Environmental Management Systems as New Tools to Enhance Sustainable Energy Use

Panel: Panel 3: Energy Efficiency options for industry

Author:
Rolf Wüstenhagen, Institut für Wirtschaft und Ökologie, University of St. Gallen (IWÖ-HSG), Switzerland

Abstract

In 1993, the EU legislation on Environmental Management and Audits (EMAS) came into force. By the end of 1996, the international environmental management norm ISO 14001 had been completed. Although conceived as integrated approaches to environmental protection, these concepts prove to have significant positive effects on energy efficiency. This paper presents how EMS influence energy efficiency and to what extent they also enhance a second aspect of sustainable energy use, which is effective use of energy throughout the life cycle.

Two groups applying Environmental Management Systems (EMS) can be distinguished:

1) Industrial companiesƒ energy efficiency improves by an increased awareness for their energy flows and costs induced by setting up an EMS. A number of case studies have proved that EMAS participation has been a decisive kick off for companies to start tackling their efficiency potentials. This is also due to the fact that EMAS as well as ISO 14001 call for continual environmental improvement. Commitment and action towards effective use of energy, however, remains so far the exception among companies implementing EMS.

2) A second aspect is that also energy utilities can participate in EMAS or set up environmental management systems following ISO 14001. If implemented correctly, this gives them a mighty tool for a more systematic approach to environmental management as a whole as well as to energy efficiency in particular. To achieve this, it is crucial for utilities not to restrict their efforts to the supply side and to marginal technical improvements on existing sites. Following the Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) approach, utilities participating in EMAS should integrate measures to make use of renewable energies as well as programs to enhance efficient use of energy by their customers into their EMS.