This document specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving an energy management system (EnMS). The intended outcome is to enable an organization to follow a systematic approach in achieving continual improvement of energy performance and the EnMS. This document: a) is applicable to any organization regardless of its type, size, complexity, geographical location, organizational culture or the products and services it provides; b) is applicable to activities affecting energy performance that are managed and controlled by the organization; c) is applicable irrespective of the quantity, use, or types of energy consumed; d) requires demonstration of continual energy performance improvement, but does not define levels of energy performance improvement to be achieved; e) can be used independently, or be aligned or integrated with other management systems. Annex A provides guidance for the use of this document. Annex B provides a comparison of this edition with the previous edition.

Like other ISO management system standards, certification to ISO 50001 is possible but not obligatory. Some organizations decide to implement the standard solely for the benefits it provides. Others decide to get certified to it, to show external parties they have implemented an energy management system. ISO does not perform certification.

ISO 50001 is based on the management system model of continual improvement also used for other well-known standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001. This makes it easier for organizations to integrate energy management into their overall efforts to improve quality and environmental management. ISO 50001:2018 provides a framework of requirements for organizations to: - Develop a policy for more efficient use of energy - Fix targets and objectives to meet the policy - Use data to better understand and make decisions about energy use - Measure the results - Review how well the policy works, and - Continually improve energy management.