Energy Agreements FAQ


What exactly do you commit to? In signing an Energy Agreement with the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEAI), you will make your best endeavours to obtain and retain certification to EN 16001 and reduce your energy-related emissions. 'Best endeavours' means you commit sufficient resources to obtain EN 16001 within 12 months (maximum 24 months) and then use the energy-management system to maximise energy savings in both the short and long term. What resources do you need to implement EN 16001? It depends on the scale and complexity of your process and whether you are certified to ISO 14001. Engineering input is needed during the Energy Review phase, to analyse energy use. Systems input is needed to set up and align EN 16001 systems alongside ISO 14001. After that, minimal extra input is required, since energy management is everyone's responsibility. Some people will have extra responsibility, but all staff should be energyaware. Will you need to make large capital investments? You will need to invest in energy-saving projects that make economic sense, and to investigate larger-scale opportunities to establish if you can implement them successfully in the longer term. SEAI will assist with special investigations. In most cases there will be little capital investment in the first year of implementing EN 16001. What's the timescale? You should begin as soon as your work schedule allows and plan to finish the process around 12 months later. You must be accredited to a formalised Energy Management System within 2 years of starting work on it, or the agreement is null and void. What is the agreement gap analysis? It's an assessment that third-party experts will carry out to determine the gap between where you are currently and what you need to do to achieve certification to EN 16001. In essence, the analysis will tell you the actions and activities required so that you can achieve certification to EN 16001. It will also clarify what resources you need to assign. The gap analysis, including a systems and a technical review, will take up to two days. It will be conducted by local consultants trained by SEAI. The Irish National Accreditation Body will supervise the quality of the assessment. SEAI will pay for the analysis, up to a maximum pre-agreed amount. How soon will you benefit from the process? You are likely to achieve immediate energy cost savings through 'low-hanging fruit' and easily identifiable opportunities. Your later special investigations will reveal further 'hidden' energy-saving opportunities. What supports will the Sustainable Energy Authority provide? SEAI offers a range of supports, including: Programme Support Agreement Support Manager It also provides information resources, including: Energy Agreements DVD Case Studies

What exactly do you commit to?

In signing an Energy Agreement with the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEAI), you will
make your best endeavours to obtain and retain certification to EN 16001 and reduce
your energy-related emissions.
'Best endeavours' means you commit sufficient resources to obtain EN 16001 within 12
months (maximum 24 months) and then use the energy-management system to
maximise energy savings in both the short and long term.

What resources do you need to implement EN 16001?

It depends on the scale and complexity of your process and whether you are certified to
ISO 14001.

Engineering input is needed during the Energy Review phase, to analyse energy use.
Systems input is needed to set up and align EN 16001 systems alongside ISO 14001.

After that, minimal extra input is required, since energy management is everyone's
responsibility. Some people will have extra responsibility, but all staff should be energyaware.

Will you need to make large capital investments?

You will need to invest in energy-saving projects that make economic sense, and to
investigate larger-scale opportunities to establish if you can implement them successfully
in the longer term.

SEAI will assist with special investigations. In most cases there will be little capital
investment in the first year of implementing EN 16001.

What's the timescale?

You should begin as soon as your work schedule allows and plan to finish the process
around 12 months later.

You must be accredited to a formalised Energy Management System within 2 years of
starting work on it, or the agreement is null and void.

What is the agreement gap analysis?

It's an assessment that third-party experts will carry out to determine the gap between
where you are currently and what you need to do to achieve certification to EN 16001.

In essence, the analysis will tell you the actions and activities required so that you can
achieve certification to EN 16001. It will also clarify what resources you need to assign.

The gap analysis, including a systems and a technical review, will take up to two days. It
will be conducted by local consultants trained by SEAI. The Irish National Accreditation
Body will supervise the quality of the assessment.

SEAI will pay for the analysis, up to a maximum pre-agreed amount.

How soon will you benefit from the process?

You are likely to achieve immediate energy cost savings through 'low-hanging fruit' and easily identifiable opportunities. Your later special investigations will reveal further 'hidden' energy-saving opportunities.

What supports will the Sustainable Energy Authority provide?

SEAI offers a range of supports, including:

It also provides information resources, including:

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