On 23 October CEN/CENELEC organised a seminar on energy management and energy efficiency at the CEN and CENELEC Meeting Centre in Brussels. In his introductory speech, Bernard Gindroz, chairman of the Sector Forum Energy Management (SFEM) explained the scope of the SFEM in relation with EU legislation on energy. Since 2006, there are major developments in the field of European Energy standards motivated by an ambitious European policy in that field. Reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency are among the main goals of the European Union. In March 2007, the European Council endorsed three ambitious targets for 2010: cutting greenhouse gases by 20%, reaching 20% of energy from renewable resources and increasing energy efficiency by 20%.
Various standardisation projects accompanying the proposed/existing legislative measures are ongoing. ISO and IEC have created a special standardisation programme on energy efficiency and Renewables launched in 2008.
The seminar included presentations on the standard EN 16001 on "Energy Management Systems" with the chairman of the project team Energy Management Systems, Mr Inge Pierre, addressing the audience, and the planned standard for Energy Audits presented by Prof. Martin Fry (Chairman British Standards Institution Committee on Energy Management). A mandate for developing the latter standard is expected to be given by the European Commission. Work on drafting the standard, which will include buildings, processes and transport, has already started within CEN.