Overview of ISO 50001:2018
ISO 50001 is the international management system for Energy Management (EnMS).
The objective of an Energy Management System is to provide an organisation with a framework within which it might achieve improvement in energy performance. This might mean, for example, developing actions to become more energy efficient, to cut energy costs or to even contribute towards reduction in carbon emissions. Like other management systems it takes a systematic approach – Plan > Do > Check > Act.
The standard is split into 10 main sections – these mirror the standard layout for all management system standards.
Section 01
Section 1 (Scope) provides an introduction to the energy management system standard (EnMS) and what is designed to achieve.
Section 02
Section 2 (Normative references) There are none in ISO 50001.
Section 03
Section 3 is where terms and definitions can be found. These are split into 5 subsections
Terms related to :
- Organisation
- Management System
- Requirement
- Performance
- Energy
Section 04: Context of the organisation
Organisations are required to identify, monitor and review internal and external issues and understand the needs and expectations of interested parties. Understanding these issues will help the organisation to shape and develop the EnMS so that it fits into the wider world. Simply, the EnMS itself does not sit in isolation.
The organisation needs to understand how these issues and interested parties interact with, are affected by or might affect the management system.
The organisation determines the boundaries and applicability of the EnMS to establish its scope. The scope of the EnMS must be documented. Finally, this section reminds the organisation that the EnMS must be established, implemented, maintained, and improved.
Section 5: Leadership
Top management are required to demonstrate both leadership and commitment; without this it is not possible for the EnM to achieve its intended outcomes. Top management must ensure that their organisation’s energy policy, objectives and energy targets are consistent with their strategic direction and context and ensure that the EnMS requirements are integral to business processes. Top management must ensure the formation of the energy management team and ensure that the energy performance indicators (EnPI’s) suitably represent the energy performance. Top management is accountable for the effectiveness of the EnMS.
A commitment to satisfy applicable statutory and regulatory requirements related to energy efficiency, energy use and energy consumption forms part of the energy policy. The policy must be established, reviewed, and communicated. Top management are to ensure that the Energy management team roles, responsibilities, and authorities are defined.
Section 6: Planning for the Energy Management System
Ensure that risks and opportunities that can affect the EnMS are determined, and action taken to reduce undesired effects and achieve continual improvement. This requires organisations to think about internal and external issues they face and relevant requirements of their interested parties.
Objectives and energy targets are to be established, taking into consideration significant energy users (SEUs). The organisation must ensure that an energy review is conducted to identify types of energy used and to identify SEUs. Ensure that energy performance indicators (EnPIs) are appropriate to monitor and measure energy performance. Ensure that an energy baseline (EnB) is consistent with information from the energy review. An energy data collection plan shall be established and reviewed at planned intervals.
When energy targets and objectives are set they must be documented, updated, communicated, and monitored to demonstrate what you are doing to achieve them. Objectives and targets are a way of converting the energy policy into actions.
Section 7: Support
Resources are to be in place to ensure the effective operation of the EnMS. This includes suitable and sufficient personnel; these personnel are to be competent to undertake the tasks expected of them. Persons working under the control of an organisation are made aware of the energy policy, its relevance and importance to their work and how they can contribute towards achieving energy targets and objectives.
Documented information required by the standard and the organisational itself is identified and controlled. Documents might include written procedures, instructions, data on energy use or results of audits.
Section 8: Operation
Processes within the organisation are to be planned, implemented, and controlled. These processes have to be delivered in such a way as to meet EnMS requirements. Controls might, for example, include instructions on how to use equipment in an efficient manner, maintenance programmes that contribute towards efficiency or programmes to change the energy mix employed by the organisation.
When designing new processes, building layouts or products to be manufactured the organisation should consider the impact of energy use within the design. The design may also stipulate the purchase or equipment or products that contribute positively towards energy performance in relation to the operation lifetime of new or modified infrastructure, equipment and energy using processes.
The organisation must ensure that criteria for the evaluation of energy performance is considered during procurement, considering the impact this will have on energy performance. Suppliers must be informed that that energy performance is part of the evaluation criteria, if it is likely to have an impact on SEUs
Section 9: Performance Evaluation
The EnMS performance and effectiveness is evaluated. What, how and when to measure is determined and analysed. (Key Performance Indicators). Energy performance improvement is evaluated by comparing EnPI values against Energy Baseline data (EnB).
Internal audits are to be planned and maintained at regular intervals, with the results of audits communicated to those of interest and actions taken on the results delivered.
Management reviews are to be carried out by top management at planned intervals. The reviews consider opportunities for improvement and the status of risks and opportunities to improve energy performance. Evidence of the outputs of the review shall be documented.
Section 10: Improvement
Organisations are required to actively seek out and implement improvements that will better improve energy performance and the EnMs. Non-conformities (where you have failed to meet a requirement of ISO 50001 or your EnMS) are identified, controlled, and corrected. The potential for a similar non-conformity is established and prevented. Necessary correction and corrective actions are taken.
Outputs from analysis of data, evaluations and the management review are used to identify areas of underperformance and any opportunities for improvement.
All your questions, answered.
This site has a list of frequently asked questions about ISO 50001 and other standards.
ISO Standard Checklist
QCS have prepared a checklist tool that may be useful for you to establish what you already have in place and what your organisation might need to do if it wants to seek certification.
Go HERE to download a copy of our ISO 50001 checklist (registration on this website will be required).
