Advancing on Schedule: ISO 50001 Shapes Up for a Summer Release

During an October meeting in Beijing, Project Committee 242 (PC242) addressed and reconciled comments to the draft international standard of ISO 50001, the forthcoming international energy management standard sanctioned by the International Organization for Standardization. Completion of this procedural milestone is significant, allowing the development of the standard to proceed on schedule. The next stage is the Final Draft International Standard which should be available February/March 2011. The FDIS will be subject to a vote by the ISO membership and, once approved, will become the International Standard in mid-2011.

The Value of an International Standard

ISO 50001 will serve as a uniform global standard by which industrial plants and commercial facilities, as well as government and institutional bodies, manage energy use. Based on broad applicability across economic sectors, this standard has the potential to influence up to 60 percent of the world's energy use.

The standard will offer a framework for participating organizations to establish an energy management plan and pursue verified energy savings through a model of continuous improvement. Compliance with an internationally recognized ISO standard also provides notable market value, as participants are able to reference a global standard in communicating energy-efficient operations and energy management achievements to customers, constituents, shareholders and the general public.

ISO 50001, Underpinning Superior Energy Performance

Superior Energy Performance (SEP), an ANSI-accredited certification program developed by the U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing, provides U.S. industrial facilities with a roadmap for achieving continuous energy efficiency improvement while enhancing competitiveness.

The foundational requirement of SEP certification is compliance with ISO 50001. SEP’s international counterpart, Global Superior Energy Performance, also will require ISO 50001 compliance.

December Briefing to Explore the Potential Impacts of ISO 50001

On Wednesday, Dec. 8, the Alliance will host a Capitol Hill briefing to discuss the significance of the imminent ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard, and its central role in the fast-approaching Superior Energy Performance program. Panelists will offer insight on the development of the standard, intended results of a market-based certification program, and their projected deployment schedules. The program will also cover results from the pilot phase of Superior Energy Performance.