ISO 50001: What Is It?
Of the available ISO certifications available, one of the lesser-known options on the market may be ISO 50001 – a standard that specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving an Energy Management System (EnMS).
As the world becomes greener and issues of energy conservation and efficiency become more and more common, ISO 50001 may be just the solution needed by organizations looking to improve their energy management. Currently in its second edition, released in 2018, ISO 50001 is suitable for operations in any field or industry and of any size, sector, or geographical location. As they serve similar environmental purposes, it should come as little surprise that ISO 50001 is modeled similarly to the ISO 14001 environmental health and safety standard.
The shared basis in ISO’s Annex SL structure means that ISO 50001 may be easily integrated with other standards such as ISO 9001 or 14001, a combination that thoroughly covers a broad range of environmental management concerns. Unlike some other ISO standards, ISO 50001 includes explicit requirements that organizations can demonstrate an improvement in energy performance. While there are no specific quantified targets outlined by the standard, the structured approach may make tangible benefits more likely.
As with other certifications, there are a range of benefits that come from certification to ISO 50001, including:
- Reduction of costs through energy efficiency
- Satisfying legislative or self-imposed carbon emissions targets
- Reducing reliance on fossil fuels
- Enhancing the reputation as being environmentally responsible or “green”
As governments worldwide become more and more concerned with global warming and the factors that contribute to its advancement, having a structure in place by which energy usage and performance can be easily tracked and monitored may be incredibly helpful. Stringent requirements and limits on energy use or carbon emissions are becoming more and more common on both a national and local level worldwide.
For more information on ISO 50001 and how it may benefit your business’s goals, reach out to PJR today – call us at (248) 358-3388 or visit www.pjr.com today!