ISO 50001: New standard for energy management

GENEVA - With energy one of the most critical challenges facing the international community, the publication of the ISO International Standard ISO 50001 on energy management systems is an eagerly awaited event because it is estimated the standard could have a positive impact on some 60% of the world's energy use.

ISO 50001 is intended to provide organizations with a recognized framework for integrating energy performance into their management practices. Multinational organizations will have access to a single, harmonized standard for implementation across the organization with a logical and consistent methodology for identifying and implementing improvements. The standard is intended to accomplish the following:

• Assist organizations in making better use of their existing energy-consuming assets
• Create transparency and facilitate communication on the management of energy resources
• Promote energy management best practices and reinforce good energy management behaviours
• Assist facilities in evaluating and prioritizing the implementation of new energy-efficient technologies
• Provide a framework for promoting energy efficiency throughout the supply chain
• Facilitate energy management improvements for greenhouse gas emission reduction projects
• Allow integration with other organizational management systems such as environmental, and health and safety.

The standard is now available on www.ISO.org.  In addition, ISO is launching the standard on June 17 at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG).