Certification to ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems (EnMs)

An ISO 50001 EnMS helps you develop a systematic approach to energy performance, procurement and usage. With ISO 50001, businesses cut both consumption and costs alongside reducing reliance on 3rd party energy suppliers, further de-risking operations. ISO 50001 procedures focus solely on sustainable energy practice with numerous additional requirements not covered by ISO 14001.

ISO 50001:2018 was published on 21 August 2018 outlining the requirements for a data-driven process focused on continual improvement in energy performance. 

The most important change is the introduction of the High-Level Structure, Annex SL, which ensures compatibility with other energy management system standards including ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, simplifying integration.

The new version of ISO 50001 requires organisations to look beyond their own energy requirements and consider what external requirements and risks exist. Risks and opportunities should be considered as part of the high-level strategic direction making to ensure energy management principles are integrated into the structure of the organisation.

ISO 50001:2018 brings in a stronger focus on continual improvement in energy performance with greater involvement of leadership and employees. The revised standard is also expected to improve efficiencies and reduce energy costs; thus, allowing organisations to reduce their environmental impact and become more competitive.

Cut energy costs

ISO 50001 energy management reduces consumption through structured monitoring of energy use, improves energy efficiencies and thus helps businesses save.

Brand equity

ISO 50001 certification demonstrates your commitment to environmental responsibility by ensuring compliance with local energy legislation to continuously improve your brand reputation.

Ongoing efficiency

By monitoring energy performance against industry benchmarks to pinpoint improvements, you can ensure that your business runs at optimal efficiency over the long-term.

Financial savings

Organisations often neglect potential energy efficiency improvements. ISO 50001 highlights these opportunities for gain, realising the full potential of your energy management system.

The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) a mandatory energy assessment scheme for organisations in the UK that meet the qualification criteria.

ISO 50001 certification issued by UKAS accredited certification body such as LRQA, that covers the full scope of your organisation’s energy consumption, will automatically qualify your organisation to comply with the ESOS and you will only need to notify the Environment Agency and provide proof of compliance via the ISO 50001 certification route.

A new ESOS compliance period starts every four years. The next qualification date for compliance (Period 3) is  31 December 2022. If your system is certified to ISO 50001, your organisation will automatically demonstrate Period 3 ESOS compliance. Maintenance and continual improvement of your ISO 50001 certified system will also allow ongoing compliance with future ESOS Phases.

If you’re still wondering “what is ISO 50001”, it’s the single most structured approach covering energy management best practice, helping organisations benchmark, measure, document and report on energy efficiencies.

LRQA is a market leader in EnMS certification and training with more than 30 years’ experience, offering training, gap analysis, assessment and certification services to help organisations implement an effective energy management system.

Independent

LRQA maintains its independence and impartiality across all consultancy and certification services. We follow the same rigorous process to reach the highest standards with the best possible outcomes for client confidence in all our decisions.

Technical expertise

LRQA has been involved in the assessment and certification of EnMS standards for many years. Our assessors are management systems’ experts qualified in environment and energy management. They not only understand the potential efficiencies in forward-thinking initiatives but apply their knowledge to your specific context to guarantee impact both today and over the long-term.