OTTAWA, Oct. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) has launched Canada's first and only program for the accreditation of bodies that seek to certify organizations to the international standard ISO 50001 - Energy Management Systems. It is expected that the solution will be of particular interest to organizations looking to increase their energy efficiency, reduce costs and improve energy performance—and for certification bodies wanting to help their clients do so.
The benefits of focusing on energy management are clear, and interest is skyrocketing for ISO 50001, published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Less than a year after the standard was launched, global demand for it is already in the top 10 of some 19,023 standards. "As energy costs rise, and an increasing number of organizations choose to decrease their impact on the environment, complying with ISO 50001 will become increasingly prevalent globally," says SCC Chief Executive Officer, John Walter. "Also, those organizations that demonstrate environmental best practices will gain a competitive advantage."
The Government of Canada recognizes the important environmental benefits of ISO 50001 and is offering cost-shared assistance to industrial companies to implement the standard, through the ecoENERGY Efficiency for Industry program.
"Organizations that implement energy management systems benefit from substantial energy savings of 10 to 20 per cent within the first five years of implementation," said the Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources. "Improving energy efficiency is one of the fastest, greenest and most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gases, save energy and increase energy security."
The launch of SCC's new Energy Management Systems Accreditation Program comes just in time for World Standards Day 2012, with its Less waste, better results - Standards increase efficiency theme. SCC's event, which takes place on October 12 at the Ottawa Convention Centre, will feature notable speakers in the area of energy efficiency, including a panel discussion on the importance of energy efficiency standardization. Participants can attend either in person or online. For more information, visit www.scc.ca/wsd.
SCC is a Crown corporation and a portfolio of Industry Canada. With the goal of enhancing Canada's economic competitiveness and social well-being, SCC advises federal, provincial and territorial governments, industry organizations, and nongovernmental bodies on standards- and conformity assessment-related aspects of trade and regulatory policy. SCC also serves as Canada's World Trade Organization and North American Free Trade Agreement (WTO/NAFTA) Enquiry Point. SCC represents Canada as the Canadian member of ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission and is an active member of the International Accreditation Forum. For additional information on the work of SCC, please visit www.scc.ca, or email [email protected].
SOURCE: Standards Council of Canada
Media Contact:
Antonia Kusy
Manager, Corporate Communications and Planning
Standards Council of Canada
613 238 3222 ext. 462
[email protected]
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