ISO 50001, the Energy Management Standard, and AEMAS

In response to what has been recognized as a need for industry to start a unified effort to address concerns regarding climate change and the numerous national energy management standards independently developed by various countries and regions, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) organized in March 2007 a meeting of experts. Present were representatives from the ISO Central Secretariat (ISO-CS) as well as countries that have already adopted (or are in the process of developing) their own national energy management standards. Among these countries are USA, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, Thailand, Korea, the EU, China, Spain and Brazil. This meeting resulted in the submission of a request to the ISO-CS to develop an international energy management standard.

The ISO Technical Management Board (ISO-TMB) responded by establishing in February 2008 the Project Committee 242 (PC 242-Energy Management) tasked to develop the new International Energy Management Standard, ISO 50001. This committee is headed by Mr. Edwin Pinero, as International Chair, while the Associacao Brasileira de Normas Technicas (ABNT) of Brazil and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) of the USA both function as the Secretariat. With the support of the US Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing and the US Department of Energy, ANSI of the US made a comparison of the various national standards and together with the Standardization Administration of China and the UNIDO, prepared a framework for action used by the PC 242.

The PC 242, which consisted then of 35 countries and 5 observers had their first meeting in September 2008 and has so far developed an energy management standard that has a high level of compatibility with the ISO 9001 Quality Management System and the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System. The project has progressed to having the ISO 5001 Energy Management Standard approved as a Draft International Standard (DIS) which means that it can now be commented on or voted upon by the national member bodies of the ISO. The final draft of the standard (FDIS) is targeted for release by the 3^rd Quarter of 2011 and is envisioned to provide the following benefits:

• A framework for integrating energy efficiency into management practices
• Making better use of existing energy-consuming assets
• Benchmarking, measuring, documenting, and reporting energy intensity improvements and their projected impact on reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
• Transparency and communication on the management of energy resources
• Energy management best practices and good energy management behaviours
• Evaluating and prioritizing the implementation of new energy-efficient technologies
• A framework for promoting energy efficiency throughout the supply chain
• Energy management improvements in the context of GHG emission reduction projects.

Related to this activity regarding energy management is the setting up recently of the Asean Energy Management Scheme (AEMAS) Philippines, which, along with six other Asean countries, is the country’s partner organization of the Asean Center for Energy. The establishment of AEMAS, which was designed in 2004-2006 under the steering of the Asean Energy Efficiency and Conservation Sub-Sector and subsequently endorsed by the Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), is funded through the European Commission Switch Program. AEMAS’ establishment is also a key milestone in the program to create the ASEAN Community by 2015 and which envisions to economically integrate the ASEAN region.

The objective of AEMAS is two fold, namely: a) The Training and Certification of Energy Managers, which is envisioned to result in the improvement of their professional standing and career path opportunities, as well as make them more effective in implementing energy management programs, and b) The Certification of Energy End-Users which would help end users improve their energy performance, support sustainable development efforts and eventual compliance with the upcoming ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard at lower cost.

 Through its program, AEMAS Philippines aims to be a significant factor in the country’s effort to improve its energy usage efficiency as well as deliver its share in AEMAS’ target to generate energy savings of 200,000 MWhr per annum from energy-intensive industries. This corresponds to a reduction in annual emission of CO2 by 110,000 tons.

Last February 21, 2011 I had the opportunity to participate in the first meeting and organization of the AEMAS Philippines Council, where I represented the PROMAP Foundation, Inc as its president. This council which is composed of a network of government agencies and intermediary organizations in the private sector like trade and professional organizations, industrial estates, export processing zones, chambers of commerce, institutions and others, shall support the promotion of AEMAS, assist with the training, and participate in promotional campaigns as well as other activities.

AEMAS Philippines is headed by Eng’r. Ernesto J. Casis as Country Coordinator and Manager, Eng’r. Jose A. Hilario and Eng’r. Rolando C. Constantino as Country Experts and assisted by the Energy Efficiency Practitioners Association of the Philippines (ENPAP) Board led by Eng’r. Bernard E. Pacia. The Steering Committee representative to AEMAS is OIC-Director Jesus C. Anunciacion of the Department of Energy. The organization’s office is located in Rm. 2010, V.V. Soliven Bldg., EDSA, San Juan City and can be contacted through Tel No. 705-1556 and email address enpap_aemas@yahoo.com.