ISO 50001: An alternative route to ESOS compliance
The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is the world’s largest developer of International Standards. ISO 50001 outlines how a business should develop and maintain an Energy Management System (EnMS) and is known as one of the most cost-effective methods of energy and cost reduction.
ISO 50001 certification will improve your energy efficiency, enhance your sustainability credibility when tendering for contracts, demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to corporate responsibility and could result in monetary benefits. It can also help you reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet any EU ETS, EPBD and CRC commitments you may have. In addition, accredited sites are exempt from the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) (as long as at least 90% of your total energy use is covered).
Some organisations are considering ISO50001 for ESOS Phase 3 to implement a robust energy management system and make future ESOS compliance easier. Although the ISO certification has typically proven more expensive than an ESOS assessment, significant energy savings translate directly to enhanced profits for the certified organisation.
Many businesses choose to adopt ISO 50001 because accreditation acts as a route to ESOS compliance, as long as at least 90% of total energy use is covered. So, if you’re ISO 50001 certified by the ESOS deadline, you can rest assured that you won’t need to do anything further to comply with ESOS regulations.
The benefit of ISO50001 compliance is that it enables you to deliver an ongoing strategy for reducing your business energy consumption – meaning continuous cost savings and board-level support are easier to secure. ISO50001 can also help you to demonstrate your business’ green credentials and will not only provide you with peace of mind that ESOS compliance is within easy reach, but also that your organisation will be equipped to deal with any future changes to reporting legislation.
And, as a result of the energy management system you implement as part of ISO 50001, you’re likely to see a reduction in your greenhouse gas emissions. This will not only make it easier to meet any energy and carbon reduction commitments you may have, but it will boost your green credentials, which should appeal to stakeholders and customers alike.
While there are many benefits to ISO 50001, it may not be suitable for every business so don’t worry if you don’t think it’s the right option for your organisation – it’s not the only way to make your organisation more energy efficient! Remember, if you’re not ISO 50001 certified by the ESOS Phase Two deadline then you may need to use alternative ESOS compliance options.