The revised standard just released is based on experience from companies and energy professionals over the past seven years. ISO 50001:2018 adopts ISO requirements for a common structure for management system standards bringing it in line with ISO standards for quality (ISO 9001:2015), environment (ISO 14001:2015) and health & safety (ISO 45001:2018). This ensures better compatibility to make implementation easier and simplify integration.

1. I
SO 50001 provides a systematic
approach to energy performance
improvement and energy savings and is
considered the best practice globally.
Evidence shows costs savings from initial
energy improvements of 10% or more
through low cost or no cost changes to
operations (ISO). Some of the main
changes in the new standard include:
• common high-level structure for
management system standards;
• stronger emphasis on the role of top
management;
• focus on energy performance indicators
and baselines;
• clarification on energy data collection;
However, and despite some debate, the
core concepts of achieving continual
improvement of energy performance and
the energy management system have not
changed from the 2011 version.
ISO 50001:2018 adopts ISO
requirements for a common structure for
management system standards bringing it
in line with ISO standards for quality (ISO
9001:2015), environment (ISO
14001:2015) and health & safety (ISO
45001:2018). This ensures better
compatibility to make implementation
easier and simplify integration.
There is a much stronger focus on
organisational context and the role of top
management. A successful EnMS requires
cultural change within an organization and
commitment at all levels, especially top
management. ISO 50001:2018 requires
management to actively engage and
demonstrate leadership for the effectiveness
of the energy management system and
demonstrate continual improvement in
energy performance.
Included is a renewed emphasis on
energy performance indicators (EnPIs) and
associated energy baselines (EnBs)
including normalization where the
organization has data indicating that
relevant variables significantly affect energy
performance. EnPIs and EnBs are core
elements to compare energy performance
changes and demonstrate energy
performance improvement.
Planning for collection of energy data
replaces the “energy measurement plan” in
the 2011 version. An energy data collection
plan should be defined and “appropriate to
the organisations size, complexity, resources
and the measurement and monitoring
equipment” (ISO). The requirements on
data collection, the EnPIs and EnBs ensure
the key concepts related to energy
performance are clearer and more accessible
for SMEs. An organisation can start with
readily available data and expand and
improve the data collection and how it is
analysed over time in line with a continual
improvement process supported by the ISO
50001 standard.
Terms such as “documented procedure”
and “record” are replaced with
“documented information”. Control of
documented information is still important
including review, approval cycles and
version control and a strong document
management system is vital. Also, in line
with Annex SL, risks and opportunities
need to be determined during the EnMS
planning phase including an action plan to
address the identified risks and
opportunities. This risk-based approach
encourages organisations to consider
corrective actions as more than a reactive
measure to non-conformities. When non-
conformities occur, there is a requirement
to review and decide if an action is required
to eliminate the cause of the non-
conformity. An effective management
system through good categorisation and
reporting of non-conformities will quickly
highlight reoccurrences and enable timely
risk prevention actions.
Certified organisations will have three
years to migrate to the new ISO
50001:2018 version of the standard. To
take advantage and ensure a smooth
transition, organisations are encouraged to
start preparing now. If you have already
transitioned to ISO 9001:2015 or ISO
14001:2015, the common processes
(audits, management review, documented
information, competency) can be easily
integrated to enable a more efficient
implementation of ISO 50001:2018.
How you manage your EnMS
information and processes (e.g. prioritising
and tracking improvement opportunities
and action plans, document control, audit
planning and meetings) will not be
obsolete. However, it is a good opportunity
to review your current information
management systems and how effectively
they are at managing these processes.
So, if you are responsible for managing
energy within your organization then ISO
50001:2018 helps you integrate better
energy management into your business. If
you considering ISO 50001, the new
version is available so do not put it off any
longer (imagine the energy savings you
could have achieved if you started in 2011!)
and consider carefully what systems you
will use to manage it now and into the
future.
Mike is CEO & Co-Founder of Enerit
and is a member of the ISO TC/301
committee responsible for the publication
of the updated version of the ISO 50001
standard. Enerit is a global leader in energy
management and ISO management system
standards software. For more information
please contact Enerit E: info@enerit.com
T: +353 91 709818. s
s ISO 50001:2018 RELEASED – ENERIT READY FOR THE TRANSITION
ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY MANAGEMENT, AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018
The new improved ISO 50001
Energy Management System is here
The revised standard just released is based on experience from companies and energy
professionals over the past seven years.
50001 Energy Management System 28/08/2018 11:46 Page 1