Fira de Barcelona Obtains AENOR’s ISO 50001 Energy Efficiency Certification

Fira de Barcelona has obtained the ISO 50001 certification for energy efficiency, the main global energy management standard for companies. The institution thus reinforces its commitment to sustainability, the fight against climate change and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This is its second certification in this area, following the ISO 14001 it obtained in 2021.

AENOR awards the ISO 50001 certification to a company or institution for its energy management system after analysing the aspects stemming from its activity, including its services, facilities and products, and how it contributes to real and quantifiable energy savings. Fira de Barcelona currently has an energy consumption monitoring system with over 240 control devices located at key points of the Gran Via venue, and it has established automatic alarms to prevent any abnormal or unnecessary consumption from occurring.

Moreover, the trade fair institution has a facility management system (SCADA) for the programming and control of the lighting and air conditioning schedules in numerous scenarios, two factors acknowledged in the obtaining of the ISO 50001 certification.

Fira has also developed a calculation model capable of assigning an energy label to each significant event based on its energy performance parameters, thus raising the awareness of customers and exhibitors with respect to their contribution to energy efficiency and constantly improving consumption. In short, these are measures that demonstrate Fira de Barcelona’s commitment to energy efficiency.

According to Constantí Serrallonga, the managing director of Fira de Barcelona, “this certification represents recognition of the institution’s ongoing efforts to conduct sustainable and responsible activity, with the requirement of minimising the impact of our events, the ambition to be pioneers in our sector and the aim of contributing to a better world”.

As for Jordi Martín, AENOR’s director in Catalonia, he stated that “this certification does nothing more than confirm the excellent work carried out by Fira de Barcelona in recent years regarding energy and environmental issues. It’s highly important for organisations such as this one to demonstrate their commitment to the planet, as their good practices can serve as an example for many others”.

Fira commitment

In this regard, Fira has maintained a high level of commitment for years when it comes to allocating resources to sustainability measures. 12% of the institution’s investments were allocated to energy efficiency policies in 2022 and the figure rose to 19% last year.

Similarly, the institution seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions by procuring its supply of electrical energy with a certificate of renewable origin and receiving 40% of its power through a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement). The fairground only consumes electrical energy from renewable sources such as solar, wind, hydraulic, biomass, tidal, geothermal and biogas, including, in this regard, all the consumption generated at the venues (stands, exhibition areas, offices, etc.).

The ISO 50001 certification comes in the wake of the ISO 140001 standard, which was also awarded by AENOR in 2021, as well as other international recognitions, including the UFI’s Sustainable Development Award, with which the main trade fair association in the world acknowledged Fira de Barcelona’s contribution to turning Barcelona into a flagship destination in terms of sustainability. Likewise, the institution has taken part in the BCN Sustainable Tourism programme of Turisme de Barcelona and adhered to the Barcelona Biosphere Tourism Sustainability Commitment, which recognises companies that are committed to responsible management with respect to the environment, culture, working conditions, gender equality and their social and economic contribution.