ISO: International Standards Key for Promoting Energy Efficiency

December 8, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS

"If I am asked today what is the most important issue for global security and development, the issue with the highest potential for solutions but also for serious problems if we do not act in the right way, it is energy and climate change," said Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission (EC).

"Energy today is not only considered as a major challenge from an economic point of view, but precisely for its implications for environment and climate," he said. "Because of increased competition for scarce resources, it poses serious concerns for global security.”

Barroso emphasized the commitment made by the European Union (EU) on a low-carbon energy future and underlined the importance of the World Energy Congress.

The World Energy Council (WEC), organizer of the event, included a session on the role of international standards, in collaboration with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It provided an overview of the key role that international standards can play in supporting the development and promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.

Not only can these standards help avoid unnecessary technical barriers to trade, which might result from national and regional policies, but they are also essential for creating global markets for efficient energy technologies and for disseminating good energy management practices.

They also provide common metrics for defining and measuring energy performance so that investment decisions and incentives may be targeted to encourage energy efficiency. Experts said international standards support scientific cooperation and the harmonization of public policies.

During the conference, a panel discussed how international standards are already addressing these issues. One message stood out above the rest: the energy situation is pressing, the trends alarming, the time to act is now and international standards are part of the solution. Experts said standards can contribute to accelerate the short-term and long-term improvement of energy efficiency in all areas and the utilization of renewable energy sources.

ISO Secretary-General Alan Bryden and IEC President Renzo Tani outlined the work their organizations are doing in order to promote the goal of a sustainable energy future in an interdependent world. Other panelists presented various examples of areas where international standards were expected to contribute, both to energy efficiency in industry, transportation, building, appliances and for renewable energies.

Francisco Barnes, who chaired the session on behalf of WEC, said a strategic partnership between the WEC, the IEA, ISO and IEC had been initiated and would be pursued in order to identify priorities for industry and governments and boost the production of globally relevant international standards.

Source: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).