ISO 50001:2018, Energy Management System (EnMS), was developed in response to a request from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and is supported by the US Department of Energy. The standard is intended to help organizations develop and implement an energy management system (a framework for implementing technical and management strategies that will significantly cut energy costs). 

The Energy Management System components include: 

1. The creation of an energy policy

2. Objectives for improving the efficient use of energy 

3. A timeline with target dates for meeting objectives 

4. An action plan that specifies exactly how the organization’s objectives will be met.  

The EnMS has made a major leap forward in 'raising the bar' by requiring an organization to demonstrate that they have improved their energy performance.