This step is relevant to section 4.4.6 of the ISO 50001-2011 standard.
Once you have selected the energy projects that will enable your organization to achieve its energy objectives and targets, designate a project leader. If the scope and complexity of the project requires additional resources, assemble a project team with the support of the management representative and top management. Then, develop an energy management action plan for each project. A good plan considers resources and includes planning, implementing, verifying and communicating.
An energy management action plan developed to meet the requirements of ISO 50001 defines, at a minimum:
The activities to be completed to implement the project and achieve the energy target(s),
The resources needed to complete the activities,
The time frame for completing the activities,
The person or persons responsible for completing the activities,
A description of the method for verifying project results,
A description of the method for verifying the improvement in energy performance
The energy management action plans must be documented and kept up to date at defined intervals.
The designation of a project leader with overall responsibility for project implementation provides for one point of contact between management and the project team. This person directs the project team to ensure implementation is in accordance with the action plan.
How to do it
There are four tasks required to develop energy management action plans:
Designate a project leader for each energy project. The project leader assembles a project team with representatives from the appropriate functions or areas. The project team develops a list of actions required for project implementation. Each of these actions requires resources. The project team will document, in an energy management action plan, the required actions and resources. The Energy Management Action Plan Template can be a useful starting point.
When defining actions necessary for project implementation, be sure to also address:
The method(s) to be used to verify the results of the action plan and the performance improvement(s) achieved,
Any process or procedure changes required by the project,
Training of employees or contractors on the changes implemented due to the project, as needed,
Continued monitoring and measurement of project parameters to ensure that the energy performance improvement is sustained over time, and
Communication of benefits to stakeholders
A comprehensive list of actions helps ensure the team understands what is necessary to implement the project, and they can communicate required resources effectively to management.
After the list of activities and the required resources have been determined, the team develops the timeframes for completing the activities, considering resource availability and the stated timeframes established for achieving the energy objectives and targets. Ensure due dates are included in the action plan, and ensure the action plans are reviewed and updated at regular intervals. If a comprehensive and accurate schedule is completed before starting the project, it will guide the project leader and the project team to successfully complete the project.
2.11.2 Designate responsibilities
After the list of activities and the project schedule have been determined, assign responsibilities to appropriate individuals or teams to ensure completion of each action. Ensure responsible parties are documented in the action plan. The project leader can use the action plan to track the progress of project activities.
Determine if any activities need to be completed by personnel not represented on the project team. Consider adding these persons to the team, or ensure the project manager communicates with these supporting personnel.
2.11.3 Define verification methods
To effectively evaluate project results, the project leader or team will need to identify who is going to be responsible for project verification. The person or team assigned should have a working knowledge of the systems involved, and be competent in performing the necessary data gathering and analysis. Complex projects may take a large multi-disciplinary team to perform the verification. Simple projects may be verified by a single individual.
To clearly define the method of verification the following questions will need to be answered:
What will be measured or evaluated to identify project impacts?
How will it be measured or evaluated?
The answers to these questions will establish the measurement or evaluation activities necessary for verification. Consideration should also be given to any instrumentation or metering that could be included in the project scope to enhance the ability to measure and evaluate system energy performance and project results.
Once these activities are determined, the verification process will need to establish a baseline or measurement of pre-project operations. When the project is complete the verification process will need to evaluate or measure the post-project results. The estimated or expected project results can then be compared with the actual data from the project verification to determine the effectiveness of the action plan.
The project is not complete until the verification of results is complete and the project team has reviewed them. The analysis of expected vs. actual project results will provide inputs to future action plans. More effective energy management project planning will lead to measureable gains in energy performance.
The verification methods and the verification results should be recorded on the energy management action plan.
2.11.4 Document and update the action plan(s)
ISO 50001 requires that energy management action plans be documented. The format of the documented action plan is determined by your organization. It can be a printed document or exist in an electronic format on your information system network. If your organization has an existing project management planning form, consider comparing it to the ISO 50001 requirements for an action plan, and modify or edit where needed to conform to these requirements. If there is no existing format, consider using the Energy Management Action Plan Template.
The project implementation team holds regular meetings to review the action plan and determine progress against the schedule developed in Step 2.11.2 above. The team will meet as appropriate based on the project scope and duration.
During team meetings, use the action plan to determine if implementation is progressing as expected. Also, use team meetings to determine if any additional resources are required or if any additional activities need to be included in the action plan. Review and update the energy management action plan in accordance with the schedule and use it to communicate regularly with management. An Example Energy Management Action Plan illustrates a completed action plan, including the verification of the energy performance improvement achieved.
Resources & Examples
These resources can help you develop action plans to achieve the energy objectives and targets established by your organization:
Now that you have completed Step 2, Plan for Energy Management, it can be useful to review the “PLAN” section of the following resource to confirm your understanding of the records that will provide evidence of the implementation and effectiveness of your EnMS planning activities. This resource is designed primarily for organizations that plan to seek third-party certification to ISO 50001-2011, but it also can be useful to organizations simply seeking to confirm that they have the appropriate records for their EnMS planning processes:
