EnMS Terms and Definition are vital part of documentation and operation for reaching common understandings among the workforce. Acronyms are practical to tidy up document phrases as well as to enhance communication within the EnMS operation in daily conversation.

ISO 50001 promotes common terminologies…

This page is to provide terms, definitions and acronyms used in this website as well as in our documents, guidebooks and templates in order for you to quickly get familiarized with EnMS contents aiming to strengthen your confidence level in our website contents and our documents. The majority of EnMS Terms and Definition were taken from:
  • International Standard ISO 50001:2011(E), Energy management system-Requirements with guidance for use
  • International Standard ISO 19011:2002, Guidance on the Principles of Auditing

Terms and Definitions, Acronyms:

Terms / Acronyms Definitions
audit systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining audit evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the audit criteria are fulfilled

NOTE 1:
Internal audits, sometimes called first-party audits, are conducted by, or on behalf of, the organisation itself for management review and other internal purposes, and may form the basis for an organisation's self-declaration of conformity. In many cases, particularly in smaller organisations, independence can be demonstrated by the freedom from responsibility for the activity being audited.

NOTE 2:
External audits include those generally termed second- and third-party audits. Second-party audits are conducted by parties having an interest in the organisation, such as customers, or by other persons on their behalf. Third-party audits are conducted by external, independent auditing organisations, such as those providing registration or certification of conformity to the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 or ISO 50001.

NOTE 3:
When an energy management system and an environmental management system are audited together, this is termed a combined audit.

NOTE 4:
When two or more auditing organisations cooperate to audit a single auditee, this is termed a joint audit.
audit client organisation or person requesting an audit

NOTE:  
The audit client may be the auditee or any other organisation which has the regulatory or contractual right to request an audit.
audit conclusion outcome of an audit, provided by the audit team after consideration of the audit objectives and all audit findings
audit criteria set of policies, procedures or requirements

NOTE:  
Audit criteria are used as a reference against which audit evidence is compared.
auditee organisation being audited
audit evidence records, statements of fact or other information, which are relevant to the audit criteria and verifiable

NOTE:
Audit evidence may be qualitative or quantitative.
audit findings results of the evaluation of the collected audit evidence against audit criteria

NOTE:  
Audit findings can indicate either conformity or nonconformity with audit criteria or opportunities for improvement.
audit, management system systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which requirements are fulfilled
auditor person with the competence to conduct an audit
audit plan description of the activities and arrangements for an audit
audit program set of one or more audits planned for a specific time frame and directed towards a specific purpose

NOTE:
An audit program includes all activities necessary for planning, organizing and conducting the audits.
audit scope extent and boundaries of an audit

NOTE:  
The audit scope generally includes a description of the physical locations, organisational units, activities and processes, as well as the time period covered
audit team one or more auditors conducting an audit, supported if needed by technical experts

NOTE: 1
One auditor of the audit team is appointed as the audit team leader.

NOTE: 2
The audit team may include auditors-in-training.
audit, technical expert for person who provides specific knowledge or expertise to the audit team

NOTE: 1
Specific knowledge or expertise is that which relates to the organisation, the process or activity to be audited, or language or culture.

NOTE: 2
A technical expert does not act as an auditor in the audit team.
boundaries physical or site limits and/or organisational limits as defined by the organisation

EXAMPLE:
A process; a group of processes; a site; an entire organisation; multiple sites under the control of an organisation.
continual improvement recurring process which results in enhancement of energy performance and the energy management system

NOTE 1: The process of establishing objectives and finding opportunities for improvement is a continual process.

NOTE 2: Continual improvement can achieve improvements in overall energy performance, consistent with the organisation’s energy policy.
correction action to eliminate a detected nonconformity

NOTE:  
Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.6.6.
corrective action action to eliminate the cause of a detected nonconformity (3.21)

NOTE 1:
There can be more than one cause for a nonconformity.

NOTE 2:
Corrective action is taken to prevent recurrence whereas preventive action is taken to prevent occurrence.

NOTE 3:
Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.6.5.
detailed energy audit based on the results of the walk-through (preliminary) energy audit, consisting of in energy use survey in order to provide a comprehensive analysis of the studied installation, a detailed analysis of the facility, a breakdown of the energy use and a first quantitative evaluation of the ECOs selected to correct the defects or improve the existing installation. Analysis involves on-site measurements to evaluate precisely the selected energy retrofits with financial evaluation of the economics
ENCON Act Energy Conservation Act, Ministry of Energy and Environment (hypothetical but true for some nations)
energy electricity, fuels, steam, heat, compressed air, and other like media.

NOTE 1:
For the purposes of this International Standard, energy refers to the various forms of , including renewable, which can be purchased, stored, treated, used in equipment or in a process, or recovered.

NOTE 2:
Energy can be defined as the capacity of a system to produce external activity or perform work.
energy audit activities of site-inspection, survey and analysis of energy flows for energy conservation in a building, process or system to reduce the amount of energy input into the system without negatively affecting the business output(s).
energy baseline quantitative reference providing a basis for comparison of energy performance

NOTE 1:
An energy baseline can reflect a point in time or a period of time.

NOTE 2:
An energy baseline can be normalized by adjustment factors [relevant variable affecting energy use and/or consumption] such as production level, degree days (outdoor temperature), etc.
energy consumption quantity of energy applied
energy efficiency ratio or other quantitative relationship between an output of performance, service, goods or energy, and an input of energy

EXAMPLE:
Conversion efficiency; energy required/energy used; output/input; theoretical energy used to operate/energy used to operate.
energy intensity energy intensity is a measure of the energy efficiency within the business unit under energy management system scope. A typical measure can be the amount of energy it takes to produce a specific output unit, the specific energy consumption.
energy management system (EnMS) set of interrelated or interacting elements to establish an energy policy and energy objectives, and processes and procedures to achieve those objectives
energy management team person(s) responsible for effective implementation of the energy management system activities and for delivering energy performance improvements

NOTE:  
The size and nature of the organisation, and available resources, will determine the size of the team. The team may be one person, such as the management representative.

In this document, a unique noun “EnMS operation committee (EnMS-OC)” is designated representing energy management team.       
energy objective specified outcome or achievement set to meet the organisation's energy policy related to improved energy performance
energy performance measurable results related to energy efficiency , energy use and energy consumption

NOTE 1:
In the context of energy management systems, results can be measured against the organisation’s energy policy, objectives, targets and other energy performance requirements

NOTE 2:
Energy performance is one component of the performance of the energy management system
energy performance indicator (EnPI) quantitative value or measure of energy performance as defined by the organisation

NOTE:  
EnPIs could be expressed as a simple metric, ratio or a more complex model.
energy policy statement by the organisation of its overall intentions and direction of an organisation related to its energy performance as formally expressed by top management

NOTE:  
The energy policy provides a framework for action and for the setting of energy objectives and energy targets.
energy review determination of the status of the organisation’s energy performance based on data and other information leading to identification of opportunities for improvement

NOTE:  
In other regional or national standards, concepts such as identification and review of energy aspects or energy profile are included in the concept of energy review
energy services activities and their results related to the provision and/or use of energy
energy target detailed energy performance requirement, quantifiable, applicable to the organisation or parts thereof, that arises from the energy objective and that needs to be set and met in order to achieve this objective
energy use manner or kind of application of energy

EXAMPLE:
Ventilation; lighting; heating; cooling; transportation; processes; production lines.
EnMS procurement When procuring energy services, products and equipments that have or may have an impact on significant energy use, the procurement is based on energy service, product or equipment carrying lifecycle operation specifications meeting the EnMS defined energy performance criteria
EnPI-Alert “EnPI-Alert” is the name for “Energy Performance Indication for Improvement form”, when operators or any users of monitoring system judging from the information of the system that the improvement is required, fill in this form and issue to one of EnMS-OC members. This will generate the improvement process as part of EnMS operation. EnPI-Alert process is defined in “EnMS Continual Improvement Guideline” (EnMS-Cont.Impr.Gdln-M01E).
IDEA-Alert “IDEA-Alert” is the name for “EnMS IDEA for Improvement form”, that the entire work force including contracted staff and part time workers are invited to submit any improvement ideas, by using the form, filled in and put it in to one of five IDEA boxes located in the premises. By submitting, it will generate the improvement process as part of EnMS operation and delivered to EnMS champion that the all ideas get management attention and all ideas will receive a first hand response. IDEA-Alert process is defined in “EnMS Continual Improvement Guideline” (EnMS-Cont.Impr.Gdln-M01E).
interested parties person or group concerned with or affected by the energy performance of the organisation
internal audit systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which requirements are fulfilled
manage by objectives Commonly termed “MBO”, a document used by a company to evaluate the performance of employees containing the individual job objectives and targets to evaluate against at the defined closing date.
management system audit systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which requirements are fulfilled
Miyeru-ka A Japanese established energy management terminology “visualization of energy” which is a rolling PDCA process of (1) seeing (monitoring or measurement) of energy; (2) appreciation of what you have seen; (3) act based on what you have appreciated; (4) while reviewing the progress; (5) take further action for improvement.
nonconformity non-fulfillment of a requirement

NOTE:  
Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.6.2.
Operation alert “Operation alert” is the name for “EnMS Operation Request for Improvement form”, when the improvement in EnMS operation is required as a result of irregularity, non-conformance and matters subject to corrective actions found in daily operation or audit findings, a person concerned fills in this form and issues to one of EnMS-OC members. This will generate the improvement process as part of EnMS operation. Operation alert process is defined in “EnMS Continual Improvement Guideline” (EnMS-Cont.Impr.Gdln-M01E).
organisation company, corporation, firm, enterprise, authority or institution, or part or combination thereof, whether

incorporated or not, public or private, that has its own functions and administration and that has the authority to control its energy use and consumption.

NOTE:  
An organisation can be a person or group of people.
preventive action action to eliminate the cause of a potential nonconformity

NOTE 1:
There can be more than one cause for a potential nonconformity.

NOTE 2:
Preventive action is taken to prevent occurrence whereas corrective action is taken to prevent recurrence.

NOTE 3:
Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.6.4.
procedure specified way to carry out an activity or a process

NOTE 1:
Procedures can be documented or not.

NOTE 2:
When a procedure is documented, the term “written procedure” or “documented procedure" is frequently used.

NOTE 3:
Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.4.5.
product result of a process
record document stating results achieved or providing evidence of activities performed

NOTE 1:
Records can be used, for example, to document traceability and to provide evidence of verification, preventive action and corrective action.

NOTE 2:
Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.7.6.
scope extent of activities, facilities and decisions which the organisation addresses through an EnMS, which can include several boundaries
significant energy use energy use accounting for substantial energy consumption and/or offering considerable potential for energy performance improvement

NOTE:  
Significance criteria are determined by the organisation.
team person(s) responsible for effective implementation of the energy management system activities and for delivering energy performance improvements

NOTE:  
The size and nature of the organisation, and available resources, will determine the size of the team. The team may be one person, such as the management representative.
top management person or group of people who directs and controls an organisation at the highest level

NOTE 1:
Top management controls the organisation defined within the scope of the management system for energy.  

NOTE 2:
Adapted from ISO 9000:2005, definition 3.2.7.

In this document, a unique noun “EnMS owner” is designated representing top management.
walk-through energy audit preliminary energy conservation analysis by one or two day site-inspection (walk-through) and survey to identify ECOs. The site-inspection is based on visual verifications, study of installed equipment and operating data and detailed analysis of recorded energy consumption for the defined period of time. Preliminary energy audit is another terminology.  
BY preliminary energy conservation analysis by one or two day site-inspection (walk-through) and survey to identify ECOs. The site-inspection is based on visual verifications, study of installed equipment and operating data and detailed analysis of recorded energy consumption for the defined period of time. Preliminary energy audit is another terminology.  
CSR Corporate Social Responsibility
CEM Certified Energy Manager
CET Communication Engine Team
DMG Document Management Guideline
DMP Document Management Procedure
EATT Energy Audit Task Team
ECO Energy Conservation Opportunity
EnMS Energy Management System
EnMS-MA EnMS Monitoring & Action
EnMS-OC EnMS Operation Committee
EnPI Energy Performance Indicator
ERTT Energy Review Task Team
ESCO Energy Service Company
EY EnMS Year:
1st July to 30th June of the following year (Example EY2011: 1st July 2011 to 30th June 2012)
FS Feasibility Study
ISO International Organization for Standardization

An acronym "ISO" was chosen deriving from the Greek isos, meaning "equal" ( Whatever the country, whatever the language, the short form of the   organisation's name is always ISO)
MBO Management By Objective
OJT On the job training
PDCA Plan, Do, Check and Action
SEPcm Superior Energy Performancecm introduced by the U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing
SEP Superior Energy Performance
SEP-SC Superior Energy Performance Suppliers Club
TPTT Training Program Task Team
URS User Requirements Specification
U.S. CEEM U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing

Our mission #1

To provide guidebooks for ISO 50001 related documents which also serve as template for creating document

Our mission #2

To broaden association with organisation or individuals involving EnMS in compliance with ISO 50001
Permission to use extracts from ISO 50001 was provided by Standards Council of Canada. No further reproduction is permitted without prior written approval from Standards Council of Canada.