Bureau Veritas Certification Issues Its First ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems Certificate In North America To IBM

HOUSTON, July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- One year after the release of the ISO 50001 Energy Management System standard, Bureau Veritas Certification is pleased to announce today that it has issued its first ISO 50001 certificate in North America to IBM. Released in June 2011, ISO 50001 is a global energy management system standard developed to continually improve energy management performance, including energy efficiency, energy use and conservation.   The system provides organizations a way to take an active role in reducing their energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions, and to respond to economic constraints in the global market. The ISO 50001 standard presents a comprehensive and clear approach to smart energy use, and allows companies to reduce their energy consumption and take advantage of renewable energy technologies. 

IBM had previously achieved certification against a number of internationally recognized QHSE standards, among them ISO 14001, ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001, and ISO 27001.  Now, IBM joins an elite group of companies around the world that have certified their systems and processes against the ISO 50001 standard and demonstrated best practices for energy use and conservation.  

"IBM has long recognized the value and importance of strong management systems.  Our global environmental management system dates back to the late 1960s and our commitment to energy conservation and our supporting programs were added to it in 1974," said Wayne Balta, vice president of Corporate Environmental Affairs and Product Safety for IBM.  "We are pleased that the ISO 50001 certification further recognizes that our best practices for energy use and conservation are fully integrated in IBM's global environmental management system."   

"Bureau Veritas Certification has been auditing IBM's management systems since 1997. The addition of ISO 50001 to an existing EMS proved to be seamless and without disruption to IBM's existing processes," said Jorge Hercules, vice president of Bureau Veritas Certification NA, "We are pleased to be the chosen partner of IBM for the continuing evolution and improvement of their energy management systems."

Bureau Veritas Certification has been active in the development of ISO 50001, serving on the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO PC242, the committee that developed the energy management standard. Not only does Bureau Veritas Certification proudly hold the distinction of being the first registrar to certify a company under the ISO 50001 standard  (the Thermal Power Station of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. in Dahanu, India), but also is the first training organization recognized by IRCA for the IRCA 5002 Energy Management Systems Auditor Conversion Training Course (course certification number A17573).

To learn more about energy management system certification or to register for a training class, visit www.us.bureauveritas.com/bvc or call 800-937-9311.

About Bureau Veritas Certification

Bureau Veritas Certification, the independent third-party registrar of Bureau Veritas Group, offers a comprehensive product portfolio from internationally recognized standards to more customized systems, and draws from a large pool of expert resources housed in an extensive international network.  In response to the changing needs of our customers, Bureau Veritas Certification is ideally positioned to best respond to today's driving market trends and client demand for more value-added services that are global, seamless, and integrated.

SOURCE Bureau Veritas Certification