UK launches new green standard to help business reduce carbon

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The British Standards Institution (BSI) has published a new environmental standard that could help firms reduce their greenhouse house emissions and energy costs.

The BS EN 16001 shows organizations how to establish the systems and processes necessary to improve energy efficiency across their operations.

Findings of a recent BSI survey show that the standard is much needed. Of 800 public and private sector UK organisations surveyed, only half rated their energy management practices as good or very good.

This is despite 78 percent of respondents saying that energy management is either important or very important to their senior management team, which according to BSI demonstrates a willingness to engage with energy management issues but a shortfall in actual delivery.

The green protocol specifies the requirements for an energy management system which requires the development of an energy policy, identification of an organization’s past, present and future energy consumption as well as the development of an energy monitoring (metering) plan.

Analysis of actual versus expected energy consumption will allow businesses to put plans in place to help improve efficiency.

Rather than prescribing exactly how operations should be run, BS EN 16001 provides the framework which will enable effective energy management.

Rather than simply considering a range of technical solutions to its areas of major energy consumption, the energy management framework will begin the process of behavioural change needed to embed energy efficiency considerations in everyday decision making.

It will help in the implementation of planned actions cited in the EU Energy Services Directive (2006) and requires organizations to take into account relevant legal and legislative obligations, such as the Carbon Reduction Commitment.

BS EN 16001, a European standard published by BSI in the UK, is based on an established methodology known as Plan-Do-Check-Act.

The requirements necessary to implement the standard include:

Plan: Identify energy aspects and legal obligations and establish energy objectives and targets.
Do: Assign resources and responsibilities; raise organizational awareness and provide training; communicate internally and externally; establish documentation; implement operational controls.
Check: Establish the monitoring of energy management programme; evaluate compliance with legal obligations; identify and manage non-conformance; control records; carry out internal audits of the energy management system.
Act: Review of energy management system by top management resulting in potential changes.

The management system format of Plan-Do-Check-Act ensures that BS EN 16001 can be used by any organization, irrespective of size, structure or complexity, benefiting both multi-national corporations and small and medium enterprises.
The requirements of the standard can also be aligned with those of other established and widely used management systems, such as quality and environment.

Organizations wishing to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of BS EN 16001, or to assure their customers that they have an appropriate energy management system in place, will be able to do so via independent certification.

Mike Low, Director, Standards, BSI, said: “BS EN 16001 is an important and encouraging step for organizations across the UK. Our research tells us that the interest in energy management is primarily driven by potential cost savings and a desire to protect the global climate.

“This standard offers these benefits and will help organizations streamline their compliance with legislation. As well as being good being good for business it will also play a part in tackling climate change and establishing the UK as a low carbon economy. I encourage businesses and public sector bodies to embrace the standard.”

BS EN 16001 was developed by a CEN (European Committee for Standardization) committee with input from BSI’s Energy Management committee in the UK. The BSI committee includes representation from leading industry experts, academia and trade associations.