New BS management standard guides 20% energy saving 26 April 2010

BSi has launched a new standard to help and establish systems and processes that improve energy efficiency and reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

BS EN 16001 employs the same 'plan-do-check-act' approach as Environmental Systems Standard ISO 14001, but focuses specifically on the identification and management of energy.

The process starts with establishing an appropriate energy policy, conducting an energy review and thus identifying the factors that affect energy consumption. This is followed by facilitating planning, control, monitoring, and measurement of energy consumption and the establishment of energy saving targets.

Legal requirements have to be identified, as do priorities. In order to ensure that things happen, the standard requires the establishment of a relevant structure and programme(s) to implement the policy, achieve objectives and meet performance targets.

Further, it is expected that there will be appropriate communication awareness campaigns and training to ensure competence of staff, regular reviews and updates of activities, and the engagement of senior management.

The new standard is stand-alone and does not require adoption of ISO 14001, which requires an organisation to consider all its significant environmental impacts, including energy. BS EN 16001 provides a more specific framework than ISO 14001 that enables a firm to apply a greater focus on energy efficiency.

Pilot adopters include Camfil Farr, a global manufacturer of air filtration equipment and associated services. Managing director Bill Wilkinson says: "We never used to pay much attention to our energy bill. However, since implementing the management system, we have been able to save over 20% in energy consumption year on year."

To assist implementation, BSi has implemented a two day training course and 'BSI Energy Management Self-assessment Online. A free trial is available on request.

Brian Tinham

Related Websites
www.bsigroup.com/en16001

Related Companies
BSI Group

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