The ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard: What is it and how is it changing?

Abstract

The adoption of the ISO 50001 energy management system standard by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) served to unite the previously separate national standards and provide a structured, globally accepted approach to the management of energy. While the standard has been implemented at over 1000 sites worldwide, recently ISO decided that all their management system standards should be revised by converting them to a uniform high-level structure. The new structure will yield improved results and harmonize different management system standards implemented by an organization. This article will examine the prominent features of an ISO management system, discuss the anticipated changes and present the expected effects of the revisions on implementing organizations.