3 best practices to ensure your building's energy efficiency
The building sector is highly energy-intensive, generating 70 million tons of oil equivalent per year—nearly 45% of France's final energy consumption. As a major consumer, it also represents one of the largest sources of potential energy savings.
For several years, France has been committed to reducing building energy consumption (Grenelle Law, RE2020, Tertiary Decree, etc.) and, consequently, greenhouse gas emissions. The implementation of the energy sobriety plan initiated by the government in September 2022 has only accelerated actions across various stakeholders to improve building energy efficiency.
To take action, more and more companies and local authorities are adopting an Energy Management strategy. But how can they measure its impact and demonstrate the effectiveness of their approach?
Methodological solutions to ensure energy efficiency
Methodological Solutions to Ensure Energy Efficiency
1. Conducting an Energy Audit
This tool is designed to assess and measure the actual energy consumption of a building or an entire asset portfolio. It defines a program that proposes various solutions to reduce energy use based on a detailed analysis of weak points and energy-intensive activities. This approach allows for the precise development of a strategy to improve a building’s energy performance.
Since energy audits are conducted by certified professionals, the audited entity is guaranteed an effective and tailored strategy. The improvements made can also be visualized during the next audit.
2. Defining and Monitoring Performance Indicators
To ensure the energy efficiency of a building or real estate portfolio, it is essential to define and track Energy Performance Indicators (EPIs).
Energy Performance Indicators measure the efficiency of an energy use over a given period and under specific conditions (geography, altitude, etc.). Different types of EPIs exist, such as consumption per square meter, cost per square meter, total energy consumption, and total billing.
Example: A company may set a target that Building A must not exceed 150 kWh/m²/year.
Once established, these EPIs allow data to be compared over specific periods and track their evolution in detail. They also help identify energy drifts and make quick adjustments. This ensures reliable energy savings and continuous improvement of a building’s energy performance.
3. Measuring Achieved Energy Savings
Once energy efficiency actions have been implemented, it is crucial to demonstrate the energy savings achieved over a given period. In 1997, the NGO Efficiency Valuation Organization introduced the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) to calculate and monitor a building’s energy savings. It is the most widely recognized certification for energy measurement and verification.
How does IPMVP work?
IPMVP aims to measure avoided energy consumption. For example, if renovation work has improved a building’s insulation, it will consume less energy. The protocol focuses on quantifying the difference in energy consumption before and after the improvements, verifying the change in the building’s energy performance between the baseline period (before), the current period, and a monitored post-implementation period (after the work).
Like energy audits, the IPMVP protocol must be implemented by certified companies. When applied correctly, it also helps organizations meet objectives set by various governmental regulations and standards.
These solutions are key to ensuring effective energy monitoring, improving building performance, and committing to a sustainable environmental approach.
