What Is ISO 50001 and Why Should You Implement It?
ISO 50001 is an international standard that helps organizations manage energy use more efficiently and systematically. It provides a structured framework and defined processes to help companies gain better control over their energy flows, identify savings opportunities, reduce operating costs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The implementation of ISO 50001 follows a four-phase process rooted in continuous improvement.
The Continuous Improvement Cycle in ISO 50001
1. Planning
The process begins with a thorough analysis of current energy consumption. Organizations set energy objectives and develop a policy aligned with their needs. Two fundamental components are:
- Energy Performance Indicators (EnPIs): Metrics that track energy use in relation to specific activities (e.g., energy per unit produced). Each company selects its most relevant indicators based on its operations.
- Energy Baseline (EnB): A reference point derived from historical energy data, used to track improvements over time.
Together, EnPIs and EnB enable organizations to monitor energy performance trends and set realistic, measurable targets.
2. Implementation
Action plans and improvement measures are deployed to achieve defined energy goals. This may include equipment upgrades, employee training, behavior changes, or integration of energy-saving technologies such as solar systems.
3. Checking and Monitoring
Energy consumption is regularly measured and evaluated. Internal audits help verify whether planned actions are working and whether the organization is on track to meet its targets.
4. Improvement
Based on performance analysis, corrective and preventive actions are taken to continually enhance the energy management system and improve efficiency.
Why Should You Implement ISO 50001?
- Reduced Energy Costs: Improved control over energy consumption leads to direct cost savings and better profitability.
- Enhanced Energy Efficiency: The standard promotes the use of more efficient technologies and practices, increasing productivity.
- Lower Emissions: More efficient energy use reduces greenhouse gas emissions, supporting regulatory compliance and sustainability.
- Improved Reputation: Certification demonstrates a commitment to responsible energy management, strengthening your position with customers, investors, and business partners.
How FLOWBOX EMOS Supports ISO 50001 Implementation
FLOWBOX EMOS can fully automate certain parts of the ISO 50001 process, partially support others, and significantly streamline and reduce the cost of implementation and certification.
While some activities—such as drafting policies or defining roles and responsibilities—require human input, FLOWBOX excels in areas like:
- Comprehensive asset and metering point tracking
- Automated energy data collection and analysis
- Semi-automated action planning and evaluation
- Systematization of energy management workflows
FLOWBOX can cover 30–50% of the requirements for ISO 50001 certification, and 60–80% of the ongoing system maintenance and monitoring processes.
Where FLOWBOX EMOS Delivers Real Value – A Phase-by-Phase Overview
“You can only manage what you measure.”
Planning
FLOWBOX collects energy consumption data from various sources (e.g. production lines, buildings, and equipment) and generates clear, structured reports. Thanks to advanced energy data intelligence, the system:
- Detects and quantifies operational inefficiencies
- Identifies key areas for improvement
- Simulates the impact and return on investment (ROI) of each proposed measure
Based on this data, you can make informed decisions about which energy-saving actions to implement—such as LED lighting upgrades, automatic equipment shutdowns, or smart heating control based on temperature forecasts and production schedules.
Implementation
FLOWBOX supports the gradual integration of various technologies—regardless of brand or manufacturer (the system is hardware-agnostic). It adapts flexibly to your existing operations and infrastructure.
Monitoring & Control
The system provides real-time energy monitoring and delivers:
- Automated EnPI (Energy Performance Indicator) reports
- Clear measurement of the impact of implemented actions
- Alerts for unmet targets or unexpected deviations in energy usage
Continuous Improvement
FLOWBOX continuously analyzes energy data and recommends new savings opportunities, enabling your company to keep improving energy performance over time.
How FLOWBOX EMOS Helped GRAMEX Implement and Certify ISO 50001
GRAMEX is a Czech company that has specialized in industrial sewing and the production of upholstered seats—primarily for transportation—since 1991. In 2021, the company made the strategic decision to implement and certify the ISO 50001 energy management system.
"ISO 50001 is primarily about measuring, evaluating, and then applying measures that lead to savings. With FLOWBOX, we have all the tools we need to manage this. We don’t need separate Excel sheets or manual data entry—everything is available in one place, on a single screen,"
explains Jiří Pajer, CEO of GRAMEX.
By leveraging historical energy consumption data, GRAMEX was able to:
- Monitor and analyze its energy use with precision
- Identify savings opportunities across various operations
- Manage and track energy-saving measures in real time using FLOWBOX EMOS tools
The system’s real-time monitoring capabilities allowed the company to evaluate the effectiveness of implemented actions continuously. For reporting and energy audits, FLOWBOX made it easy to export visualized data, a feature highly appreciated by auditors.
Implementing the system also improved workplace comfort through smart building management, further enhancing operational efficiency.
Conclusion: Why Implement FLOWBOX EMOS if You Have (or Plan to Have) ISO 50001
Simplifies system preparation and implementation
FLOWBOX EMOS automates data collection, clearly records all assets and metering points, tracks Energy Performance Indicators (EnPIs), helps define the Energy Baseline (EnB), and evaluates consumption based on real operational activities.
Speeds up certification
All relevant data is available in one place, including visualizations and ready-to-export reports for auditors, without the need for additional processing.
Reduces the cost of system operation
It eliminates the need for manual evaluations, spreadsheet-based tracking, excessive email coordination, and unclear responsibilities.
Enables real improvement, not just formal compliance
The system continuously identifies new opportunities for energy savings and evaluates the effectiveness of implemented measures.
Covers up to 80 percent of ISO 50001 maintenance processes
Helping you not only maintain your energy management system, but also continuously improve it.
Ready to Boost Your Energy Efficiency with FLOWBOX?
FLOWBOX EMOS empowers manufacturing and industrial companies to manage energy performance efficiently, meet ISO 50001 standards, and achieve real savings. GRAMEX is just one of many manufacturers using FLOWBOX EMOS to achieve ISO 50001 compliance and long-term energy savings.Check out our reference projects to learn more.