BMU funding programme: Air-conditioning guideline
The Federal Ministry for the Environment promotes measures on refrigeration and air conditioning systems as part of the National Climate Initiative (NKI).
Measurement obligation for third-party quantities postponed
Affected companies have until 01 January 2022 to create and implement a measurement concept.
German Supply Chain Act clears final hurdle
On 27 May 2021, the grand coalition agreed on the amended government draft of the Supply Chain Act.
Guideline: “Greenhouse Gas Neutral Administration”
At the beginning of 2021, the guideline “The path to a greenhouse gas neutral administration” was published.
TA Luft 2021 finally passed after long negotiations
The newly drafted Technical Instructions on Air Quality Control (TA Luft) will come into force on 01.12.2021.
No revision of ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 for the time being
ISO 14001 will remain in the 2015 version until further notice.
Publication of ISO 50005
The new ISO 50005 was published in September 2021.
Development of a new module: EMAS+ Sustainability Management
What can an attractive sustainability management system for companies look like?
Development of the German Training Week – Energy Efficiency
The focus is on increasing the energy efficiency of local actors.
Preparation of climate and environmental balances DAAD
Since March 2021, Arqum has been supporting the DAAD in the preparation of a climate and environmental balance sheet.
Innovations and assistance in waste legislation
The new LAGA leaflet defines the scope of application, requirements and documentation obligations of the GewAbfV for commercial municipal waste as well as construction and demolition waste. The “Catalogue of packaging subject to system participation” published for 2019 provides assistance for companies as to which type of packaging is subject to registration. On 11.02.2019, the […]
Customization Options for Certifications (COVID-19)
In reaction to the restrictions on social and economic life due to the 2019-2020 coronavirus pandemic, the accreditation bodies DAU and DAkkS have adapted their certification regulations or pointed out possibilities for adaptation. The following information has been published so far: DAU – Deutsche Akkreditierungs- und Zulassungsgesellschaft für Umweltgutachter mbh (German Accreditation and Licensing Body […]
Current Information on Coronavirus
We at Arqum would like to provide a brief look at how the entire staff is taking efforts to slow down the spread of COVID-19. The health of all is our greatest concern. This is why we are doing our part to slow down the spread of COVID-19. The current state of technology […]
The New ISO 50001:2018
The New ISO 50001:2018 After the revision of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, ISO 50001 has now also been reviewed. Here too, there will be a 3-year transitional period for certified companies to convert to the ISO 50001:2018 from the date of its publication. Certificates on the basis of the ISO 50001:2011 will lose […]
Current Status of the Revision of ISO 50001
Current Status of the Revision of ISO 50001 After the revision of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, ISO 50001:2011 has now been in revision since the summer of 2016. The final draft (FDIS) is expected to be released in August 2018 and publication of the standard ISO 50001:2019 is expected at the beginning of […]
Step-by-Step Energy Management for SMEs
Pilot project for the introduction of a step-by-step energy management for small and medium-sized Enterprises: For large companies, energy management systems (EnMS) are already part of the standard repertoire but are not as widespread amongst smaller and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Even though the complexity of an energy management system has a deterring effect on […]
Revision of the Guideline for the Implementation of Audits
ISO 19011 – Revision of the guideline for the implementation of Audits: All important standards for management systems require the implementation of internal audits. Content requirements, however, e.g. on the qualifications of the auditors or how internal audits should be planned, conducted and followed-up are rarely to be found in ISO 9001, ISO 14001 […]
Occupational Health and Safety Management System
Publication of the standard for occupational health and safety management systems is expected for March 2018! After the first draft standard of ISO 45001 was rejected, the second draft version has now gained the required majority in the international standard commission. Thus, the path to a worldwide international standard in the area of occupational […]
New Changeover Deadline for ISO 9001 and ISO 14001
Restriction of changeover period for ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015: All certificates issued in accordance with ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 lose their validity on 15th September 2018. This means it is now less than ten months before changeover to the new standard requirements! As the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) surprisingly announced last week, […]
Multi-Site Process for EMAS
The introduction of a multi-site process for EMAS – companies wanted for a pilot project: The EU Commission is currently preparing an adaptation of the EMAS-user manual. The manual is expected to include a regulation, which will enable companies from selected (non-industrial) sectors with several locations to carry out an EMAS validation according to […]
ISO 50003 – now it’s getting serious
ISO 50003 – now it’s getting serious: As from October, the new ISO 50003 (Energy Management Systems – Requirements for Authorities Auditing and Certifying Energy Management Systems) comes into in force. The ISO 50003 applies actually only to the certification authorities. However, some of the requirements of the standard have a direct impact on […]
Amendments to the Annexes I to III of the EMAS
Amendments to the Annexes I to III of the EMAS Regulation which came into Force on 18. September: After the amendment of the ISO 14001 in 2015, the EU Commission has developed the annexes of the EMAS regulation further in order to maintain compatibility of the systems. For EMAS organizations there is a need […]
New Regulation for Emission Protection: 42. BImSchV
New Regulation for Emission Protection: 42. BImSchV – Regulation on Evaporative Cooling Systems, Cooling Towers and Wet Separators: The regulation on evaporative cooling systems, cooling towers and wet separators (42.BImSchV) came into force on 19. August 2017. Moist exhaust air containing water droplets as aerosol rises from the above-mentioned plants. This can result in […]
Waste Management Regulation
New regulation for Waste Officers published – Requirements on specialist knowledge will be extended:: The “Second regulation on the further development of legal waste monitoring” was published on 07.12.2016. It will enter into force on 01.06.2017 and includes (in addition to the new regulation for disposal companies) the new regulation for waste officers. This […]
Amendment of the EMAS Regulation
The amendment of the EMAS regulation – Changes to content and deadlines at a glance: Triggered by the amendment of the ISO 14001:2015, the EU commission has revised Annexes I-IV of the EMAS regulation and the EMAS user guide in the past few months. The main changes and user-relevant deadlines for EMAS are summarized […]
Energy and Electricity Tax Transparency Act
New requirements on companies claiming tax benefits for energy and electricity tax: Many businesses take advantage of energy and electricity tax benefits such as tax relief for manufacturing companies (Section 9b German Electricity Tax Act). As already reported in the last newsletter, new statement deadlines, which are to be implemented by June 30th, 2017, […]
CSR Reporting Obligations – Law Now in Force
CSR Reporting Obligations – Law Now in Force: On 9th March the German parliament passed the draft bill on CSR reporting obligations. The most important points, as outlined in our post from December 2016 , have not changed. A summary of the most important changes as compared to the draft bill can be found […]
Software for energy and material flow diagrams
bw!Sankey: Program for generating energy and material flow diagrams for companies registered in Baden-Wuerttemberg: Determination of potentials in energy and resource efficiency can be simplified with the help of the e!Sankey software. The software is used for the visualization of volume flows in resource efficiency. It supports informative and meaningful representations of flow charts […]
Heating optimization – Funding possible
Funding program of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) for heating optimization: Up to 30% off the costs for pump replacement and heating optimization: The Federal government has set itself the objective of achieving a virtually climate-neutral building stock by 2050. Approximately 35% of energy consumption and approximately one third of […]
Energy audit obligation
Energy audit obligation as per Energy Services Act – Review by BAFA: Immediately after the expiry of the deadline on 5.12.2015, the BAFA (Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control) started writing to selected companies who fall under the audit obligation to provide proof of the implementation of the energy audit. In this case, […]
Energy-efficiency network Munich – upper Bavaria
Closing event for energy-efficiency network Munich – upper Bavaria: On 30th June 2016, Hirschvogel Umformtechnik Gmbh in Denklingen hosted the closing event of the energy efficiency network in Munich (Upper Bavaria). The results of the network were presented. The participating companies achieved an increase in energy efficiency of 14.0% and a reduction of CO2 emissions […]
Internal audits according to ISO 19011
Organizations that have introduced a management system according to EMAS, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 or ISO 50001 are required through internal audits to review the system on a regular basis as to functioning and the results of the environmental, energy or quality performance. The new ISO 9001:2015 as well as ISO 14001:2015 require, inter alia, the […]
labour law and environmental-protection law
Managers and supervisors are usually responsible for compliance with the health and safety at work and environmental requirements in your area, without this having to be specified in the contract. If, for example, hazardous substances are used in the area of their responsibility, or environmentally-relevant equipment is used, special care is essential in order to […]
The Risk Prevention Officer
You are responsible for hazardous materials in your plant? You need practical tips and training plans for the implementation of the CLP Regulation? You want safety in the storage and handling of hazardous materials? You have questions regarding hazardous materials/your field of activity? Then you should attend this seminar! Target group: The seminar is aimed […]
More stringent requirements
More stringent requirements and new guide lines for ISO 50001 – Improvement of energy efficiency is a binding requirement – Assistance with the implementation: Up to now, in Germany energy management systems (EnMS) have been certified according to ISO 50001 in far more than 7,000 organizations. Energy management systems are an important instrument for the […]
The Energy Officer/Energy auditor
Legislators are requiring more and more that companies improve energy efficiency and introduce energy management systems. This is particularly true of the Act Concerning the Implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, adopted on 6 March 2015. It requires all companies that no longer count as SMEs (small or medium-sized enterprises), to appoint an energy […]
Duty of disclosure
Duty of disclosure: Companies must report specific tax benefits relating to energy and electricity to the main customs office: The new “regulation on implementation of the EU legal obligations for publication, information and transparency in the energy and electricity tax act” (EnSTransV) goes into force as of July 1st, 2016. It applies to companies that […]
Energy Audit 2019 – Keep at it!
Since the beginning of this year, a legal commitment for large companies to undertake an energy audit has been in place. The date which the legislator had prescribed for its implementation ended on 5 December 2015. The energy audit must be carried out at least every four years by qualified specialists as calculated from the […]
Energy Audit obligation: Participate in network
Meet with energy audit obligation by network participation – effects on the cut-off date 05.12.2015: The Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (German BAFA) has published a list of frequently asked questions in relation to the energy audit obligation. This can be seen here. For instance, under the item “energy networks”, the BAFA describes […]
From ECOfit to environmental management system
Implementing an environmental management system with ECOfit – Environmental management in convoy: The basics of an environmental management system are implemented by the participation in ECOfit. Building on the ECOfit award, a certifiable environmental management system according to EMAS or ISO 14001 can be introduced in a further step. This further step is supported by […]
Energy audit obligation – BAFA Bulletin
Energy audit obligation for large companies: BAFA (Federal Office of Economics and Export Control) bulletin allows only few exceptions: On 22nd April 2015, the amended German Energy Services Law (EDL-G) on the implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive entered into force. The law stipulates that all companies that no longer apply as a small […]
Renewable Sources of Energy Act
Renewable Sources of Energy Act (“EEG”) special equalisation scheme: Deadline extension for energy-intensive companies–obligation to install officially calibrated meters by 31 March 2015: On 11 Nov. 2014, the BAFA (Federal Office of Economic Affairs and Export Control) announced that electricity-intensive companies or independent company divisions must have officially calibrated meters at each point of consumption […]
UFOPLAN research project
UFOPLAN research project “Amendment of EMAS III regulation – Development of German positions”: In the context of the UFOPLAN research project “Amendment of EMAS III regulation – Development of German positions”, Arqum is currently developing specific amendment proposals for the EMAS III law in conjunction with various interest groups. The aim is to supply the […]
