Charter Steel — 50001 Ready Facility

The energy team at Saukville used technical guidance from external consultants and DOE’s 50001 Ready Navigator tool to make sure it was fully prepared for the ISO 50001 audit process and certification. Through this initial experience at Saukville, Charter Steel established a repeatable methodology to help its other facilities implement an ISO 50001 energy management system and help meet the company’s 2026 energy goals.

Efforts by Charter Steel’s Saukville team and corporate energy leadership allowed the Fostoria staff to readily complete some tasks for 50001 Ready. The clear context and practical guidance in the Navigator tool also proved useful. Team members took screenshots of information provided in the tool to share with colleagues at the plant to help them understand the actions and data needed (e.g., energy performance of significant energy uses). This approach helped all team members understand and efficiently complete key steps. The Fostoria staff also found the Navigator tool helpful in identifying training needs and understanding meter calibration to improve the accuracy of energy usage data.

Implementing a 50001 Ready Energy Management System

• Based on prior work on energy management guided by Focus on Energy and external consultants, the Saukville facility needed only three to four weeks to meet all 50001 Ready requirements; the Fostoria facility reports that their entire implementation process took about six months.
• Charter Steel’s Energy Teams span three levels: Energy Management Review Team from executive management; the Cross-functional Enterprise Team to oversee objectives and targets; and the Plant-level Implementation Teams, which include the plant manager, plant metallurgist, maintenance manager, and support staff.
• The 50001 Ready Navigator tool serves as a useful "checklist" to make sure the process for implementing the energy management system is complete and robust. It helped the Saukville team assess system status, identify remaining ISO 50001 requirements, and define action items. The Fostoria staff found the Navigator tool particularly helpful in identifying training needs and calibrating meters to improve the accuracy and reliability of energy data.
• Corporate managers appreciate the Navigator tool as a means to gain an accurate overview of the status at each facility. The tool also alerted managers to the value of raising energy awareness among all plant personnel; the company has achieved significant energy savings based on suggestions from floor employees (e.g., compressed air leaks, notched V-belts on motors, tuned air dampers, recovering waste heat, etc.).
• Keys to success: (1) Drive to establish a system that endures and continues to capture savings, even with eventual staff turnover. (2) Great relationships among energy team members and strong support from upper management.

Key Takeaways

The energy management system at Charter Steel has increased corporate awareness of energy issues and strengthened management support for energy efficiency projects. Achieving 50001 Ready and ISO 50001 certification at one facility helped foster a culture in which all staff are engaged, asking questions, and coming up with innovative ways to improve energy efficiency. Use of the 50001 Ready Navigator has facilitated and upgraded communications between on-site team members and off-site energy management leads—improving the coordination and efficiency of energy-related activities. By 2020, Charter Steel plans to help its Cleveland facility earn 50001 Ready status and ISO 50001 certification.