This step is relevant to section 4.5.6 of the ISO 50001-2011 standard.
In ISO 50001, design is concerned with the development of new, modified and renovated facilities, equipment, systems and processes that can have a major impact on energy performance. Energy performance is defined as measurable results related to energy efficiency, energy use and energy consumption. The design requirements of ISO 50001 incorporate energy performance improvement opportunities and operational control as considerations in design activities. This can provide the basis for more innovative and energy efficient designs.
Before implementing the design requirements of ISO 50001, it is important to understand energy performance and to have already identified your organization’s significant energy uses (Step 2.5), EnPIs (Step 2.7), and energy objectives and targets (Step 2.9).
For organizations with ISO 9001-2008 quality management systems, it is important to note that the design requirements in ISO 50001 do not include product design.
How to do it
There are four tasks needed to manage energy considerations in design:
3.6.1 Identify the facilities, equipment, systems and processes that can have significant impact on energy performance
Any facilities, equipment, systems or processes that are within the scope of the EnMS that can or will significantly impact energy performance fall under the design requirements of ISO 50001. This means that energy performance improvement opportunities and operational controls must be considered when you design new, or renovate or modify any facilities, equipment, systems and processes which can have a major effect on your energy efficiency, energy use and energy consumption.
The facilities, equipment, systems and processes that can impact energy performance can vary depending on the specifics of the design project. At a minimum, the items that can significantly impact energy performance include the facilities, equipment, systems or processes associated with:
Management and operation of the significant energy uses,
Achieving the energy objectives, targets and action plans, and
The EnPIs.
3.6.2 Incorporate consideration of energy opportunities and operational control in design projects
When designing new facilities, equipment, systems and processes or renovating or modifying existing ones, think about how they can or will affect your organization’s energy performance. Identify potential energy performance improvements that can be considered for the design. Also, identify any operational controls that may be needed as part of the design. These would include controls necessary to achieve the energy performance improvement, or at least to minimize (or appropriately manage) the impacts of the design on your organization’s energy performance.
Examples of design for energy performance improvement include:
Design buildings to use solar energy. (Facilities)
Design lighting to automatically adjust according to the amount of daylight present. (Equipment)
Design air conditioning systems to use a water-cooled central chiller instead of an air-cooled split system for cooling. (System)
Design the molding process such that hydraulic pumps only pump the volume needed instead of operating at full speed and pumping full volume. (Processes)
Some questions to ask when designing new, modified, or renovated facilities, equipment, systems, and processes include:
What characteristics of this item impact energy consumption (past, current, or future)?
Where and how can energy consumption be reduced?
When evaluating the opportunities for improving energy performance, consider the following:
How will the existing facilities, equipment, systems and processes be modified?
What specific items can be changed to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption over time?
What is the right energy source?
What are the technological options?
When considering operational control, think about:
What operational controls are appropriate to support energy efficient design and operation?
What operational controls are needed to achieve the potential improvement in energy performance?
What operational controls are needed to sustain the improvement in energy performance over time?
The design process should be coupled with proper operational control for energy efficient designs to achieve their full potential. Since equipment controls can be bypassed or disabled, an operational control strategy must be combined with efficient design to make sure that anticipated savings are achieved. The following example highlights the importance of proper controls to energy savings:
Variable frequency drives (VFDs) are a commonly applied technology to generate savings in AC motor applications. Since these motors operate at a single speed, they are unable to adjust to load changes and normally consume full-load energy at part-load conditions. VFDs capture energy savings at part-load conditions by reducing speed. The power-speed relationship is cubic which means that a motor operating at 80% of full-load speed consumes only 51 percent of full-load power. However, the VFD must be properly designed and include the controls necessary to automatically reduce speed at part-load in order to optimize energy savings.
The Worksheet for Energy Considerations in Design can be useful in identifying and evaluating energy performance improvement opportunities and operational controls in design activities.
3.6.3 Include results of energy performance evaluation in specification, design and procurement
Once the questions above have been answered, take action to improve energy performance. The results of the energy performance evaluation must be incorporated, where appropriate, into the specification, design, and procurement activities related to the project. This should ensure that the decisions on energy efficiency related to the design are carried out. Incorporating results into procurement specifications and activities keeps the purchasing function in the loop, ensures their awareness of procurement requirements to support the energy performance improvement, and provides the justification for any additional costs.
When designing or upgrading facilities, equipment, systems or processes that can significantly impact energy performance, it is important that close attention be paid to how new energy-efficient technology is specified, applied and used in order to avoid misapplications. Installation of “energy-efficient” equipment does not ensure improved efficiency if the retrofit is not properly specified. And, no energy efficient technology will capture savings when installed or programmed incorrectly. (See Example Misapplications of Energy-Efficient Technologies)
3.6.4 Record results of design activities
A record of the results of design activities must be maintained. This can take a variety of forms, such a completed checklist, meeting minutes, design drawings, purchasing specifications, project records, etc.
Resources & Examples
The following resource can help you incorporate and consider energy performance improvement opportunities and operational control in design activities involving new, modified, or renovated facilities, equipment, systems and processes that can significantly affect your organization’s energy performance.
The following resource is designed primarily for organizations that plan to seek third-party certification to ISO 50001-2011. It helps you understand how to check and use your EnMS records to demonstrate the implementation of the system (you are doing what you say), and the effectiveness of the system in generating the intended results (what you are doing is working).
