Energystandard
KERRY County Council is celebrating after achieving certification to a key international Energy Management standard, which covers the use of electricity, thermal energy and other fuels within public buildings, public lighting and transport under the direct control of the authority.
One of the world’s most popular business standards, ISO 50001 for Energy Management can help an organisation to reduce its energy usage, and therefore its greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs.
Kerry County Council received its ISO 50001 certificate at a special presentation ceremony at the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) offices in Dublin last week.
The authority employs over 1,000 people across the county and Kerry County Council Chief Executive Moira Murrell congratulated all employees for helping it to achieve certification..
“Kerry County Council has been to the fore of the energy movement in Ireland since the formation of our Energy Section in 2001. The section and the organisation’s commitment to energy has gone from strength to strength since then,” said Ms Murrell.
“We also have a dedicated Energy Officer who is working with representatives of all our sections to reduce energy wastage across the local authority. The energy section has delivered many energy-saving projects in conjunction with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland,” she added.
“One such project is the implementation of an ISO 50001 certified energy management system, which reinforces the organisation’s commitment to meeting our 2020 target of a 33 per cent reduction in energy consumption,” said Ms Murrell.
Speaking at the event, Senior Engineer over Energy in Kerry County Council, Gerry Riordan, said certification to ISO 50001 will help the authority reach its energy reduction goals in the years ahead.
“The structured energy management system is the best opportunity for KCC to meet our energy performance targets by 2020 and beyond. It is also the most cost effective way for the organisation to satisfy our legal obligation under,” he said.