50001 Ready:
Reduce energy costs, improve competitiveness, and achieve organizational goals

What is 50001 Ready?

50001 Ready is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program offering a free, flexible suite of tools, guidance, and recognition to help organizations across all sectors implement structured energy management systems based on the ISO 50001 standard. The program enables sustained energy performance improvements, with participating sites typically achieving 4% annual energy savings year over year for more than a decade—all without requiring third-party certification or audits.

Facilities and organizations that self-attest to implementing an ISO 50001-based energy management system are formally recognized as 50001 Ready by DOE. The program also partners with utilities, energy efficiency programs, and other organizations to support broad adoption of energy management best practices.

Car driving on road with electric transmission towers

Companies Use 50001 Ready to Reduce Costs

Energy use and cost continues to be a driving factor in staying competitive. The 50001 Ready energy management initiative offers a practical path for any company to reduce energy use and save money.

The Pathway to Energy Performance Improvement

How to Achieve Continual Improvement

50001 Ready has mapped the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle of the ISO 50001 energy management system into 7 actionable steps that foster continual improvement of energy management, with a suite of resources available to help each step along the way.

“50001 Ready has proven critical in managing operations at GM efficiently throughout this year’s challenges and positioned us well to meet our net-zero 2050 goals. Our implementation enabled us to establish common processes and procedures to increase efficiency, optimize production, and aid in effective remote troubleshooting. These actions have been indispensable in supporting GM’s responsiveness to the operational variabilities and challenges introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Bob Baird, Energy Sustainment Manager, General Motors

Start Your 50001 Ready Journey Today

Interested in learning how 50001 Ready can help you reach your energy goals? Reach out today and join our growing network of partners.

Ready to get started today? Check out the 50001 Ready Navigator, a user-friendly online tool offering step-by-step guidance.

Navigator Tool

50001 Ready Highlights

50001 Ready is a proven strategy to reduce costs and increase energy performance.

Creates resilient organizational culture of continuing energy management improvement
Flexible framework for prioritizing energy cost reduction and other objectives
Free and user-friendly tools, materials, and programs for implementing and improving tailor-made energy management systems
Opportunities for training, collaboration, and recognition from the Department of Energy
Users may include other local programs like efficiency and renewables
Conforms with the globally recognized ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems standard

50001 Ready Participants

From giant corporations to small businesses and from NASA facilities to neighborhood schools, organizations across America are saving energy and money with a 50001 Ready energy management system.

Over 7,000 sites globally and growing
Every state has a 50001 Ready participant
U.S. auto sector, including GM and Ford, has adopted 50001 Ready as its collective platform to reduce energy consumption and save money
Heavy industry, including aluminum and steel plants
Government installations, including military bases, NASA facilities, correctional facilities, and national laboratories
Private and public hospitals
Data centers, including Google and Iron Mountain
Hotels, including Loews, Hilton and Marriott properties
K-12 schools

“I highly recommend 50001 Ready. It helps bring a structure to the chaos of managing several million square feet of energy-consuming facilities and large energy systems.”

Ray Throop, Energy Engineer, Operations and Maintenance Division, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Bragg, Directorate of Public Works

Early adopter organizations include:

“The 50001 Ready program and DOE (Department of Energy) leadership has enabled our team to better understand our buildings and build an energy management toolbox to implement at every Loews Hotel.”

Joe Thomas, VP of Engineering, Loews Hotels

Additional Information

50001 Ready Navigator

The 50001 Ready Navigator is a user-friendly online tool offering step-by-step guidance for managing energy and creating pathways to reduce energy costs.

ISO 50001-based Energy Management System Case Studies

Explore the Energy Management System Insights database for invaluable information on the energy, emissions, and cost savings of successful energy management systems from real-world implementations using this innovative platform.

50001 Ready Cohorts

The U.S. Department of Energy is providing free technical assistance to groups (cohorts) of energy team members of U.S.-based industrial, commercial, and institutional sites as they implement 50001 Ready.

Berkeley Lab | Energy Technologies Area

50001 Ready is a program funded by the Industrial Technologies Office of the U.S. Department of Energy and implemented by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory Managed by the University of California

50001 Ready: Reduce energy costs, improve competitiveness, and achieve organizational goals