ISO 50001 was recently revised, making it even more effective to tackle the world’s energy challenges and address climate change concerns.
First published in 2011, ISO 50001, Energy management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, is a strategic tool to use energy more efficiently and effectively. It provides a framework for managing energy performance and addressing energy costs, while helping organizations reduce their environmental impact to meet emissions reduction targets.
According to Roland Risser, Chair of the ISO technical committee that developed ISO 50001, the 2018 version features updated terms and definitions and greater clarification of certain energy performance concepts.
“There is a stronger emphasis on the role of top management as well, as it is important to instilling an organizational culture change,” Risser said. “It is also now aligned with ISO’s requirements for management system standards, making it easier to integrate into an organization’s existing management systems.”
The latest ISO Survey of Certifications indicates ISO 50001 has become increasingly important since its release, with a total of 20,216 certificates issued by the end of 2016.
ISO technical committee ISO/TC 301, Energy management and energy savings, developed ISO 50001:2018. The TC’s secretariat is held jointly by ANSI and China, ISO’s members for the United States and China, respectively.
ANAB offers accreditation for certification bodies that wish to audit and issue certificates to ISO 50001 and for Superior Energy Performance, a subordinate program to ISO 50001 accreditation.
