Extending certification to energy management systems: a contribution to improve energy efficiency in industry

Panel: Panel 4. Building the bridge from lab to customer

Authors:
Denis A. Coelho, University of Beira Interior
João Carlos de Oliveira Matias, University of Beira Interior
António Espírito Santo, University of Beira Interior

Abstract

Energy consumption is to continue increasing, moreover, developed countries should assume a moral compromise to safeguard energy supply to almost 2 billion people who currently have no access to commercial energy. Environmental problems are associated with energy problems; timed commitments emphasizing reducing pollutant emissions were stipulated and assumed by most countries in Kyoto (1997). One action meant for implementation, concerning industry, was increasing efficiency of energy use by applying energy conservation strategies and seeking major technological advances; another one would be performing routine controls on implemented Energy Management Systems. The acceptance and adherence of industry worldwide to certification in ISO 9000 (Quality Management System) initially, and later in ISO 14000 (Environmental Management System) and OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management) is outstanding. This contribution recommends the joint certification of these standards’ systems with energy auditing, and broaches intervention methodologies. Consequently, a company could only have ISO 9000, ISO 14000 and, or, OHSAS 18001 certification, had it conducted in parallel the process for certifying its Energy Management System (EMS). The goal is to establish a basal platform enabling the efficient use of energy resources and minimising their environmental impact. ISO 9000 and 14000 standards, presently a factor of competitiveness amongst many industrial sectors, already portray a limited set of issues related with energy. By having these standards systems’ certification tied with the certification of EMSs (according to energy efficiency and environment conservation requirements), companies are “forced” to decrease their energy consumption and their pollutant emissions (directly or through electricity production).