Amount of energy savings over the lifetime of products sold by the organization during the reporting period.
Organizations should footnote all assumptions used.
This metric is intended to capture the product-lifetime energy savings to consumers as a result of energy-efficient products sold by the organization. For example, an organization that sells compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) that replace incandescent light bulbs might report this metric to capture the total energy savings to its clients resulting from the products provided. This metric captures the lifetime energy savings of products sold.
When multiplying the energy savings from each product sold by Units/Volume Sold: Total (PI1263), organizations should, under Units/Volume Sold: Total (PI1263), use the absolute number of product units sold rather than the volume of energy savings delivered by the product.
In some contexts, this metric can serve as an indicator of whether the outcome being sought by an investor or organization is occurring (the WHAT dimension of impact). For more on the alignment of IRIS metrics to the five dimensions of impact, see IRIS+ and the Five Dimensions of Impact (https://iris.thegiin.org/document/iris-and-the-five-dimensions/). No single metric is sufficient to understand an impact; rather, metrics are selected as a set across all dimensions of impact. When possible, the selection of metrics to measure and describe the five dimensions should be based on best practice and evidence.
June 2022 - IRIS v5.3 Released (current version)
Immaterial change. Minor revisions to definition and usage guidance for clarity.
January 2020 - IRIS v5.1 Released
No change.
May 2019 - IRIS v5.0 Released
No change.
March 2016 - IRIS v4.0 Released
Immaterial change. Minor revision to definition language for clarity.
March 2014 - IRIS v3.0 Released
Material change. Energy Savings from Products Sold (PI7623) replaced Energy Savings (PI7623). Metric name and definition language modified to provide clarity based on best practices and standard guidance.
November 2011 - IRIS v2.2 Released
No change.
February 2011 - IRIS v2.1 Released
No change.
September 2010 - IRIS v2.0 Released
Material change. Energy Savings (PI7623) replaced Energy Savings: Electricity (EE9). Metric modified to combine multiple energy sources.
September 2009 - IRIS v1.0 Released
New metric. Energy Savings: Electricity (EE9) was developed via the Original IRIS Working Group.
IRIS Metrics Work Better in Sets
To use IRIS metrics—and the resulting data—to understand impact performance, IRIS metrics should be used and analyzed in generally accepted sets and according to well-defined objectives. IRIS+ gives you access to generally accepted Core Metrics Sets aligned to common Impact Themes and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).