ISO 50001 – ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The purpose of this standard is to help organizations establish the systems and processes necessary for continual improvement in energy performance, including energy efficiency, energy use, and energy consumption. It sets out the requirements for an Energy Management System (EnMS) applicable to organizations. Successful implementation of an energy management system that supports a culture of improved energy performance depends on commitment from all levels of the organization, especially top management. In many cases, this requires a cultural shift within the organization.
This standard applies to activities under the control of the organization. Its application can be tailored to the specific requirements of the organization, including the complexity of the system, the level of documented information, and the availability of resources. It does not apply to the use of energy by end-users outside the scope and boundaries of the energy management system, nor to product design that occurs outside the facility, equipment, systems, or processes using energy. It does apply to the design and procurement of facilities, equipment, systems, or processes using energy within the EnMS scope and boundaries.
Developing and implementing an energy management system includes establishing a policy, energy objectives, energy targets, and action plans related to energy performance, use, and consumption, while also complying with applicable legal and other requirements. The EnMS helps the organization set and achieve energy objectives and targets, take necessary actions to improve energy performance, and demonstrate the conformity of its system to the standard.
Energy Performance-Based Approach
This standard provides requirements for a systematic, data-driven, and factual approach focused on the continual improvement of energy performance. Energy performance is a key concept integrated into the standard to ensure effective and measurable outcomes over time. It relates to energy efficiency, energy use, and energy consumption. The Energy Performance Indicator (EnPI) and Energy Baseline (EnB) are two interrelated components included to help organizations demonstrate improvements in energy performance.
Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle
The energy management system in this standard is based on the continual improvement framework of Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA), integrating energy management into an organization’s existing practices, as illustrated in Figure 1.
In the context of energy management, the PDCA cycle can be interpreted as follows:
-
Plan: Understand the organizational context, establish the energy policy and energy team, assess actions to address risks and opportunities, conduct an energy review, identify significant energy uses (SEUs), and set EnPIs, EnBs, energy objectives and targets, and action plans aligned with the organization’s energy policy.
-
Do: Implement action plans, maintain operational controls, ensure communication and competence, and incorporate energy performance into design and procurement.
-
Check: Monitor, measure, analyze, evaluate, audit, and conduct management reviews on energy performance and the EnMS.
-
Act: Take actions to address nonconformities and to continually improve both energy performance and the energy management system.
Compatibility with Other Management System Standards
This standard aligns with ISO’s requirements for management system standards, including high-level structure, common core text, and shared terms and definitions, ensuring high compatibility with other ISO management system standards. It can be used independently or integrated with other management systems to achieve broader business, environmental, or social goals. Two organizations carrying out the same activities but with different energy performance levels can still meet ISO 50001 requirements.
The standard includes requirements used to assess conformity. An organization seeking to demonstrate conformity may do so through:
-
Self-evaluation and self-declaration, or
-
Confirmation of conformity by interested parties such as customers, or
-
Certification/registration of the energy management system by an external body.
In this standard, the terms:
-
“Shall” indicate a requirement;
-
“Should” indicate a recommendation;
-
“May” indicate a permission or possibility;
-
“Can” indicate a capability or possibility.
Information in NOTES is provided to assist in understanding or using the standard. Notes in Clause 3 provide supplementary information for terms and may include requirements related to term usage.
0.5 Benefits of This Standard
Effective implementation of this standard provides a systematic approach to improving energy performance, potentially transforming how organizations manage energy. By integrating energy management into business practices, organizations can establish processes for continual improvement. Enhanced energy performance and reduced energy-related costs can improve competitiveness. Moreover, implementation supports the broader goal of climate change mitigation by reducing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.
