Takeaways
- Sustainability is increasingly important. With the rise of ESG and UNSDGs, the environmental management ISO 14000 standards, such as ISO 14067:2018 Greenhouse Gases – Carbon Footprint of products are becoming essential. However, many organisations need more practical solutions to achieve these standards and their sustainability goals.
- Smart energy management is a strategy to increase energy efficiency and sustainability by minimising waste and lowering the environmental impact of energy use.
- Smart energy management can help businesses meet ISO 14067:2018 compliance and reach their sustainability goals. It provides a thorough and doable solution to these problems, making it a game-changer.
- ISO 14067:2018 provides a standardized framework for carbon footprint calculations of products, allowing organisations to benchmark their performance against industry standards and make informed decisions for their energy management strategies.
In response to the global sustainability movement, businesses worldwide are adopting more environmentally sound practices to meet their sustainability objectives. The relevance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors and sustainability goals such as United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) have increased significantly, and adherence to the ISO 14000 family of standards on environmental management is now essential. However, many organisations find achieving these standards while pursuing ESG goals difficult due to a lack of operational and practical solutions.
Although incorporating ISO 14067 compliance may appear difficult, it encourages businesses to take significant steps towards sustainability. In order to develop and put into practise solutions that meet ISO requirements and help organisations reach their ESG goals, many of them must overcome challenges. This is where smart energy management comes into its own as a game-changer, providing a thorough and doable solution to these problems.
What is smart energy management?
Smart energy management is a paradigm-shifting strategy that uses advanced technologies and complex systems to completely transform how we produce, distribute, and consume energy. Its main goal is to increase energy efficiency and encourage sustainability by minimising waste and lowering the environmental effect of energy use.
The seamless integration of digital tools, sensors, and data analytics is at the heart of smart energy management. Together, these components make it possible to track and manage energy use in real time across a range of contexts, including buildings, facilities, and power grids. Smart energy management enables stakeholders to take proactive actions to reduce energy use and make educated decisions by leveraging the power of data.
The problems of inefficient energy management and the consequences on sustainability
During our consultation on helping our clients to reduce their Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emission with ISO 14067:2018, we often find that our clients face energy management issues to minimise their product carbon footprint. When energy is not managed efficiently, it leads to several problems that hinder progress towards achieving organisations’ sustainability goals and meeting the ISO requirements.
One of the primary problems is increased energy consumption and associated costs. Inefficient energy management often results in wasteful energy practices, such as operating machinery at suboptimal efficiency. The unconscious practices can lead to higher energy consumption, which drives up costs for businesses and exacerbates the environmental impact associated with energy generation and consumption.
Inefficient energy management seriously undermines sustainability efforts. Focusing on responsible energy use and environmental stewardship is necessary to achieve sustainability goals, such as those stated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) or the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. Progress towards the SDGs of climate action (SDG 13), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and industry innovation (SDG 9) could be improved by smart energy management.
How smart energy management can help
Smart energy management helps minimise the environmental impact of energy consumption. By reducing energy consumption and embracing renewable energy sources, organisations can make significant progress toward achieving sustainability targets. Organisations may reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve natural resources, and contribute to a greener planet through optimising resource usage. This perfectly matches with global sustainability goals including, ESG goals and UNSDGs.
To effectively implement smart energy management, several key components come into plays:
- Energy Monitoring and Metering: Real-time data collection and analysis provide organisations with a clear understanding of their energy usage patterns, enabling informed decision-making.
- Energy Efficiency Measures: Implementing energy-efficient technologies, such as LED lighting, Chiller system, efficient HVAC systems, can drastically reduce energy consumption.
- Demand Response Systems: By actively managing energy demand during peak hours, organisations can minimise strain on the grid and avoid unnecessary energy costs.
- Energy Storage Solutions: Storing excess energy for later use through batteries or other innovative methods ensures optimal utilisation and reduces reliance on traditional energy sources.
Smart energy management enables effective management of peak load periods and the utilization of demand response programs. Businesses can forecast times of peak demand and make the required adjustments by looking at historical data on energy usage. This eases pressure on the electrical system and enables businesses to benefit from time-of-use pricing, lowering their energy expenses. Besides, Smart energy management enables:
- Carbon Footprint reduction: By optimising energy usage and incorporating renewable energy, organisations can significantly lower their carbon emissions.
- Enhanced Resource Efficiency: Through energy monitoring and efficiency measures, organisations can reduce waste and optimise the utilisation of resources.
- Cost Savings: Smart energy management strategies not only benefit the environment but also lead to substantial cost savings through reduced energy bills and operational expenses.
Integrating Internet of Things (IoT) into smart energy management
With IoT integration in Smart energy management, it makes a huge impact on enhancing the effectiveness of the system. By interconnecting devices, sensors, and equipment, IoT enables real-time monitoring, data analysis, and intelligent decision-making.
- Remote Monitoring and Control: IoT devices (such as sensors or equipment) allow for remote monitoring and control of energy-consuming assets. Organisations may discover inefficiencies, track performance, and make real-time adjustments by gathering data on energy usage, regardless of their physical location.
- Energy Optimization: IoT devices can automatically adjust energy-consuming systems based on data inputs, weather conditions, and occupancy patterns. For example, smart thermostats can regulate temperature settings based on occupancy and external temperature, leading to energy savings without sacrificing comfort.
- Predictive Maintenance: For energy-consuming equipment, IoT sensors can identify irregularities and provide predictive maintenance information. This enables firms to address maintenance issues proactively, reduce unplanned downtime, and optimise energy usage.
- Demand Response: IoT integration enables seamless participation in demand response programs. By automatically adjusting energy usage during peak demand periods, organisations can support grid stability and gain financial incentives.
- Energy Analytics: IoT devices provide a wealth of data that can be analysed to identify energy usage patterns, trends, and opportunities for improvement. This data-driven approach allows organisations to make informed decisions and implement targeted energy-saving strategies.
An integrated solution for ISO 14067:2018
ISO 14067:2018 provides guidelines for calculating the carbon footprint of products, services, and organisations. By accurately assessing their emissions, organisations can identify areas for improvement and implement targeted sustainability measures. The ISO 14067:2018 report service offers a standardised framework for carbon footprint calculations, ensuring consistency and comparability across industries. This allows organisations to benchmark their performance against industry standards and make informed decisions regarding their energy management strategies.
BBC comprises a team of passionate practitioners implementing solutions for sustainability. Our consultants have extensive knowledge and experience in ISO 14067:2018, helping you to solve your problems with sustainable innovative solutions.