OHSAS 18001, ISO 27001, ISO 22000 / HACCP, NABH, NABL, and CMMI, with a team of Consultants, Trainers and Auditors.