Setting the Standard for Industrial Energy Efficiency

Industrial motor-driven systems use more than 2194 billion kWh annually on a global  basis and offer one of the largest opportunities for energy savings.1 The International Energy  Agency estimates that optimization of motor driven systems could reduce global electricity demand  by 7 percent through the application of commercially available technologies and using well-tested  engineering practices. Yet many industrial firms remain either unaware of or unable to achieve  these energy savings. The same factors that make it so challenging to achieve and sustain energy  efficiency in motor-driven systems (complexity, frequent changes) apply to the production  processes that they support. Yet production processes typically operate within a narrow band of  acceptable performance. These processes are frequently incorporated into ISO 9000/14000 quality  and environmental management systems, which require regular, independent audits to maintain ISO  certification, an attractive value for international trade. It is our contention that a critical  step in achieving and sustaining energy efficiency of motor-driven systems specifically, and  industrial energy efficiency generally, is the adoption of a corporate energy management standard  that is consistent with current industrial quality and environmental management systems such as  ISO. Several energy management standards currently exist (US, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden) and  specifications (Germany, Netherlands) others are planned (China, Spain, Brazil, Korea). This paper  presents the current status of energy management standards development internationally, including  an analysis of their shared features and differences, in terms of content, promulgation, and  implementation. The purpose of the analysis is to describe the current state of "best practices"  for this emerging area of energy efficiency policymaking and to suggest next steps toward the  creation of a truly international energy management standard that is consistent with the ISO  principles of measurement, documentation, and continuous improvement.