CDP growth curve
In last week’s Traditional Energy Audits Are So Yesterday we noted that the recently introduced ISO 50001 energy management standard may help companies establish their own energy management process. Where audits are a snapshot look at usage, ISO 50001 gives them a “Plan-Do-Check-Act” framework for energy usage in their business.
But as with any new standard, a lot of folks are trying to quickly figure out what it is, what it requires and what it means to them.
As a reference, it’s interesting to consider what happened in 2003, when the Carbon Disclosure Project issued its first request for climate reporting. Social impact reporting was a newer concept then, but some early adopters latched on to CDP’s offer, with over 200+ organizations reporting that first year. Within three years 900+ companies were responding, by 2008 2,200+, and today there are over 3,000 in over 60 countries. Along the way CDP itself has been providing guidance and interpretations for these organizations, as have a broad range of environmental consulting companies.
With the economy still challenged and many companies now recognizing that focusing on energy use is sustainability that pays a financial return, maybe we’ll see similar hockey stick adoption for ISO 50001?
Perhaps as a strong leading indicator, several companies have already announced their adoption, with Schneider Electric noting that their world headquarters is the first building to earn ISO 50001 certification.
Also, if you’re trying to figure out the what it is, what it requires and what it means question, here is a useful white paper and even the DOE has a getting started website up now.
It seems to me like these may not be competitors. As I look at the requirements of the CDP, they seem to ask for results that are happening at the moment. Some of the questions in the CDP indicate that there is some need for a broader continuous improvement (PDCA) management systems in place, but the CDP provides no guidance in how to do that.
ISO 50001 provides guidance into creating and maintaining a good continuous improvement strategic energy management system. The CDP primarily only asks for the "end of the cycle" results. Using ISO 50001 (or any other continuous improvement management system template) is the foundation of CDP reporting.
Whether home grown or from a template like ISO 50001, a continuous improvement management system is the foundation for the output that becomes the CDP report.
At least that is how I see it right now.
An analogy would be financial reporting. Every company produces a similar year end financial report. They are all similar. But companies have assorted financial managment systems in place to ge them to that end. To me ISO 50001 is the system, equivelant to the financial management system. CDP is the final report, similar to the year end financial report. You need a system to produce the report.
Jim Verzino
http://www.jimverzino.com