The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) and the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) doing business as the National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ), in spearheading efforts to meet benchmarks set in the government’s National Energy Policy 2009 -2030, on Wednesday, July 10, hosted a seminar on ISO 50001 energy management standards. The seminar was held to: educate large consumers of energy in both the public and private sectors, on energy efficiency improvement methods and its increasing relevance in light of the worldwide energy crisis.

The seminar, dubbed “ISO 50001 - Setting the Standard for Jamaica 50 & Beyond,” took place at the Mona Visitors Lodge and saw participating heads of organisations and facility managers from a cross section of entities including: Commercial and Industrial enterprises, Business Associations, Government Agencies, and Renewable Energy organisations, along with Energy Auditors, Energy Consultants and University representatives.

Ministers, Julian Robinson, Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, and Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, both endorsed the programme and highlighted the negative effects that the high cost of energy has on industry and investments in the country.

Sherrice Lyons, Director, Commercial Services, and organiser of the seminar, was pleased with the response of the attendees and stated, “The time to act is now, JPS is committed to the task of leading this effort. Everyone must get actively involved and our action must be informed and sustained if we are to secure our energy future.” She further encouraged participants, “… to take control, make better choices and save energy.”

ISO 50001 is a voluntary international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) which sets out the requirements for an Energy Management System (EnMS).  It establishes a framework to manage energy for all types of facilities, including industrial plants, commercial buildings, institutions and government facilities.   Due to its broad applicability worldwide, organizations of all sizes, in both the public and private sectors, that apply ISO 50001 standards will be able to: develop a policy for more efficient use of energy, fix targets and objectives to meet the policy, use data to better understand and make decisions concerning energy use and consumption, measure the results and review and improve upon the effectiveness of the policy.  

Richard Hadfield, ISO 50001 Standards Specialist & Founder of Progressive Certification, Ireland, and Paul Czerwin, Energy Efficiency Expert & President of Advanced Power Control Inc, USA were the main speakers during the seminar.

The second ISO 50001 seminar, which is also one of the activities of the JPS Smart Energy programme, takes place today, Thursday, July 12, at Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, Montego Bay between 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.