September 8 – 10, 2008 the first meeting of ISO’s new project committee PC 242 to develop an International Standard on energy management was held in Washington, DC.

The future ISO 50001 will establish a framework for industrial plants, commercial facilities or entire organizations to manage energy and could influence up to 60% of the world’s energy use.

The meeting was attended by delegates from the ISO national member bodies of 25 countries from all regions of the world, and representatives from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which has liaison status with PC 242.  Aimee McKane, LBNL, as the Vice-Chair of the U.S. delegation, was actively involved in the meeting and describing U.S. efforts to support ISO 50001.

The presentation of all the participating countries' initiatives to support ISO 50001 gave PC 242 an insight into the different policies and situations around the world that need to be taken into account in the development of a globally relevant International Standard for energy management, and the need to ensure its compatibility with the existing suite of key ISO management system standards.  The project committee is fully committed to an ambitious schedule and aims to have ISO 50001 ready for publication by the end of 2010.  For more information, refer to ISO press release [1].