What's New

Training Seminar for Certified Practitioner in Energy Management Systems, October 2012 in Atlanta
A live, four-day training seminar that prepares individuals to become a Certified Practitioner for Energy Management Systems (CP EnMS) will be held on October 29–November 1, 2012 in conjunction with the World Energy Engineering Congress 2012. Hosting this training session is a team of professionals from the Georgia Tech Research Corporation and The Association of Energy Engineers, who were selected and granted licenses by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of the two teams to train CP EnMS.

CP EnMS provides critical technical assistance to industrial and commercial facilities that plan to seek certification to the ISO 50001 standard and the Superior Energy Performance (SEP) program. Participants will gain the expertise to assist organizations in implementing energy management best practices and developing energy performance indicators that allow a facility to track improvements in performance. This training course will prepare individuals for the CP EnMS certification exam administered by the Institute for Energy Management Professionals. Participation in the seminar is highly recommended, though not required to sit for the certification exam. Registration for the training session does not automatically register applicants for the certification exam.

The training seminar website contains more details on registration, fees, and required online pre-courses for the CP EnMS training: http://www.aeeprograms.com/seminars/SEP. For more information about registering for the CP EnMS exam and requirements, visit the Institute for Energy Management Professionals website. Background about CP EnMS and other types of energy management professionals is available on the Superior Energy Performance website.

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Training Organizations for Certified Practitioners in EnMS Announced
Teams led by Georgia Tech Research Corporation and UL DQS, Inc. were selected by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Advanced Manufacturing Office and granted licenses to train Certified Practitioners in Energy Management Systems. These licenses allow the teams to provide energy-efficiency skills, tools, and technology training and the necessary expertise to implement the new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 50001 for at least two years.

Selection of the two winning teams was the result of a full and open nationwide competition. UL DQS, Inc. partnered with Schneider Electric, ARCADIS, and Integrated Renewable Energy to provide training expertise, and KRILLO Consulting Partners and UL University to provide design and delivery logistics. The second team – consisting of the Georgia Tech Research Corporation and the Association of Energy Engineers – draws upon an unmatched network of energy efficiency experts to both market and deliver Certified Practitioner training.

These teams will provide classes that include an on-line pre-workshop followed by four days of face-to-face training. These classes will prepare attendees for the Certified Practitioner Energy Management Systems exam that is administered separately by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited Institute for Energy Management Professionals. Additional classes for the Superior Energy Performance Lead Auditor and Performance Verifier exams will be held later in 2012.

Times and locations for training sessions will be posted on the websites for Superior Energy Performance and the Institute for Energy Management Professionals. For more detailed information on these professional training teams, please visit the Georgia Tech Research Corporation website or the UL DQS website. Additional information on Superior Energy Performance is also available through the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office.

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DOE Launches Webcast Series on ISO 50001 Implementation Steps and DOE eGuide
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) is hosting a four-part webinar series in April and May 2012 to guide manufacturers through implementing an energy management system based on the ISO 50001 energy management system standard and the DOE eGuide software tool for implementation. The first webinar in the series introduces participants to the features of an energy management system. The remaining webinars lead participants through the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle for energy management systems and associated resources available through the DOE eGuide software. Webcast presentations will be posted on the AMO web page following the webinars.

Visit the DOE website to register for the DOE AMO energy management webinar series and learn more about the DOE eGuide for ISO 50001 implementation.

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ANSI/MSE 50021 Standard on SEP Program Requirements is Available
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has released the ANSI MSE 50021 standard, which specifies the requirements of the Superior Energy Performance (SEP) program beyond those of the ISO 50001 energy management standard. SEP certification includes two requirements: 1) conformance to the ISO 50001 standard; 2) meet additional SEP requirements specified in the ANSI MSE 50021 standard. These additional requirements are related to energy management and energy performance and include performance achievement requirements. Read more about how to qualify for SEP Partner and SEP Certified Partner.

ANSI/MSE 50021 can be purchased from ANSI. Facilities that have already achieved SEP Certified Partner status and those that are currently participating in U.S. Department of Energy SEP demonstration projects tested the requirements that were incorporated into the ANSI/MSE 50021 standard.

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Certified Practitioner in Energy Management Systems (EnMS) Training and Exam Opportunities Available
Opportunities are now available for individuals interested in becoming a Certified Practitioner in Energy Management Systems (CP EnMS) to support facilities in implementing the ISO 50001 energy management standard.

  • The Beta of the National Core and Industrial Sector Exams for the CP EnMS certification will be offered on two dates: May 18, 2012 and May 25, 2012. Certification is issued by the Institute for Energy Management Professionals (IEnMP).
  • CP EnMS Refresher Courses are optional four-day training courses that immediately precede each exam date. Georgia Institute of Technology Enterprise Innovation Institute and Underwriter's Laboratory are jointly offering the training. Participation is not required to take the exam.

The training process and exam process are separate and offered by separate organizations in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Space is limited for the training sessions and exam. Read more for information about registration, locations, and fees.

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Implementation of ISO 50001 Training in Texas, June 7, 2012
Companies interested in learning about implemention of ISO 50001 are encouraged to attend a one-day program on June 7, 2012, hosted by Texas Industries of the Future in Galveston, Texas. Session topics will cover energy management system implementation using ISO 50001 and Superior Energy Performance, multi-disciplinary teams, audit preparation, real world corporate experiences, benefits, and lessons learned, and DIY tools. This program takes place at the Texas Chemical Council Annual EHS Seminar though is open and applicable to companies in any sector.

View “Implementation of the ISO Energy Standard” for session details, times, and speakers. Registration is available online for $275 at http://register.ehs-seminar.com/attendee/ (Under “Days,” select “Thursday” to register for this program).

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ANSI Energy Efficiency Standards Panel Exploratory Meeting, April 25, 2012
The American National Standards Institute is hosting a meeting on April 25, 2012 to explore the need for an Energy Efficiency Standards Panel (EESP) as energy efficiency initiatives are expected to grow dramatically in the private and public sectors.  If formed, the goal of the ANSI Energy Efficiency Standards Panel would be to develop a standardization roadmap that defines a coordinated approach to U.S. energy efficiency standardization activities and helps advance the market for energy efficiency technologies.  Participants at the April 25 meeting will help shape and define the scope and areas of focus for a potential standards panel in this area vis-à-vis the standards, codes, and conformance programs needed to advance the nation’s energy efficiency agenda.  Participants can attend free of charge in-person or via webinar.

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DOE Announces Up To $3 Million to Administer Superior Energy Performance Program
On January 19, 2012 Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $3 million to administer the Superior Energy Performance (SEP) program that will help American manufacturers continually increase the energy efficiency of their domestic facilities, boost their global competitiveness, and create jobs. The funding will support at least one organization to launch, operate, and promote the SEP program. When launched later this year, the voluntary program will provide a transparent, step-by-step certification process to help industrial and commercial facilities implement and verify improvements in their energy performance and reduce their energy costs.

View the full story on the DOE website

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ISO 50001 Standard Available for Purchase
On June 15, 2011, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the ISO 50001 energy management standard. The standard provides an international framework for facilities and companies to voluntarily manage their energy performance. ISO 50001 is available for purchase from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

The United States—through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)—and Brazil jointly led the ISO 50001 project committee to develop the standard with participation from fifty-nine countries. Representatives from the U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing (U.S. CEEM) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) actively contributed to the U.S. Technical Advisory Group, the U.S. delegation to the ISO project committee. The U.S. TAG led international negotiations to ensure that ISO 50001 preserves the U.S. emphasis on management support and data-driven energy performance.

To help companies and facilities learn more about ISO 50001, visit the ANSI website and DOE website for more information.

Five Superior Energy Performance Certified Plants Recognized at 15th Texas Industrial Energy Management Forum
On April 7, 2011, the 15th Texas Industrial Energy Management Forum in Houston recognized five Texas plants that piloted the Superior Energy Performance certification program and achieved verified energy performance improvements ranging from 6.5% to 17% over a two to three year period. Representatives from three of the plants presented their experiences implementing an energy management system and demonstrating energy performance improvements in order to identify the benefits, the barriers, and the lessons learned.

Superior Energy Performance was piloted from 2008 to 2010 in five Texas industrial facilities: Cook Composites and Polymers, Houston plant; Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Oak Hill plant; Owens Corning, Waxahachie plant; Dow Chemical Company, Texas City manufacturing plant; and Dow Chemical Company, Texas City energy systems facility. The partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy and Texas Industries of the Future (Texas IOF) supported the pilot program, with additional funding from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office.

To view presentations from the event, please visit the Texas Industries of the Future website. A photo from the event is available in the May 2011 Texas Industries of the Future Newsletter.

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DOE Announces First Facilities to Receive Superior Energy Performance Certification
On December 9, 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the first industrial facilities in the country to be certified under the Superior Energy Performance program. DOE presented three companies with awards during the World Energy Engineering Congress in Washington, D.C., recognizing their successful completion of the certification program and their place as some of the energy leaders within the U.S. manufacturing sector:

  • Cook Composites and Polymers Co., Houston, Texas
  • Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Austin, Texas
  • Owens Corning, Waxahachie, Texas

Read about the announcement in the DOE press release.

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ANSI Accredits First Verification Body under Superior Energy Performance Pilot Accreditation Program
DEKRA Certification Inc. is the first verification body for the Superior Energy Performance program to be accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). As coordinator of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system, ANSI accredited the organization in August 2010 when it was known as KEMA Registered Quality, Inc.

Read the press release about the accreditation at the ANSI website.

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Global Superior Energy Performance (GSEP) Partnership Announced at Clean Energy Ministerial
On July 20, 2010, at the world’s first Clean Energy Ministerial in Washington, D.C., government and corporate leaders announced a new public-private partnership, Global Superior Energy Performancecm (GSEP). The partnership will accelerate energy efficiency improvements in large buildings and industrial facilities, which together account for almost 60 percent of global energy use. Under this partnership, governments will establish internationally-recognized certification programs to recognize facilities that adopt approved energy management systems and achieve significant and independently validated efficiency improvements over time. To start, eight companies representing over $600 billion in annual sales and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will pilot the program.

Learn more about GSEP at the Clean Energy Ministerial web site.

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Capitol Hill Briefing Features Superior Energy Performance
On December 8, 2010, the Alliance to Save Energy hosted Superior Energy Performance: Leadership in Energy Management, its ninth Capitol Hill briefing as part of the Efficient Enterprises series. The event gathered industrial stakeholders who have been intimately involved in the development of the ISO 50001 Standard and the Superior Energy Performance program. Panelists discussed the development and deployment schedules of ISO 50001, its market value, and the results of the first Superior Energy Performance pilot projects in Texas.

View the presentations and a summary of the briefing on the Alliance to Save Energy website.

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DOE Webcast on Superior Energy Performance Plant Certification Program
On March 4, 2010, Paul Scheihing of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) and Joe Almaguer of Dow Chemical delivered a webcast on Superior Energy Performance, an industry-driven plant certification program that is pending American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accreditation. Superior Energy Performance will provide companies with a framework for implementing the forthcoming international energy management standard ISO 50001 and validating energy-intensity reductions.

This Webcast provides an overview of Superior Energy Performance, ISO 50001, and the certification infrastructure. This Webcast provides an overview of Superior Energy Performance, ISO 50001, and the certification infrastructure. The slides (PDF 717 KB) and audio are available on the DOE ITP website.

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ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard Moves to Committee Draft Stage
The second meeting of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Project Committee (PC) 242 to develop ISO 50001: Energy Management requirements and guidance for use, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on March 9-12, 2009 with approximately 70 delegates from 19 countries in attendance.  A total of 35 countries are participating in the development of this international standard. 

PC 242 has been very active, developing and commenting on two Working Drafts between the first meeting in September 2008 and the meeting in Rio.  As an outcome of the second meeting, PC 242 agreed to move to the Committee Draft (CD) stage following completion of expert inputs on the revised text.  The CD is anticipated for release to the participating countries in June 2009.  See the ISO website and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory website for more information. 

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Texas Pilot Project on Plant Energy-Efficiency Certification Launched
The US Department of Energy is working with The University of Texas at Austin to pilot an energy-efficiency certification program for manufacturing plants. From May 2008 to October 2009, energy experts will be working with staff from five manufacturing plants in Texas to test the components of a proposed national plant energy-efficiency certification program. Read more about the Texas Pilot Project and its participants.

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ISO identifies the critical need to develop an energy management standard
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has prioritized energy management based on its enormous potential to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. Energy management standards would contribute to industrial facilities achieving potential energy efficiency improvements of 20% or more. Read more about the ISO energy management standard.

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American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Approves U.S. Technical Advisory Group on Energy Management
ISO has mandated Project Committee 242 (ISO PC 242) to develop an international standard on energy management. In the United States, ANSI has approved the formation of a U.S. Technical Advisory Group (US TAG) to the ISO PC 242. The TAG is a mechanism for identifying issues and developing national consensus regarding energy management. Read the announcement (PDF 315 KB) for more details about the group's charge and how to participate.

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Superior Energy Performance Launches Energy Quick Start Website
The Communications and Outreach Working Group of the Superior Energy Performance partnership launched the Energy Quick Start website to help manufacturing plants start or accelerate their energy efficiency programs. The site includes a comprehensive listing of energy efficiency and conservation resources that are available from public and non-profit sources. Most of these resources are available at no cost and include documents, software, training, spreadsheets, case studies, tip sheets, experts, and calculators.

Visit the site http://www.energyquickstart.org to start achieving superior energy performance today!

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