Energy Management Concept
According to the results of a research on Energy Management System in 2006, only one percent of the enterprises have an energy manager in 5. Only 20 percent of enterprises have set targets to increase energy efficiency. Only 22 percent of the enterprises had an energy evaluation study. Only 8 percent of enterprises provided training on energy management for their employees.
Nowadays, energy resources are becoming increasingly depleted, requiring not only businesses but everyone to be sensitive about energy management. Within this framework, while preserving the existing resources and using them more efficiently, it is important to search for new energy resources.
The importance of the Energy Management System is evident at this point. This system is a business,
- Enables them to set energy policies and targets and to create energy processes
- Enables the preparation, management and implementation of energy action plans
- Enables energy to reach its goals and objectives
- Raises energy awareness among senior management and all employees
- Reveals the importance of energy saving and ensures that operational controls are carried out to ensure continuity
- Enables regular measurement and analysis of energy use
- Enables monitoring and improvement of energy performance
With energy management studies, companies take a systematic approach. Thanks to this approach, energy efficiency is increased, energy density is reduced, it is effective in senior management's decision-making, it enables organizational and cultural change within the enterprise, it provides competitive advantage against enterprises that cannot make proper resource management, creates awareness of social responsibilities of employees and applies them to legal regulations and domestic and foreign standards. and determine the position of the business for carbon accounting.
What is ISO 50001 Energy Management System?
The ISO 50001 Energy Management System standard was requested by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and work was initiated by the Energy Management Committee, established under the International Standards Organization (ISO) in 2008. In this committee, energy management experts from more than 60 countries came together.
The ISO 2011 standard published in 50001 is based on the ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and ISO 16001 Energy Management System standards.
ISO 50001 Energy Management System consists of processes that control and control the energy consumption of enterprises. With this system, enterprises make action plans for energy consumption, set targets to reduce energy consumption, monitor energy consumption and generate energy performance indicators.
The ISO 50001 standard provides a framework for businesses to manage energy correctly. With the full implementation of this standard all over the world, energy use in many economic sectors is expected to be affected by up to 60 percent worldwide. This standard is designed to integrate and work in harmony with existing management systems.
The function of the management representative is important in the implementation of the ISO 50001 standard. The management representative is responsible for the implementation of the Energy Management System in the enterprise, monitoring and reporting the performance, the formation of relevant teams and the determination of their duties and responsibilities, and the determination of the methods required for the implementation of an effective Energy Management System in the enterprise.
The energy policy to be determined by the enterprise should include a number of commitments. For example, it should include commitments to improve the energy performance of the enterprise, to provide the resources necessary to achieve the specified goals and objectives, and to comply with legal regulations and relevant standards.
Energy performance indicators have an important function in using the system. It is essential to transform energy data into information management. It is effective to monitor and understand the point from which the enterprise has come to which point, prioritizing and making the right decisions. Energy performance indicators are used to better control facilities, equipment and processes to improve the energy performance of the business.
Why ISO 50001 Standard Required?
The earth is in serious danger as a result of irresponsible and unconscious use of resources. Energy resources are decreasing, climate changes are experienced and ecological balances are turned upside down. Therefore, the issue of energy management has been on the world agenda more than ever. Regardless of their field of activity, their responsibilities to the environment are questioned. Each business has to take concrete steps to address and raise the issue of energy efficiency. While the level of awareness of consumers about energy efficiency increases, governmental and non-governmental organizations strive to reduce energy consumption and ensure continuity. Companies that no longer apply the ISO 50001 standard are lagging behind in competition and losing market share.
Businesses must install and implement the ISO 50001 Energy Management System not only to reduce energy costs, but also to prevent energy losses and protect the environment. At the same time, businesses need this system in order to apply legal regulations on greenhouse gas emissions and to avoid penalties. These standards are also based on the legal regulations in force.
The enterprises applying the ISO 50001 standard have obtained a systematic approach in making action plans, determining energy consumption targets, determining energy performance indicators, and seeing the necessary improvement opportunities, recording them and prioritizing them.
In short, the benefits of ISO 50001 Energy Management System can be listed as follows:
- Reduces energy costs
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions, an entity's legal obligation
- Identify weaknesses and risks of energy resources
- Raising awareness about energy management
- Energy policies and objectives of the business become official
- Easy integration with Quality Management System, Environmental Management System and other systems applied in the enterprise
In short, the Energy Management System is a system that ensures the preparation and proper management of the company's energy action plans, the achievement of the determined energy objectives and targets, the controls to ensure the continuity of energy saving, the measurement and monitoring of energy use and the improvement of the energy performance of the enterprise. This system is also a part of the social responsibility of businesses.
