The importance of energy management and standardisation
Around 80% of the energy consumed within the EU comes from fossil fuels. This leads to pollution and contributes to climate change.
Making better and more rational use of energy and managing our energy use more efficiently has therefore become essential for the sustainable development of our society.
Standardisation can contribute to this objective by promoting best practices and providing authorities and private organisations with the tools to design sound policies, optimise installations and systems and improve energy efficiency. Standards can also support existing European legislation and policy objectives in the area of energy.
CEN and CENELEC activities
In 2002 CEN, together with
CENELEC, the European standardisation body in the electrotechnical field, created a BT Joint Working Group on Energy Management. The intention of this working group was to identify any possible gaps and new areas of standardisation in the field of energy management corresponding to market and regulatory needs. In its
final report, the Working Group identified a series of standardisation priorities in the field of energy management and advised to create a Sector Forum on Energy Management as a platform to exchange information with all stakeholders in order to coordinate the standardisation activities in the energy management field and identify new needs for standardisation.
Following the recommendations of the final report of the Joint Working Group, CEN and CENELEC are developing standards in relation to energy management systems, energy efficiency services, terminology, benchmarking of energy use, energy audits and energy efficiency and savings calculations. More information can be obtained by looking at the Work programme of the existing CEN-CENELEC Joint Working Groups and under Latest news.
EN ISO 50001:2011 'Energy Management Systems - Requirements with guidance for use (ISO 50001:2011)'
EN ISO 50001:2011 was formally issued by CEN and CENELEC on 26 October 2011. This standard provides organisations and companies with a single framework to help them establish the systems and processes necessary to improve energy efficiency.
In line with its predecessor, EN 16001:2009, EN ISO 50001:2011 will contribute to the setting up of a continuous improvement process that will lead to cost reductions, thereby strengthening competitiveness and continual improvement of energy use and business performance. The standard is intended to apply to all types and sizes of organisations, and can be used independently or integrated with any other management system.
Further information on EN ISO 50001:2011 and its implementation may be available from the CEN members and their websites.