RIT’s Edwin Piñero Named Chair of International Standards Committee

Edwin Piñero, a member of the research faculty in the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology, has been selected as chair of the newly created Energy Management Committee of the International Standards Organization, or ISO.

Piñero will lead the effort to establish an international framework for industrial plants and companies related to the management of all aspects of energy, including procurement and use. The committee will also develop a global standard for energy management, to be named ISO 5001, which will combine with international standards related to quality management and environmental systems to further sustainable development in industry.

“The urgency to reduce emissions, the reality of higher prices from reduced availability of fossil fuels, and the need to promote efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources provide a strong rationale for developing this new standard, building on the most advanced good practices and existing national and regional standards,” says Alan Bryden, ISO secretary-general.

Bryden expects the new standard developed by the committee will achieve major, long-term increases in the quality of energy management in industrial facilities and believes the effort could lead to a 20 percent increase in energy efficiency.

“We have a major opportunity to enhance overall environmental quality while also reducing the world’s dependence on fossil fuel,” adds Piñero. “I am honored to be selected to chair this committee and look forward to being a part of ISO’s efforts in this area.”

Prior to joining RIT, Piñero served as Federal Environmental Executive in the White House where he was responsible for implementing policy and practices on environmental stewardship and sustainability throughout the federal government. In this capacity, he was also a member of the President’s Council on Environmental Quality, which assists in developing and implementing national environmental policy.

ISO is the world’s leading standards organization, developing and regulating commercial and industrial standards in a host of sectors. ISO was founded in 1947 and currently represents national standards organizations in 157 countries.