The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently recognized the publication of ISO 50001, a new global energy efficiency and energy management standard that can help organizations worldwide save money in their buildings and industrial facilities. The new international standard is expected to pave the way for long-term energy savings and serve as a critical tool for the implementation of the DOE’s energy efficiency programs.

The voluntary standard, which was developed by a project committee of 45 partnering countries from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), provides organizations with a framework for continuous energy performance improvements. The framework will encourage the adoption of best practices that reduce the energy use of existing equipment and facilities, require the use of energy performance data to target cost-effective upgrades, and emphasize the design and installation of highly efficient energy systems and equipment. By increasing their operational efficiency, organizations that adopt the ISO 50001 standard can save money by saving energy.

The ISO 50001 standard is available worldwide and can be applied across economic sectors. The tool will help leading organizations make high-quality, accessible, and affordable energy improvements that can transform the marketplace for energy efficiency upgrades in businesses and institutions across the globe. Because industrial plants and commercial buildings make up 60% of the world’s energy demand, the standard can play a key role in global energy efficiency efforts.

The implementation of ISO 50001 will be coordinated through the DOE’s Federal Energy Management Program for federal industrial and commercial facilities, and internationally through DOE’s Clean Energy Ministerial.