The Environmental and Business Benefits of Implementing the ISO 50001 Energy Management System in Government Buildings: A Case Study of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO)

Saleh Alotaibi (), Hani Alogaili, Khaled Alawwad and Sulaiman Aljarallah
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Saleh Alotaibi: Research and Studies Center, Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization, Riyadh 11471, Saudi Arabia
Hani Alogaili: Energy Efficiency Initiatives Department, Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization, Riyadh 11471, Saudi Arabia
Khaled Alawwad: Energy Efficiency Initiatives Department, Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization, Riyadh 11471, Saudi Arabia
Sulaiman Aljarallah: Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, Riyadh 12613, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-27

Abstract: This study examines the implementation of an ISO 50001-compliant energy management system (EnMS) at the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization (SASO), a governmental organization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the resulting environmental and business benefits. The methodologies used across three SASO sites (Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam), including energy audits, implementation procedures, and performance dashboards, are examined, supported by comprehensive data analysis and statistical regression, and the benefits in terms of energy reductions and cost savings are quantified. The obstacles to and drivers of implementation are also considered. The results show that, through strict adherence to ISO 50001 guidelines and the deployment of a range of energy efficiency measures, SASO has achieved a 39% reduction in electricity consumption since 2019, resulting in cost savings of approximately USD 3.6 million. The organization has also achieved a 38% reduction in CO 2 emissions over the same period. This study demonstrates the pivotal role ISO 50001 plays in enhancing organizational sustainability and provides actionable insights into how it can be operationalized within the government sector to achieve significant environmental and economic benefits.

Keywords: energy efficiency; ISO 50001; energy management system (EnMS); sustainability; CO 2 emissions; Saudi Arabia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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