Like policies in both ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 9001:2015, the energy policy in a management system is one of the responsibilities of top management. And, although the required policy commitments vary somewhat for each of these standards, they can be combined into a single integrated management system policy. The energy policy commitments of ISO 50001 are often integrated into environmental and/or safety and health management system policies. The energy policy also can be implemented as a stand-alone policy.

The energy policy your organization drafted in Step 1.3 of the ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management should be checked to ensure it meets the specific requirements for ISO 50001. An energy policy that adheres to ISO 50001 must commit to continual improvement of both energy performance and the energy management system. It must also commit to providing needed information and resources to accomplish the objectives and energy targets and meet compliance obligations (mandatory and voluntary). In addition, the energy policy must support the purchase of energy efficient products and services, as well as consideration of energy performance improvement in design activities.

The energy policy must state top management’s commitments to the following:

• Continual improvement in energy performance
• Continual improvement of the energy management system (EnMS)
• Ensuring that the information and resources needed to meet objectives and energy targets are available
• Complying with applicable legal requirements and other energy-related requirements relevant to your organization

In addition, the energy policy must support:

• Purchasing of energy-efficient products and services that impact energy performance.
• Consideration of energy performance improvement in design activities.

The policy may be only a few sentences, or it may be several paragraphs long. Simpler and shorter is typically better, but it needs to include the commitments listed above and be appropriate to the nature of your organization.

Sometimes top management or the energy management team will incorporate additional commitments into the energy policy (e.g., sustainability, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, ENERGY STAR^®, and other government requirements) that are not required by ISO 50001. This is acceptable; however, remember that what is stated in the policy must be demonstrated. In other words, if you say it then you must do it.

Typically, the energy team prepares an initial draft of the energy policy for top management’s consideration and approval. The Playbook worksheet can help your team draft the energy policy. If your organization already has an energy policy, that can serve as a starting point. Conduct a review to see if the existing policy includes the items listed above.

As a statement of your organization’s intentions, top management must take “ownership” of the energy policy. This includes ensuring that the energy policy is aligned with the strategic direction of the organization. It should support the long-term goals of your organization. Evidence of top management’s approval of the energy policy can take a variety of forms, from a simple signature and date to a recorded meeting decision.

Typically, the energy policy is incorporated into internal EnMS-related communications and EnMS awareness training activities. Also, it can be posted on communication boards or otherwise displayed where it is easily visible. The energy policy also must be available to interested parties, as appropriate.

The energy policy should be reviewed regularly and updated as needed. This is accomplished through the management review process (see Task 23 Management Review).

If you do not have an existing 50001 Ready-based EnMS and want to build one that helps your organization manage energy-related GHG emissions, you should follow the guidance in the “Full Description” tab keeping the following in mind:

1. Draft your policy statement.  Follow the guidance for developing an energy policy and include the recommended energy-related GHG emissions items that are relevant to your organization.
2. Have top management approve the policy.  Make sure top management understands where the policy calls out energy-related GHG emissions performance and how the combination of energy performance and GHG emissions performance will be explained to the rest of the organization.
3. Incorporate the energy policy into your EnMS awareness program.  Make sure the energy and the GHG aspects of the policy are clearly communicated and that any awareness training addresses why the policy includes both.

If you have an existing 50001 Ready-based EnMS and want to adapt it to also manage energy-related GHG emissions, you should:

1. Review your existing energy policy statement. Update your statement to include the recommended energy-related GHG emissions items that are relevant to your organization.
2. Have top management review and approve the new policy.  Review the updated policy with top management.  Make sure they understand where energy-related GHG emissions were added and where they were not, as well as the reasoning behind those decisions.
3. Update any EnMS communications and awareness training materials. The updated energy policy should be incorporated into any EnMS-related communications and awareness training.  Consider including a discussion on why energy-related GHG emissions were included and the benefits to the organization.

Draft a written water management policy that ties water efficiency to the long-term operating objective of the facility or organization. Use 42 USC 8253 as a foundation for your policy, or use your current energy management policy as a starting point to align the efforts. Make sure that policy is communicated across the organization. That policy statement provides the structure for establishing and achieving water management goals. As pointed out in FEMP’s Water Manual section 2.4 (Define Program Scope), consider framing agency goals around the following concepts:

• Efficiency: Optimized facilities that minimize water use
• Resilience: Facilities with the ability to withstand, adapt, and recover from disruptions
• Sustainability: Facilities with adequate water supply to meet long-term needs and support sustainable regional supplies

Consistent with the ISO 50001 standard, water management details that could be integrated into the policy statement include the following (items in bold are recommended water-related details beyond ISO 50001 requirements):

• Continual improvement of water use efficiency
• Ensuring that information and resources needed to meet objectives and water performance targets are available
• Complying with applicable legal requirements and other water performance requirements relevant to your organization

Also include support for:

• Purchasing of water-efficient products and services that impact water performance
• Consideration of energy and energy-related GHG emissions performance improvement in design activities

Organizations with aggressive water performance targets or mature water-use reduction programs should include water-use details in the policy to provide clarity for the organization.

50001 Ready requires the energy policy to include:

• Achieving continual improvement in energy performance
• Ensuring the information and resources needed to meet energy objectives and targets
• Complying with applicable legal requirements and other energy-related requirements subscribed to by your organization
• Purchasing of energy-efficient products and services
• Energy performance improvement in design activities

Ensure that your energy policy aligns with any corporate requirements and policies. Your energy policy may serve as a means of organizing your goals for requirement compliance and further emphasizing commitment to meeting these requirements. Also consider any near- to mid-term future requirements that could best be addressed now through your energy policy.

Like policies in both ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 9001:2015, the energy policy in a management system is one of the responsibilities of top management. And, although the required policy commitments vary somewhat for each of these standards, they can be combined into a single integrated management system policy. The energy policy commitments of ISO 50001 are often integrated into environmental and/or safety and health management system policies. The energy policy also can be implemented as a stand-alone policy.

The energy policy your organization drafted in Step 1.3 of the ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management should be checked to ensure it meets the specific requirements for ISO 50001. An energy policy that adheres to ISO 50001 must commit to continual improvement of both energy performance and the energy management system. It must also commit to providing needed information and resources to accomplish the objectives and energy targets and meet compliance obligations (mandatory and voluntary). In addition, the energy policy must support the purchase of energy efficient products and services, as well as consideration of energy performance improvement in design activities.