Energy: decree and order requiring large companies to carry out an energy audit before the end of 2015
The decree and decree, which have just been published, define the procedures for carrying out an energy audit energy audit (mandatory before December 5, 2015 for large companies) and specify the conditions for recognizing the independence and competence of energy auditors
Directive 2012/27/EU requires large companies to carry out an energy audit by December 5, 2015 (article 8 of the directive) and to renew it every four years. These provisions were transposed into national law at the legislative level by Article 40 of the DDADUE law of July 16, 2013 and at the regulatory level by Decree 2013-1121 of December 4, 2013.
Decree 2014-1393 and the Order of November 24, 2014 complete current regulations by specifying:
- the terms and conditions of the energy audit and its scope
- audit methodology
- conditions for recognizing the independence and competence of auditors
- assumptions for exemption from the obligation, when the company benefits from an energy management system
These two new legislative texts cite the reference method for regulatory energy audits, namely the four-part EN 16247 standard.
Energy audit standards
Article 1 of the ministerial order directly cites AFNOR standards as the reference methods for carrying out an energy audit: “The energy audit is carried out in accordance with the general method and quality requirements for their preparation, performance and restitution, defined by standard NF EN 16247-1: 2012. For activities related to buildings, industrial processes and transport, these requirements are supplemented by the specific provisions specified in standards NF EN 16247-2: 2014 Buildings, NF EN 16247-3: 2014 Processes and NF EN 16247-4: 2014 Transport.”
Standard NF EN 16247-1 sets out the general requirements for carrying out an energy audit. It specifies the methodology and actions to be taken throughout the various stages of an energy audit (defining the objective, the scope, carrying out an on-site visit, etc.).
The recently published standards NF EN 16247 parts 2, 3 and 4 provide specific requirements for buildings, industrial processes and transport.
Competence of energy auditors
Article 2 and Appendix 2 of the decree specify the procedures for recognizing the competence of energy auditors. In particular, it states that an external service provider is recognized as competent to carry out an energy audit if it holds a sign of quality in each of the fields in which it carries out the energy audit (buildings, industrial processes or transport), in compliance with a reference system of requirements in terms of resources and skills defined by standard NF X 50-091 “Exigences générales relatives aux organismes de qualification de fournisseurs”, or equivalent.
Criteria for recognizing the competence of internal energy audit staff are also specified.
Exemption for ISO 50001-certified companies
The decree clarifies the exemption from regulatory energy audits for large companies benefiting from an energy management system.
Article 2 of the decree states: “If all activities within the scope are covered by a certified energy management system, the company is exempt from the energy audit requirement”.
In addition, the regulations authorize companies that so wish to deploy both an energy audit and an energy management system within the chosen scope.
Find out more about the energy audit exemption with ISO 50001 certification…
