Small and medium scale industries (SMIs) play an important role in the economies of many countries providing goods and services as well as jobs. Yet they face many challenges in remaining competitive, including rising energy costs and the need to comply with environmental regulations, such as the measures introduced to combat climate change and reduce polluting waste streams. A more rational use of energy can help meet those challenges, and energy management is a central component in a more rational use of energy. Energy management helps in improving the energy efficiency of an industry or an industrial plant and so reduces operating costs as well as reducing the emission of Greenhouse Gases, which is needed to combat climate change, and other pollutants.
The new International Standard on Energy Management (ISO 50001) provides a mechanism by which SMIs can achieve a win-win situation of financial viability reaching environmental objectives.