The Council is the first local authority in Scotland and one of the very few public bodies in the UK to achieve ISO 50001 certification, the international standard for energy management systems.
The standard demonstrates the Council’s commitment to best practice and establishes the local authority as a sector leader for energy conservation in Scotland.
Cllr Alasdair Rankin, Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, said: “Our energy management approach has three very important aims - to minimise, manage and promote the responsible use of energy. Edinburgh recently joined other cities across the globe in announcing decisive action to tackle the climate emergency and setting the ambitious target for the City to become carbon neutral by 2030. By attaining this international standard for our own operations, we are demonstrating our leadership for and commitment to achieving a more sustainable future.”
Anne Scorey, UK Managing Director at BSI, said: “ISO 50001 provides a framework for organizations to deliver energy efficiency and carbon reductions by focussing on achieving best practice in energy management. To achieve certification, the City of Edinburgh Council has demonstrated clear processes for successful energy management including an approved energy policy, robust data, achievable targets and defined action plans to deliver on aims.
“There are a number of benefits associated with certification, from improving levels of compliance, reducing the impact of rising costs, and demonstrating to all stakeholders a commitment to best practise and continual improvement. All of which will support the City of Edinburgh Council with reaching its end goal of achieving a sustainable future.”
ISO 50001 defines a route for organisations to deliver energy efficiency and carbon reductions by focussing on achieving best practice in energy management. To achieve certification, an organisation must demonstrate clear processes for successful energy management including an approved energy policy, robust data, achievable targets and defined action plans to deliver on aims. As with similar ISO systems, ISO50001 follows the ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’ process for continual improvement and therefore a key aspect of the system is the need to monitor and measure progress. This enables the organisation to make more informed decisions on actions required to improve energy management, reduce energy use and costs and associated carbon emissions.