The National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ), a Unit of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), is forging ahead to ensure that their scope of accreditation is widened to offer ISO 50001 management systems certification. The development and emergence of an energy management system standard in the latter part of 2011 and the Government of Jamaica’s (GoJ’s) thrust to reduce the country’s energy bill with   plans to decrease Jamaica’s high energy utilization is certainly not an impossible or unrealistic target. The NCBJ is positioning itself to capitalize on the opportunity of being the pioneer accredited certification body in the Caribbean to offer certification to ISO 50001.

The NCBJ and the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS), the major electricity provider to Jamaica conducted an ISO 50001 – Energy Management System Standard seminar in Jamaica on July 10, 2012 and July 12, 2012 both in the capital city Kingston and in Montego Bay the second city respectively. The seminars were geared towards promoting ISO 50001 and building awareness on energy management, a much needed option during these critical times.

ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems – Requirements with Guidance for Use is a standard specifically developed for energy management systems, and seeks to   guide organizations how to establish systems and processes to improve their energy performance, inclusive of efficiency and consumption. The standard is applicable to all types and sizes of organizations. It is designed to demonstrate to organizations how to make better use of their energy-consuming assets, evaluate and prioritize the implementation of energy-efficient technologies, and promote efficiency.

With oil trading above USD 100 per barrel and climbing as unrest grows around the world, energy security is an overriding concern in the minds of citizens, politicians, and businesses. Energy impacts all aspects of society and the effects of such shortages can reverberate throughout economies and the daily lives of entire populations. Nearly all segments of society are involved in energy conservation, be it prudent consumption at home, governments setting policies and incentives, or businesses doing what they can to save money through   energy saving initiatives.  

Although the typical homeowner or business cannot control energy supplies, they can certainly decide how they use the energy that is available, and the most efficiently used energy is that which is not used at all.

Energy efficiency is often called the “forgotten fuel” because efficiency is sometimes ignored in discussions regarding alternative energy sources. Additionally, for the energy that must be used, selecting the right mix of alternative and renewable sources will help reduce dependence on scarce fossil fuels.

Action towards greater efficiency, commonly known as energy management, is a priority focus for many organizations because of the significant potential to save   energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing overall energy usage, and especially fossil fuel consumption, means greater reliability and availability of energy and lower operating costs. More than just an environmental issue, energy management is equally an economic and social issue. In essence, energy management supports the three pillars of sustainability: economy, environment and society.