In the business world, a popular adage states that you can't
manage what you don't measure. This principle applies to the world of energy
management—an area of growing interest and concern to enterprises around the
world due to its potential to help control costs, boost energy efficiency,
improve environmental quality and enhance competitiveness.
Until now, the absence of an internationally recognized
energy management standard has inhibited widespread adoption of best energy
management practices. The new ISO 50001 international energy management system
standard overcomes this barrier and offers organizations a proven approach to
develop an energy management plan addressing critical aspects of energy
performance—including energy use, measurement, documentation, reporting, design
and procurement practices, and other variables affecting energy management that
can be measured and monitored.
Adoption of ISO 50001 is important to establish a more systematic and sustainable approach to managing energy within a facility. Conformance to the standard provides proof that a facility has implemented sustainable energy management systems, completed a baseline of its energy use, and committed to continual improvement in energy performance. The value of certification will be driven by market forces within supply chains, potential utility incentive programs requiring ISO 50001, and the standard's relation to future carbon mitigation policies.
In addition, implementing ISO 50001 yields significant benefits beyond energy and energy cost savings. Early adoption experiences have shown that conformance with the standard results in some non-energy benefits such as greater productivity and lower maintenance needs. In many cases significant energy and energy cost savings were achieved with minimal or no capital investment. This is because ISO 50001 fosters a change in culture that engages and empowers employees to identify and address energy-saving opportunities as they materialize. Then, by continuously monitoring and improving energy efficiency, companies achieve persistence in energy savings.
However, there is additional market value from conforming to an internationally recognized standard such as ISO 50001. By certifying to ISO 50001, companies and organizations can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability to their customers, employees, investors and regulators. In so doing, companies and organizations can gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace by proving themselves as good corporate citizens. This can help enhance their brand, which directly supports their marketing strategy.
The standard can also help organizations be better prepared for government- or utility-sponsored energy efficiency programs, carbon or energy taxes, and international climate agreements. For multinational companies this can greatly simplify compliance with environmental mandates across national borders since ISO 50001 is internationally recognized.
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