Energy management is often approached as a reporting requirement. In practice, it has a much more direct impact on cost, operational control, sustainability culture and how organisations manage their resources day to day.
We're well practiced in helping clients manage their energy consumption, so applied our expertise internally. ISO 50001 provided the structure, but the focus was on building something that could be applied consistently across sites and embedded into existing ways of working.
After successfully achieving ISO15001 certification on behalf of bp at their warehouses, which are under our management, we moved on to achieving the certification at our own sites across the North of Scotland.
We started at Peterhead South Base by putting a framework in place that linked energy performance to routine operational oversight. That meant establishing a cross-functional Energy Management Team, identifying significant energy uses, and improving the quality of the data we were working with.
Identifying and overcoming early hurdles
One of the early challenges was the baseline. Relying on supplier invoices meant working with estimated data, which is not a reliable starting point if you are trying to measure improvement. We addressed that by introducing half-hourly metering and automated meter reading (AMR), giving us a much clearer view of actual consumption - and just as importantly, when it wasn’t needed.
From there, the improvements were targeted rather than broad. Across South Base and Peterhead Campus, this included LED upgrades, heating control, better HVAC control, and removing inefficient equipment, but also identifying patterns in energy use that didn’t make operational sense. We inspected all portacabins, optimising and reducing their usage where possible.
Energy consumption at South Base and Peterhead Campus has reduced by 33–34% against baseline, with more than £229,000 in combined net cost savings. The framework has now been applied across ten of our locations, with consistent methodology and site-specific adjustments.
From engagement to accountability
Introducing accountability for energy use required a shift in how teams viewed it. Structured engagement through workshops, appointing Energy Champions, and using results from ASCO -managed bp warehouses highlighted what could be achieved. By applying the same principles - baseline accuracy, data visibility, and targeted intervention - energy consumption reduced by 29% in the first year and by 47% in 2025. Alongside that came improved operational control and a stronger culture of energy awareness on site.
The measurable value of ISO15001 for organisations in any industry
Energy management is not about reducing activity; it is about understanding how energy is used and removing what is unnecessary. With accurate data, it becomes possible to identify patterns, challenge assumptions, and make changes that reduce both cost and emissions without affecting performance.
As expectations around Scope 3 emissions increase, supplier performance is under more scrutiny. Organisations need to understand not just their own energy use, but the impact of the services they rely on. A structured approach to energy management, backed by ISO 50001, provides a credible way to demonstrate that.
We are actively working with customers guiding them through the two-stage ISO 50001 audit process, from initial gap analysis to certification, while working alongside their teams to embed the system in a way that is practical and sustainable. Once established at one site, the model can be extended across multiple locations, subject to auditor approval, allowing organisations to scale the benefits.
ISO 50001 sets the structure, but the outcome depends on how it is used. When it is implemented well, the benefits are tangible - better control, lower cost, and a clearer understanding of how energy is actually being consumed across operations and the wider supply chain.
