RTÉ becomes first broadcaster in Ireland and UK to achieve ISO 50001 standard
RTÉ exceeds national public sector energy targets
RTÉ has achieved the globally recognised international energy management standard, ISO 50001, becoming the first broadcaster in Ireland and the UK to achieve the standard.
The ISO 50001 standard was developed to support organisations committed to efficient energy management to address their impact, conserve resources and achieve cost and emissions reductions.
RTÉ, by increasing energy efficiency by 51.8% in 2019, has exceeded the targets set for the public sector in the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) – to reduce increase energy efficiency by 33% by 2020.
Commenting on this achievement, RTÉ Director-General, Dee Forbes said: “Receiving ISO500001 represents an important achievement for RTÉ and provides valuable recognition of our efforts to successfully integrate energy management into our overall operations and drive greater efficiency. RTÉ, through a dedicated team, has worked in partnership with SEAI for many years to implement best practice standards in energy monitoring along with innovations in energy reduction, with some important results. RTÉ is committed to leading by example to achieve the highest standards in energy management and the recognition provided by ISO50001 represents an important milestone in our journey to greater energy efficiency.”
The following factors have been central to RTÉ’s successes in energy management:
- Energy metering and monitoring to identify areas for energy improvement.
- Building Management System development to ensure efficient system operations & scheduling.
- Extensive use of renewals, including LED lighting, high efficiency heating and cooling systems.
- Investment in energy projects, such as photovoltaic solar panel roof projects on RTÉ’s Donnybrook campus.
- To date this photovoltaic solar panel system has generated 81 MWh of renewable electricity – the equivalent of powering the production lighting and air conditioning requirements of 58 Late Late Shows.
The RTÉ energy team is led by RTÉ Facility Engineering Manager, James McConnologue who is also a certified energy manager (CEM).
Commenting on RTÉ’s energy management and ISO50001 certification, Mr McConnologue said: “RTÉ’s journey to ISO50001 has been underpinned by hard work and continual improvement by our in-house team. Investment in energy monitoring, refinement of controls systems to best match system loads and harnessing all available energy reduction opportunities in capital investment/renewals have been the key instruments in our success. We have always strived to be an exemplar organisation and to provide leadership, not just in the public sector, but in the wider community, and to support our key staff through continuing professional development to maintain these standards. ISO50001 affords us the opportunity to continue our energy management journey and to use our influence to deliver energy savings right across all aspects of RTÉ business”
To view RTÉ’s Energy Policy, click here.
For more on ISO 50001, click here.