APEC Conference Discusses Keys to Deploying ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard

On Sept. 13 and 14, 2011, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which represents 21 of the world’s leading economies, hosted a conference in San Francisco, Calif., to discuss international coordination of ISO 50001 deployment within member countries. As active participants throughout the ISO 50001development process, two members of the U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing (U.S. CEEM) were invited to share their insights on successful implementation of the energy management standard.

APEC’s Energy Management Standards and Conformity Assessment Training (EMSCAT) Subcommittee assembled more than 100 international energy management professionals and organized proceedings through four panel sessions:

• Current and Future Principles of ISO 50001;
• Keys to Successful Implementation;
• Experience with Energy Management Internationally; and
• Accreditation, Certification and Regulation.

Featured panelists provided an array of global perspectives and included government officials, energy service professionals, and representatives of leading industrial companies and standards developing bodies.

U.S. CEEM Tapped to Offer Industry Insight on Energy Management

Hewlett-Packard’s Standardized Approach

Hewlett-Packard’s Kenneth Hamilton, director of global energy and sustainability services and a U.S. CEEM member, discussed the merits of a standardized approach to energy management across HP, the world’s largest information technology firm. After setting an ambitious goal to reduce energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions by 40% across HP’s operations and products by 2011 (compared to 2005 levels), HP realized that it required an energy management framework that is internationally applicable and relevant, as its operations span over 170 countries.

Hamilton also lauded ISO 50001 for its ability to incorporate energy management principles into regular business practices. According to Hamilton, “Aligning plant-level goals with broader company and corporate targets is essential to a global company.” For manufacturers facing stagnant international economies, having energy efficiency targets as a practice to contain costs and enhance competitiveness are more important than ever. To demonstrate the impact of proactive energy management, Hamilton shared results from a plant that was certified during the pilot phase of Superior Energy Performance, a plant-level certification program that features conformance with ISO 50001 as a core requirement. For Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) – a small Houston-based manufacturer of resins, coatings and gel coats – conformance with the standard led to a standardized approach to manage energy and helped reduce the plant’s energy intensity by nearly 15%, which lowered energy costs by approximately $250,000 annually with no capital investment.

Hamilton also pointed out that, like other ISO standards, conformance with ISO 50001 will be voluntary. However, such standards tend to quickly become de facto requirements as rapid adoption by competitors drives non-participating companies to implement them. Several APEC countries, including South Korea and Japan, have already adopted ISO 50001 and are in the process of developing and rolling out accreditation and certification programs.

Dow’s Goals & Targets

Joe Almaguer, global energy efficiency and conservation leader of Dow Chemical and a U.S. CEEM-member, shared Dow’s perspective as a large energy consumer with a global manufacturing presence. For Dow, parent company to 10 divisions and 50 global businesses, setting energy performance goals and targets relies on a balance between consist reporting and flexible implementation. Almaguer commended the flexible approach of ISO 50001, noting that its structure would be highly relevant across most energy-intensive organizations. For Dow, a recognized leader in energy management, efforts to capitalize on energy efficiency have manifested in a 25% reduction in energy intensity worldwide since 1994, representing over $9.48 billion in avoided fuel costs.

Said Almaguer, "These improvements, however, would not have been possible without first establishing and implementing a comprehensive energy management system across Dow – a system that effectively institutionalizes a set of management best practices and principles throughout the organization, ensuring that energy efficiency is imbedded into the way we think and act. ISO 50001 provides the framework for establishing such a comprehensive and effective energy management system.”

About U.S. CEEM

The U.S. Council for Energy Efficiency Manufacturing (U.S. CEEM) is a voluntary partnership to enable U.S. industry to achieve global leadership in energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. For more information on U.S. CEEM, visit the organization’s website.