Energy & Water Management Systems Research
EnergyOverview
Klimate Consulting conducts applied research to promote energy management programs offered by the U.S. Department of Energy, while expanding the existing energy management framework to include water management — a critical evolution as carbon taxes and ESG disclosure requirements accelerate industrial sustainability reporting.
The Challenge
The U.S. Department of Energy's energy management programs — including ISO 50001 and the Superior Energy Performance (SEP) program — have helped industrial facilities reduce energy consumption. However, water management has traditionally been treated separately from energy management, despite the deep interdependence between the two resources. As sustainability reporting requirements expand, organizations need integrated frameworks that address both.
Our Approach
Working with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, we conducted research to identify opportunities for expanding energy management system (EnMS) frameworks to incorporate water management. This included analyzing how existing ISO 50001 structures can be adapted, studying the water-energy nexus in industrial settings, and developing recommendations for program evolution.
Impact
This research supports the evolution of DOE programs that shape how industrial facilities across the United States manage energy and water resources — laying the groundwork for integrated management systems that will become increasingly important as sustainability disclosure requirements grow.