Step 2.2.1 Identify data needs
A successful energy management system relies on accurate and appropriate data. The appropriate data is collected to provide an accurate profile of the organization’s energy situation. The energy review is a key component of the EnMS for collecting the data and information necessary for the organization to determine its energy performance and identify opportunities for improvement. ISO 50001 requires that the following be included in the energy review:
- Energy sources – The energy sources used by the organization are identified and documented. The energy sources should be associated with the appropriate facilities, equipment, systems and processes. Associating the equipment in the organization with an energy source insures that all the relevant sources are identified.
- Analysis of past
energy use and
consumption – The manner and detail in which this data is collected will depend on the metering which has been available in the organization. Data may have only been available at a utility level, or submetering may have been in place that allowed for more extensive data collection and analysis. Collection of data over the last several years helps establish the history of the organization’s energy performance.
- Analysis of present energy use and consumption – Collection of this data will also depend on the meters installed in the facility. This data is used to establish the current energy performance.
- Significant energy uses (SEUs) and their current performance – Significant energy uses are the facilities, systems, processes or equipment that consumes a significant amount of energy or have a good opportunity for improvement. Using the information in the data collection and analysis part of the energy review, the SEUs are determined (Step 2.3). Focusing on SEUs allows the organization to focus resources in the areas that have the greatest potential for energy performance improvement.
- Relevant variables affecting the significant energy uses – Relevant variables are the factors that can have an impact on energy performance. The relevant variables are determined using the data from the energy review (Step 2.6.4).
- Estimates of future energy use and consumption – Using the historical and present consumption data as well as projections on production, model changes, new products, sales forecasts, process changes, etc. estimates of future energy use and consumption are prepared for the significant energy uses. Estimating future energy use can help with managing the significant energy uses, establishing objectives and targets, and provides a level of expectation that can be used for comparison with actual results (See Step 2.3.5).
- Prioritized opportunities for improvement – The energy review data and analysis, as well as data from energy assessments and other methods (Step 2.4 and Step 2.5), is used to identify improvement opportunities.
The energy review is the mechanism where energy data is collected and analyzed to begin determining the organization’s energy performance. The data collected in the energy review is also used to establish the metrics for performance measurement and opportunity identification. This data is used for:
- Establishing the baseline – The baseline is the benchmark against which current performance is compared to determine if energy performance has improved. The baseline can be a simple metric (e.g. consumption) or can be more complicated (See Step 2.6).
- Selecting energy performance indicators (EnPIs) – EnPIs are the metric used to determine the status of the organization’s energy performance (See Step 2.6).
- Determining objectives and targets – Once the organization has determined the status of its energy performance and identified opportunities it can establish objectives and set targets for achieving improved energy performance levels. Action plans are developed for meeting these objectives and targets (See Step 3).
In considering energy management data needs, energy team members need to consider requirements as specified in the energy policy, energy objectives, targets and action plans, as well as legal and other requirements. For the EnMS, this data will be within the EnMS scope and boundaries.
Energy management data needs will extend beyond energy data to include production, operations, costs associated with energy and, in some instances, organizational financial information. Information related to energy cost considerations cannot be neglected for most organizations since top management will usually want to know the impact on the organization’s bottom line.
Identification of the necessary energy data for energy planning purposes is the responsibility of the energy management representative, but additional staff can be appointed to support this effort as appropriate. For example, production personnel may be used to identify relevant production information. The resources needed to identify data requirements are provided by top management.
Information useful in data identification is contained in Example Types of Energy Management Data