{"70830":{"#nid":"70830","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Plays Key Role in Global Energy Management Standard","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEnergy and sustainability experts at the Georgia Institute of Technology have taken a leadership role in the U.S. contribution to a 36-nation effort aimed at developing an international standard that would bring consistency to energy management systems worldwide.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe effort has implications for the public and private sectors alike, providing a process for managing energy use and implementing sustainable practices that would help hold down costs and minimize environmental impacts.  This first-ever international energy management system standard - to be known as ISO 50001 - would also level the playing field for companies competing in the global marketplace.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWith broad applicability across economic sectors, the standard could ultimately affect as much as 60 percent of the energy used in the world.  \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Effective implementation of an energy management system standard often yields resource and cost savings, as well as risk avoidance,\u0022 explained Bill Meffert, manager of energy and sustainability services at Georgia Tech\u0027s Enterprise Innovation Institute.  \u0022Reduction in the use of non-renewable fuels provides environmental benefits to the nation, improves security and leads to use of more sustainable sources of energy.  Process and behavioral changes from targeted energy management projects frequently result in reduced raw materials usage, less waste generation and disposal, and lower air emissions.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBeyond the direct benefits, adoption of ISO 50001 could also lead to long-term cultural changes that benefit organizations in other ways.  \u0022An energy management system standard establishes a culture of continual improvement to sustain the gains made, placing the organization in a position to realize even greater energy efficiencies and further savings,\u0022 Meffert added.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. Department of Energy is supporting the effort through a combination of active participation in the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and through financial support for the administration of the U.S. TAG.  The U.S. TAG is responsible for developing the U.S. consensus position on the proposed standard.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERising energy prices have made managing energy a higher priority for industrial, commercial and governmental organizations worldwide.  Beyond helping manage costs and controlling environmental impacts, large energy users may be driven to adopt the voluntary standards as evidence of their good corporate citizenship.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Many countries around the world will use the standard as the basis for national programs that encourage large energy users to demonstrate their environmental stewardship,\u0022 Meffert said.  \u0022It is expected that national incentives - taxes, credits and similar vehicles - will be used to promote its use and adoption.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ECompanies that adopt the new standard may also gain a public relations and marketing advantage.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Companies that conform to an international energy management system standard will be publicly stating that they have adopted best practices for managing their energy supply and use, which helps make them competitive,\u0022 Meffert added.  \u0022They are also showing that they are managing their natural resources wisely.  Many companies will also want to ensure that their suppliers and partners are environmentally responsible.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn general, Meffert noted, standards are useful to helping organizations establish the order and consistency to manage key business components, whether they address quality, environmental protection or energy issues. \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022By applying this standard, the organization uses the \u0027Plan-Do-Check-Act\u0027 steps of the continual improvement framework to manage energy resources, incorporating energy management into everyday business operations and strategies,\u0022 he said.  \u0022This framework encompasses both the management and the technical elements of energy management.  The effective management of energy requires both to be present and integrated.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile industry has driven development of the new standard, it could be used by any energy-consuming organization.  The standard will define a management system for all energy sources - including electricity, liquid and solid fuels, renewable sources, steam, compressed air and chilled water.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe new ISO 50001 is being developed through a consensus process of the International Standards Organization (ISO) that involves representatives from national standards organizations in more than 36 countries who develop proposals, discuss issues, build consensus, and adopt the final standard.  \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe United States and Brazil are leading the overall effort under ISO\u0027s framework.  In addition to member nation representatives, two liaison members - the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the World Energy Council - are also contributing to the effort.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe ISO\/PC 242 committee established to develop the standard held its first meeting in Washington in early September, and will hold additional meetings on a regular basis.  The goal is to have ISO 50001 ready for publication by the end of 2010, said Deann Desai, project manager with the Enterprise Innovation Institute who serves as secretary to the U.S. TAG.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Excellent progress was made during the first meeting, and a working draft has already been developed,\u0022 she noted.  \u0022Among the issues discussed was the need to ensure compatibility between the new ISO 50001 and existing ISO management standards.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech was heavily involved in developing the existing American National Standards Institute (ANSI) MSE 2000:2008 standard for energy management systems.  That standard has seen limited adoption in the United States, but Meffert said globalization of commerce now requires an international standard that will be widely adopted.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Many businesses today are multinationals that have facilities and\/or trading partners overseas,\u0022 he explained.  \u0022When conducting business on a multinational basis, it is important that the competitive playing field be as even as possible - which is what standardization attempts to accomplish.\u0022\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech worked closely with the Department of Energy in activities leading up to the formal launch of the ISO 50001 development effort.  Members of Georgia Tech\u0027s energy and sustainability staff helped develop a comparison document that was used to facilitate initial international meetings, and they participated with ANSI in the process of producing an application to ISO explaining the need for the new standard.\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u0027s Enterprise Innovation Institute is administering the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for ANSI.  The group is composed of many energy management experts and helps shape the U.S. position for the international standard.  \n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOrganizations interested in participating should contact Deann Desai at (706) 542-8902 or (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:deann.desai@innovate.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Edeann.desai@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E).\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch News \u0026amp; Publications Office\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n75 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 100\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAtlanta, Georgia  30308  USA\u003C\/strong\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedia Relations Assistance\u003C\/strong\u003E: John Toon (404-894-6986); E-mail: (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jtoon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejtoon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E) or Nancy Fullbight (404-894-2214); E-mail: (\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:nancy.fullbright@innovate.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Enancy.fullbright@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E).\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter\u003C\/strong\u003E: John Toon\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Effort will bring consistency to energy management systems worldwide"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"Energy and sustainability experts at the Georgia Institute of Technology have taken a leadership role in the U.S. contribution to a 36-nation effort aimed at developing an international standard that would bring consistency to energy management systems worldwide.","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"New standard may affect 60 percent of the world\u0027s energy"}],"uid":"27303","created_gmt":"2008-11-17 01:00:00","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:03:19","author":"John Toon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2008-11-17T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2008-11-17T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"70831":{"id":"70831","type":"image","title":"Power lines","body":null,"created":"1449177314","gmt_created":"2015-12-03 21:15:14","changed":"1475894623","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:43:43"}},"media_ids":["70831"],"related_links":[{"url":"http:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/Default.aspx?alias=innovate.gatech.edu\/energy","title":"Energy Services"},{"url":"http:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/","title":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"213","name":"energy"},{"id":"289","name":"Global"},{"id":"1052","name":"Management"},{"id":"166890","name":"sustainability"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cstrong\u003EJohn Toon\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EResearch News \u0026amp; Publications Office\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/contact\/index.html?id=jt7\u0022\u003EContact John Toon\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E404-894-6986\u003C\/strong\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jtoon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}