Why ISO 50001 certification is useful

What is ISO 50001?

ISO 50001 is the international standard that sets out the requirements for an energy management system. The current version is ISO 50001:2018.

The standard provides a framework for managing energy performance and for controlling and reducing energy consumption. It helps organizations manage energy effectively and efficiently — and, in doing so, protect the environment. It applies to organizations of every type and size — manufacturing plants, retail chains, hospitals, municipalities and buildings with high consumption.

ISO 50001 follows the common structure of ISO management system standards and integrates easily with ISO 14001 and ISO 9001.

What are the core processes of the system?

The core processes are energy planning, the energy review, collecting energy performance data and establishing a baseline, and energy management planning.

• Energy planningEnergy policy, objectives and action plans based on consumption data.
• Energy reviewAnalysis of energy consumption and energy use — where the energy comes from, where it is used and how much.
• Energy baselineData on the energy performance of the organization’s activities, against which future consumption is compared.
• Energy managementOperational control, maintenance, and the procurement of energy and energy-intensive equipment.

What does the energy review involve?

The energy review is the foundation of the system. In it, the organization analyses consumption by source and identifies its significant energy uses — the facilities, systems and processes that use the most energy or have the greatest potential for improvement. For these, the factors affecting consumption and the opportunities for improvement are determined.

How is progress measured?

Progress is measured with energy performance indicators, which are compared with the energy baseline. This shows the organization whether its measures are actually delivering results.

The baseline is reviewed when significant changes occur — for example, in production capacity, sites or working methods. Otherwise the comparison loses its meaning.

How does the improvement cycle work?

The system follows the “Plan — Do — Check — Act” cycle. The cycle is repeated, so consumption improves gradually and demonstrably.

1. 1Plan

   Energy review, baseline, indicators, objectives and action plans.

2. 2Do

   Implementing the measures, operational control, training and communication, energy-efficient procurement.

3. 3Check

   Monitoring and measuring the indicators, internal audit, management review.

4. 4Act

   Corrective action and new objectives based on the results.

What are the benefits of ISO 50001 certification?

The main benefit is lower consumption and, with it, lower spending on energy resources.

• Lower costsReduced spending on energy resources.
• Environmental protectionLower consumption of energy resources.
• Better profitabilityThe money saved improves the organization’s results.
• Greater competitivenessEvidence of effective management for clients and partners.

The certificate is valid for 3 years, with surveillance audits in the second and third years. The audit is carried out in two stages — a review of the documents and readiness, followed by an on-site assessment of the implementation. Euro Standard Certification is the exclusive representative of CERTIND S.A. in Bulgaria, and CERTIND is accredited by RENAR for ISO 50001 certification.