Energy Management System

Your Foundation for Efficient Energy Consumption

Meet legal requirements, save energy and gain competitive advantages: Make energy management effective in accordance with ISO 50001 using IMS software!

What Is an Energy Management System? – a Definition

An energy management system (EnMS) brings together resources such as requirements, processes and documents. In this way, it serves to systematically record, analyze and optimize the energy consumption of companies and other organizations. The goal is to improve the energy-related performance of the organization. Due to increasing environmental awareness and new regulatory requirements, energy management is becoming more and more relevant in industry.

In practice, the energy management system is often linked to ISO 50001. Among other things, the international management system standard stipulates the systematic recording and analysis of energy data, the planning and implementation of measures to increase energy-related performance and the continuous improvement of the system.

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What Is an Energy Management System? – a Definition
For Which Companies Is ISO 50001 Mandatory?
How Is Certification According to ISO 50001 Achieved?
When Is Energy Management According to ISO 50001 Effective?
Which Benefits Does a Software for Energy Management According to ISO 50001 Have?
How Does IMS Software from Babtec Support Energy Management?

For Which Companies Is ISO 50001 Mandatory?

A person, plants and renewable energies symbolizing the energy management system

There is no general legal obligation in Germany to introduce an ISO 50001 energy management system. However, there are legal requirements that make energy management mandatory for industry and companies under certain conditions. This applies in particular to:

Large companies: Companies with at least 250 employees or with an annual turnover of more than €50 million and a balance sheet total of more than €43 million are required to carry out regular energy audits in accordance with the Energy Services Act (EDL-G); alternatively, a certified EnMS or an environmental management system (EMS) in accordance with EMAS is also permitted.
Energy-intensive companies: Companies with a total final energy consumption of more than 7.5 gigawatt hours per year are required by the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) to introduce and operate an EnMS in accordance with ISO 50001 or an EMS in accordance with EMAS.
The same law requires companies with a total annual final energy consumption of between 2.5 and 7.5 gigawatt hours to publish an implementation plan with identified and evaluated energy saving measures. This can be created as part of an EnMS or UMS, but is also possible without a complete management system.
In addition, a certified management system according to ISO 50001 or EMAS is a prerequisite for claiming certain tax relief.

Apart from the legal obligation to implement energy management in certain cases, a certified energy management system according to ISO 50001 offers numerous other advantages that can also pay off for other companies: It is clear evidence to employees, customers and the public that the company is actively addressing its energy consumption. The competitive advantages resulting from ISO 50001 certification should not be underestimated: On the one hand, higher energy efficiency reduces consumption and thus energy costs; on the other hand, customers sometimes require their suppliers to have certified management systems in place.

How Is Certification According to ISO 50001 Achieved?

A person and a speech bubble with the abbreviation "ISO"

The certification process for energy management according to ISO 50001 does not differ significantly from certifications for other management system standards. Examples include ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 14001 for environmental management.

Certification is usually carried out by an independent, accredited body and requires, among other things, a document review and an on-site audit. The basic structure of the standards is also largely identical, which facilitates the integration of different subject areas into an Integrated Management System (IMS).

How Does Energy Management According to ISO 50001 Effective?

Effective energy management – in industry as in other areas – first requires clearly defined goals. These can relate to energy savings, increased efficiency, CO₂ reduction, etc. The system according to ISO 50001 does not specify explicit targets for energy management; rather, companies should set their own energy-related goals and commit to systematically controlling and continuously improving their implementation.

To this end, it makes sense to define clear responsibilities, for example by appointing a person responsible for energy management. Top management bears overall responsibility for the effectiveness of the energy management system. It should actively support energy-related objectives, provide resources and promote continuous improvement. A solid and comprehensive database also creates transparency and supports informed decisions and continuous improvement. Last but not least, employees should also be made aware of energy management in the company, for example through training or appropriate procedural instructions.

Which Benefits Does a Software for Energy Management According to ISO 50001 Have?

Screen displaying IMS software for the energy management system

Companies that use suitable software for their energy management system as part of their IMS have a distinct advantage. Within such IMS software, risks and opportunities, requirements, processes, training etc. from different subject areas can be viewed within a uniform structure. This makes it easier to exploit synergies between the various disciplines. Such software is therefore primarily used in energy management according to ISO 50001 to transparently fulfill the normative requirements. More specialized energy management software can also map aspects such as energy consumption measurement.

Compared to paper-based processes or spreadsheets, software offers various additional advantages in the context of management systems, for example by reducing manual effort in data collection and analysis. In addition, it helps to make important resources available to all parties involved in order to increase the effectiveness and transparency of the management system. It also facilitates reporting and the preparation and implementation of audits, which are mandatory for certification of the energy management system according to ISO 50001.

How Does IMS Software from Babtec Support Energy Management?

Operate your energy management with a system: Babtec software supports your company in making your energy management system effective with the help of modules such as risk management, requirements management and process management. As part of your Integrated Management System, you also take a holistic and systematic approach to energy issues, use interfaces and gain competitive advantages.