Official Rules

The All-Ukrainian Award: Pacesetters for Energy Management recognizes leading organizations for their energy management achievements.

• Large companies are recognized for raising the profile of the ISO 50001 energy management system as a proven, broadly applicable solution to global energy and climate challenges.

• Small and medium enterprises are recognized for energy management and energy efficiency best practices. 

Organizations are invited to submit energy management case studies for recognition. Each entry will describe how energy management implementation occurred within the organization and resulting business benefits. Entries will undergo a juried selection process by a committee of esteemed ISO 50001 experts.

Any organization located in Ukraine in the industrial, commercial, or public sector is eligible to participate. Entries may feature corporate level, multi-site, or single facility entrants. The program offers two tracks for participation. Entrants will self-select their participation track based on their staff headcount and/or annual turnover.

Organizations submitting entries will be eligible for two types of recognition:

• Award of Excellence: The top entries will receive the prestigious Award of Excellence and  certificate for energy efficiency services from 7,500 to 15,000 USD according to the type of track (1 or 2 track). Recipients of the certificate should select one option: Consultancy services; Equipment and other material goods; Trainings in Ukraine or abroad; Study tours to visit industrial peers leading on energy management/energy efficiency and decarbonization. 
• Insight Award:  All qualifying entries will receive Insight Award and the opportunity to take free online training sessions in energy efficiency. 

Recipients of the top award will receive a certificate for energy efficiency services. Two (2) large companies will be selected to receive the Award of Excellence, with a certificate for energy efficiency services valued at 10 000 USD each.
Three (3) small and medium enterprises will be selected to receive the Award of Excellence, with a certificate for energy efficiency services valued at 5 000 USD each. 
All Awards of Excellence recipient organizations will choose one of the following options of energy efficiency services:  
• Consulting services by leading national and international consultants (provided by UNIDO);
• Purchase of equipment for energy efficiency measures (purchased by UNIDO).
Training sessions for all recipient organizations: 
All Awards of Excellence and Insight Award recipient organizations will be entitled to participate in two days training sessions from
UNIDO on energy efficiency indicators and energy efficiency measurement at no fee.
The trainings will be organized in the period from March to May 2025. Unused trainings cannot be exchanged for other services, prizes, etc.

Eligibility requirements:

• Must have valid ISO 50001 certificate 
• Certificate must be issued by third-party certification bodies
•  The certificate must not expire prior to June 30, 2025, unless the company is seeking recertification to extend certification. In this
  case, evidence of the ongoing recertification process must be provided. 
• The enterprise must be active and working at
  the time of submitting the application for participation.
• The baseline and reporting period must be at least 12 consecutive months. Companies independently determine the baseline.
• The actual results of energy efficiency improvement should be included in the description of examples of the implementation of EnMS and energy efficiency measures.
• Predicted results are not accepted.
  
  Eligibility requirements:
• Certification to ISO 50001 (recommended/ optional)
• Conducted energy audit (recommended/ optional)
• The base and reporting period must be at least 12 consecutive months. Companies independently determine the baseline.
• The enterprise must be active and working at the time of submitting the application for participation.
• Participation in voluntary collaboration programmes on energy management/energy
  efficiency, demonstrated by a confirmation (e.g., letter) from the relevant programme organizer. Approved programmes include: 
• UNIDO Energy Management System (EnMS) Programme
• UNIDO Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Programme (RECP)
• UNIDO Improving Energy Efficiency & Promoting Renewable Energy in the Agro-Food & Other Small and Medium Enterprises
• EBRD Ukraine Sustainable Energy Lending Facility (USELF)
• EBRD & Agribusiness Support Program of Ukraine&
• EBRD and GEF program “Ukraine: Sustainable
  Bioenergy Value Chain Innovations”
• UNDP project “Transforming the Market for Efficient Lighting”
• GIZ Advisory Services for Energy Efficiency in Companies
•  Contact the Awards Administrator to ask about
  other specific programmes.
• Actual results of energy performance improvements achieved must be included in the case studies. Projected results are not accepted.

  Although participation through the SME track does not require ISO 50001 certification, entrants with ISO 50001 certification could earn higher scores than entrants without ISO 50001 certification.

To enter the competition, you must submit a copy of your entry form and a structured case study. Large companies must also submit a copy of the organization’s ISO 50001 certificate. 

1. If considering participation, send an email to EnMS@enms-award.com.ua  to receive important updates or clarifications. This does not obligate participation. Please provide the full name and email address of the point of contact, company name (and the site, if applicable).
2. Complete the required Entry Form and case study:

• Use the Case Study Template and address the Case Study Topics.
• Entries that best meet the Evaluation Criteria will receive highest scores.
• Case studies must be 4–6 pages in length; shorter or longer case studies will not be accepted.
• Ukrainian must be used for provision of information in the case study template. 

1. Submit the completed Entry Form in Excel and case study in Word format via electronic mail to EnMS@enms-award.com.ua  no later than the submission deadline. 
   1. Track 1 participants will have to attach a copy of the ISO 50001 certificate(s) issued by the certification body.
   2. Track 2 participants: Depending on the eligibility pathway, entrants must attach either a copy of the ISO 50001 certificate issued by the certification body (if applicable), or confirmation of participation in an approved voluntary energy efficiency or energy management programme (e.g., letter)
   3. The subject line should include “All-Ukrainian Award: Pacesetters for Energy Management – 2022 Entry [insert your organization’s name]”. A return email will confirm receipt.

By submitting a case study for consideration for the All-Ukrainian Award: Pacesetters for Energy Management, organizations grant permission to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and its partners to use the case study and contents therein. This includes but is not exclusive to sharing the case study online, sharing the case study contents (e.g., photos, quotes, business benefits and other excerpts) via press releases, presentations, etc. Name and contacts provided by the case study submitter in the Entry Form may also be shared with ministries and other organizations that will want to congratulate or contact award recipients.

Entries are due by 17 January 2025 at 17:00 EEST. Early submission by 14 March 2022 is encouraged to ensure the eligibility of your entry; upon receipt, each entry will be reviewed for eligibility. If entries are incomplete, the awards administrator will notify the submitter of missing information, and the submitter may resolve the issue and re-submit at any time up to the submission deadline.

The case study that you submit should address all the energy management topics listed in in the following tables, Case Study Topics for Track 1: Large Companies and Case Study Topics for Track 2: SMEs. The tables show the total number of points that can be earned for each topic, by track. Experts will review your entry and score each topic based on the evaluation criteria. The best possible score is 100 points.

Please use care in reviewing the Evaluation Criteria: Entries that best meet the criteria will receive the highest scores

Case Study Topics for Track 1: Large Companies

Case Study Topics for Track 2: SMEs

Your case study should demonstrate the business case for energy management. Large companies (Track 1) will focus on the business case for implementing an EnMS certified to ISO 50001 and provide useful insights to help others understand the key steps in setting up and maintaining an EnMS. SMEs (Track 2) will focus their business case and insights on energy management systems and/or energy efficiency. 

Evaluation Criteria for Track 1: Large Companies 

Case studies by large companies certified to ISO 50001 should provide the following: 

• Insightful description of how an EnMS can be tailored to meet the specific goals and circumstances of an organization (whether the organization is experienced or new to EnMS, implementing at a single site or multiple sites, pursuing initial certification or recertification, etc.). 
• Insight on how to implement an EnMS, assess progress, and ensure continual improvement.
• Insight on the use of energy and performance data to guide planning and decision-making to achieve and maintain energy performance improvements
• Compelling business case for the implementation of an EnMS in line with ISO 50001 (based on varied benefits and related labor or capital investments)

Evaluation Criteria for Track 2: SMEs 

Case studies by SMEs on energy management systems and/or energy efficiency efforts should provide the following:

• Insightful description of how an energy management system and/or energy efficiency efforts can be tailored to meet the specific goals and circumstances of an organization (whether the organization is experienced or new to energy efficiency, implementing at a single site or multiple sites, etc.). 
• Insight on how to implement energy management systems and/or energy efficiency efforts/programs/practices, assess progress, and ensure continual improvement.
• Insight on the use of energy and performance data to guide planning and decision-making to achieve and maintain energy performance improvements
• Compelling business case for the implementation of energy management systems and/or energy efficiency efforts/programs/practices, preferably based on varied benefits and related labor or capital investments

Key Concepts: 

Energy savings represent the amount of energy saved (i.e., energy not consumed) as result of implementing an intervention, such as an energy performance improvement measure, action, or project. Energy savings cannot be directly measured because they represent the avoided/absent use of energy. Therefore, energy savings must be estimated by comparing energy consumption before and the energy consumption after the implementation of the intervention, whilst ensuring normalisation for factors and conditions that affect energy consumption.

Normalization is the term used to indicate the process of ensuring that comparison of energy consumption and/or performance before and after an intervention is carried out under equivalent conditions. When conditions before and after the intervention are different (e.g., changes in volume of production this February compared to February last year; this winter is much colder than last year; humidity or fat content of our input raw material is significantly higher/lower than last year; etc.), then normalization ensures that the comparison accounts for these differing conditions. Normalization processes always involve either the modification of data or the development of energy consumption and/or performance models.  ISO 50001:2018 refers to normalization in regard to establishing energy performance indicators and energy baseline as follows:

Energy performance indicators

“…Where the organization has data indicating that relevant variables significantly affect energy performance, the organization shall consider such data to establish appropriate EnPI(s).  …”

Energy baseline

“…Where the organization has data indicating that relevant variables significantly affect energy performance, the organization shall carry out normalization of the EnPI value(s) and corresponding EnB(s).  …” 

Baseline period indicates the period of time used as reference for energy consumption and energy performance analysis, associated data collection efforts, and comparison of energy performance with and without individual or groups of interventions.

Reporting period indicates the period of time over which energy performance is compared to the baseline period.

Energy Performance Improvement

The All-Ukrainian Awards: Pacesetters in Energy Management program relies on energy management best practices aligned with the ISO 50001:2018 standard. For energy performance improvement, higher scores will result from addressing the following items and best practices in the case study:

1. Demonstrate understanding of factors and variables that drive and affect the organization’s energy consumption and performance
2. Use methods to normalize the organization’s energy baseline and/or energy performance indicators 
3. Provide enough information about the organization’s normalization methods and work
4. Monitor energy performance on a regular basis

The following guidance is intended to help participants calculate improvements in energy performance using ISO 50001 best practices or other acceptable methods.

Calculating Energy Performance Improvement

Calculating energy performance improvement requires comparing energy consumption over the reporting period with energy consumption of the baseline period. For the comparison to be meaningful it is important that is carried out under equivalent conditions—or, the comparison must account for the difference in conditions.

Track 1: Large Companies case studies will include the following time periods related to their ISO 50001 EnMS implementation:

• Baseline and reporting period should consist of at least 12 consecutive months. 
• Baseline period should be before/during the ISO 50001 implementation. 
• Reporting period should be during/after the ISO 50001 implementation. 
• Baseline and reporting periods shall not overlap.

Track 2: Small and Medium Enterprises case studies will include the following time periods related to their energy efficiency programme implementation:

• Baseline and reporting period should consist of at least 12 consecutive months. 
• Baseline period should be before the energy efficiency programme implementation. 
• Reporting period should be during/after the energy efficiency programme implementation.

Both Track 1 and Track 2 participants shall include the following information in the case study:

(1) Baseline period considered for energy performance improvement calculation 

Indicate duration and the year in which baseline period occurred. Examples: 12 or 24 or 36 consecutive months starting in 2019. 

(2) Reporting period considered for energy performance improvement calculation 

Indicate duration and the year(s) in which the reporting period occurred. Examples: 12 or 24 or 36 or more consecutive months starting in 2020.

3) Indicators used to monitor energy performance 

Examples: Absolute Energy Consumption; Energy consumed per kg of product produced; Energy consumed per building occupant; Actual and Expected Energy Consumption; Energy consumption model; others

4) Key high-level equation(s) used to estimate energy performance improvement and energy savings

Example 1:

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

5) Main factors affecting energy consumption that were considered 

Examples: production output; outdoor temperature (e.g., heating degree days or cooling degree days); raw material humidity; raw material fat content; occupancy levels; etc. 

Case studies should demonstrate an understanding of how these factors and variables drive and affect their energy consumption and performance. 

6) Method or methods used to ensure comparison of energy consumption/performance under equivalent conditions 

Examples: Regression-analysis based energy consumption model; modification of data; others, including no method used.

Additional technical resources on energy performance monitoring and measurement will be made available.

Energy and Cost Savings Units

Energy cost savings should be provided in Ukrainian hryvnia (₴). 

Energy savings should be expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh). If your organization uses different energy units, then use the following table to convert the amount to kWh:

Implementation Costs, Estimated Staff Time, and Energy Cost Savings

For Track 1: Large Companies, determine the cost to implement the EnMS and include:

• Internal staff time to develop, implement, and maintain EnMS
• External staff, (e.g. consultants) time to develop, implement, and maintain EnMS
• Internal/external staff time to prepare for external audit
• Third-party audit

For Track 2: SMEs, determine the cost to implement the energy management system and/or energy efficiency efforts, where applicable: 

• Internal staff time to develop, implement, and maintain the energy management system and/or energy efficiency projects, plans, and efforts 
• External staff (e.g. consultants) to develop, implement, and maintain the energy management system and/or energy efficiency projects, plans, and efforts
  • If the cost of external staff support was partially or entirely covered by a technical assistance program, then provide your own estimate of what the cost would have been.
• Additional monitoring and metering equipment installed to track energy use and support energy management/efficiency (if applicable)  

For estimated staff time, indicate the following in your case study:

• Internal/external staff time to develop, implement, and maintain EnMS (Track 1) or energy efficiency projects (Track 2). Choose one:
  • Less than a half year of one full-time staff equivalent
  • One half year to one year of one full-time staff equivalent
  • Greater than 1 year of one full-time staff equivalent
  • Don’t know

For energy cost savings, Track 1 Large Companies and Track 2 SMEs submitting EnMS-ISO 50001 case studies shall indicate the following in their case study:

• Overall energy cost savings = Savings from the EnMS + savings from projects with capital investment
• Percent of overall cost savings that was due to operational control and management savings:
  • Less than 25%
  • 25-50%
  • 50-75%
  • 75-100%

Track 2 SMEs submitting case studies on energy efficiency efforts/programs shall indicate the following in their case study:

• Overall energy cost savings = Savings from efforts/projects without capital investments + savings from projects with capital investment
• Percent of overall cost savings that was due to efforts/projects without capital investments:
  • Less than 25%
  • 25-50%
  • 50-75%
  • 75-100%

The Awards Administrator will conduct an initial review of each entry (e.g. case study) to ensure eligibility.

Selection will entail a two-stage juried process with a panel involving both national and international energy management system experts. 

Each case study will be reviewed by at least 2 experts. The experts will score the entries on a scale from 0 to 100 using the Evaluation Criteria. All accepted case studies that address the case study topics and meet the evaluation criteria will become “qualified entries” thereby earning an Insight Award. The highest-scoring entries will move forward as finalists for determining the recipients of the Award of Excellence.

Award Notification

After the selection process is complete, award recipients will be notified by email. Expected notification date February 2025.

Awards Program Administrators

The All-Ukrainian Award: Pacesetters for Energy Management is supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) Programme. The Awards program is administered by European-Ukrainian Energy Agency. 

The All-Ukrainian Award: Pacesetters for Energy Management was adapted from the international Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) Energy Management Leadership Awards for ISO 50001. Since its launch in 2016, the annual CEM Energy Management Leadership Awards has recognized achievements by more than 200 organizations in 105 countries or economies and across 50 sectors.