DOE Recognizes First Correctional Facilities to Achieve 50001 Ready Status

Oregon has set the bar high for correctional institutions’ energy management across the country. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently recognized four facilities in the Oregon Department of Corrections as 50001 Ready—signifying that they are using essential features of an energy management system to continuously improve energy performance and save money. 50001 Ready provides a self-paced, no-cost, stepping stone toward certification to ISO 50001, the international standard for energy management systems.

“Like other correctional facilities, we operate much like a small city and perform a wide variety of functions,” said Chad Naugle, a manager for the Oregon Department of Corrections. “50001 Ready helps us improve our energy management and accelerate progress toward our energy goals.”

Oregon’s correctional facilities in Lakeville, Pendleton, Salem, and Wilsonville all earned 50001 Ready ahead of their target date, and the Oregon Department of Corrections is now eager to get all of its 15 facilities recognized as 50001 Ready. The online Navigator tool, available through 50001 Ready, accommodates multiple sites and is particularly helpful to the Oregon Department of Corrections with its many facilities spread across the state. The tool’s dashboard feature, for example, lets the program manager check overall progress at a glance and spot site-specific activities affecting energy usage. These insights enrich monthly reports and meetings as well as reinforce and motivate the energy teams at each facility.

Oregon’s correctional facilities accelerated their achievement of 50001 Ready status by accepting guidance and support from the utility-funded Energy Trust of Oregon, which implements the state’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program. Many states offer similar SEM programs aligned with the ISO 50001 standard.

“The Oregon Department of Corrections has successfully applied its learnings from Strategic Energy Management within their organization to the more formalized goal for 50001 Ready,” said Kathleen Belkhayat, Energy Trust of Oregon.

Learn more about the how the Oregon Department of Corrections earned the 50001 Ready status. Find out more about 50001 Ready >>