Introduction

0.1 Background

An energy audit comprises multiple yet interlinked activities and processes ranging from establishing the scope of the energy audit, collecting and measuring the appropriate data, analysing the energy performance of an organization, building(s), equipment, system(s) and/or process(es), site observations and using the information to draw conclusions about energy performance improvement actions (EPIAs). The intended result of energy audits is to use a structured and planned process to identify and prioritize EPIAs, which will help reduce wasted energy and can obtain related environmental benefits.

Audit outputs include information on current energy use and performance, and they provide ranked recommendations for improvement that are relevant and practicable. The benefits of carrying out an energy audit include:

— reduced energy consumption;
— economic and financial benefits;
— reduced CO_2e emissions and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction arising from energy use;
— related environmental benefits (e.g. air quality, water reduction);
— distribution of energy use and GHG emissions among various energy systems;
— benchmarking of energy use;
— assessment of energy performance of specific energy systems;
— other benefits (e.g. production efficiencies, maintenance, training).

0.2 ISO 50002 series

The ISO 50002 series was revised using ISO 50002:2014 and EN 16247-1:2022 as the starting point. It allows for differences in approach and in terms of scope, boundary and audit objective, and seeks to harmonize common aspects of energy auditing in order to enhance clarity and transparency.

The ISO 50002 series includes the following parts:

— This document provides the principles and defines the common set of requirements for conducting energy audits for buildings, equipment, processes, systems, transport and other applications needed to identify opportunities to improve energy performance. The energy audit process is presented as a simple chronological sequence, but this does not preclude repeated iterations of certain steps.
— ISO 50002-2 provides guidance for using this document when conducting an energy audit of a building or a portfolio of buildings.
— ISO 50002-3 provides guidance for using this document when conducting an energy audit involving processes. This applies to any process that converts an input of an organization into saleable outputs such as a manufacturing process or industrial process.

The ISO 50002 series benefits organizations, energy auditors, and stakeholders worldwide by providing clarity and consistency for designing, developing, conducting and reporting energy audits. Specifically, the use of the ISO 50002 series:

— enhances the credibility and transparency of energy auditing activities;
— promotes a common understanding and expectations between the organization and the energy auditors on the energy audit processes and the roles and responsibilities of each parties;
— facilitates the development and implementation of EPIAs that provide credible and tracible analysis;
— facilitates the ability to track performance and progress of the energy audit activity;
— facilitates the design of energy audit services by organizations providing energy auditing services;
— supports sustainable development and the actions needed to achieve a low-carbon economy.

The applicability of this document to other International Standards is given in Annex B.

0.3 Using this document as part of an ISO 50001 energy review

An energy audit can be used as part of an ISO 50001 energy review or part of other associated organizational initiatives (e.g. environmental management, sustainability, net zero initiatives). It can also be conducted independent of the organization’s other initiatives.

Some organizations implementing an ISO 50001 energy management system can require additional support to implement the technical elements of an ISO 50001 energy review. Using this document as part of an ISO 50001 energy review enables the organization to:

— organize, plan and resource the energy review activities;
— ensure that the activities are carried out by competent energy auditors;
— be able to monitor and track its progress.

Clause B.1 gives additional guidance on how to structure an energy audit as part of an ISO 50001 energy review.

If an energy audit is going to be part of a wider EnMS, the energy auditor can be required to have competence in ISO 50001.