Energy Management Systems Universities

Energy management systems universities (ISO 50001:2011) can provide a disciplined way in which organisations, especially those that have a large building footprint (such as universities) can work towards achieving energy reduction targets.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), has published guidelines for the development and implementation of Carbon Management Plans, based on the requirements of the Climate Change Act 2008 for all English Universities. This  guidance coupled with the inbuilt rivalry between universities, as measured through People & Planet’s Green League, is providing a stimulus for universities to work towards management systems that were previously only adopted by larger businesses in manufacturing and industry.

Most universities by nature are not management system or process driven organisations as typically found in the automotive or aerospace industries, so the adoption of an energy management system compliant to ISO 50001:2011 may seem daunting at first with the documentation and system approach necessary to implement the requirements. Universities, however do have rafts of data and information on the estate and the hard figures required to demonstrate monitoring and improvement objectives are all there ready to be organised and developed.

As in many other organisations, implementing change comes down to adopting and altering behaviours and the buy-in of the university staff and students. This may be the most difficult part of implementing an energy management system in universities

For an initial audit against the requirements of ISO 50001:2011, please contact us direct. The initial audit is typically two to three days in duration depending on estate size and complexity.

Energy management systems universities