ISO 50001 vs ISO 14001
ISO 14001 covers your whole environmental impact. ISO 50001 covers energy, in much more depth. They share the same structure, so many businesses run them together.
The difference in one paragraph
ISO 14001 is an environmental management system: waste, emissions, water, materials, pollution and legal compliance, with energy as one item among many. ISO 50001 is an energy management system: it requires a measured energy baseline, energy performance indicators and evidence that performance is improving over time.
Which to do first
- ISO 14001 first if customers or tenders ask for environmental certification, or if waste and pollution are your main risks
- ISO 50001 first if energy is a large cost, if you are a large energy user under the Energy Efficiency Directive, or if you want to prove savings
- Both together if you want one integrated management system: they share the same high-level structure, so policies, audits and reviews can be combined
What ISO 50001 needs that ISO 14001 does not
Measured data. ISO 50001 expects you to show energy performance improving, which is hard from monthly bills alone. Sub-metering the main loads is the usual answer, and the same data supports ISO 14001's energy aspects.
Common questions
What is the difference between ISO 50001 and ISO 14001?
ISO 14001 manages a company's overall environmental impact. ISO 50001 manages energy use specifically and requires measured evidence of improving energy performance.
Is ISO 50001 required by law in Ireland?
Not in itself. Under the recast Energy Efficiency Directive, companies using more than 85 TJ of energy a year on average must run a certified energy management system, and ISO 50001 is the standard route.
Does VisionGreen hold ISO certification?
Yes. VisionGreen is certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
Want this applied to your building?
Start with an energy audit. If you spend over ten thousand euro a year on energy, the SEAI grant covers most of the cost.