CEM Now Accepting Entries for 2023 Energy Management Leadership Awards
The Energy Management Leadership Awards program is now accepting submissions for the 2023 competition. Facilities or organizations holding a current ISO 50001 certificate from an accredited body are encouraged to enter. The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) runs this prestigious global contest to raise awareness of ISO 50001-certified energy management systems and the many benefits they provide.
Now in its eighth year, the competition has recognized achievements of organizations with certified systems in 105 countries or economies and across 50 sectors—such as cement, iron and steel, and chemical manufacturing, municipalities, retailers, healthcare systems, hospitality companies, research institutions, and water/wastewater treatment facilities. More than 260 case studies describe how organizations around the world use the ISO 50001 standard to achieve energy, economic, and sustainability benefits that boost competitiveness. Past awardees credit the competition with increasing senior management support for further investment in additional energy savings.
“UNIDO is thrilled for the launch of the 2023 Energy Management Leadership Awards,” said Tareq Emtairah, Director of the Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy Division at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). “The Energy Management Leadership Awards are continuing to successfully showcase best efforts of private and public organizations around the world in implementing ISO 50001 energy management systems as key solutions to fully capture the business benefits of energy efficiency and to support decarbonization and net-zero strategies. UNIDO is looking forward to engaging with new industry, commercial, transport, and public sector leaders that are improving their energy and carbon performance through energy management systems and calls on them to join the Energy Management Leadership Awards community to share their stories, work, challenges, and achievements.”
To enter the competition, each organization must submit a structured case study describing its energy management experience and the ensuing benefits. These case studies enable companies at all stages of familiarity with ISO 50001 to tell their unique stories and share tips or best practices. All submissions are evaluated by an independent panel of acclaimed international experts. The top entries will receive the prestigious CEM 2023 Award of Excellence in Energy Management. This global award brings high-profile government recognition and media attention to organizations that transform the way they use energy. Beyond the Award of Excellence, each organization that submits a qualifying entry will receive an Energy Management Insight Award for sharing the diverse benefits of energy management systems. In addition, some national governments offer their own energy management awards based on the CEM case study submissions received from their country.
“Energy management is perhaps the best near-term strategy to address climate change, as finding ways to use less energy is an approach immediately available to everyone,” said Dan Dorner, Head of the CEM Secretariat. “Organizations that set up energy management systems compliant with ISO 50001 are taking energy performance to the next level—and realizing benefits not only to the environment but also to the bottom line. These awards are an opportunity to showcase these leaders and spread the word about ISO 50001. Welcome, 2023 applicants! We look forward to reading your stories and sharing your results.”
The submission deadline is Thursday, 16 March 2023. Interested parties are invited to visit the CEM Energy Management Leadership Awards website to learn about the competition rules, entry format, scoring, and recognition. Previous award-winning entries are available on this same page, listed by year under Activities. The flexible ISO 50001 standard offers a business-friendly way to align corporate objectives with national climate and energy goals. CEM analysis suggests that broad global adoption of ISO 50001 across service and industrial sectors could lead to cumulative energy savings of about 105 exajoules by 2030—saving more than USD 700 billion in energy costs and avoiding 6,500 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The annual projected avoided emissions are equivalent to removing 215 million passenger vehicles from the road.