Paths of Development The paths of development in the building sector can be much more easily identified now than in previous years thanks to a greater understanding in various areas:
• Buildings may draw on several energy sources, including energy from renewable sources. These energy sources can be combined. In fact, in some cases energy sources may change several times over the life of the building;
• Improvements to the energy performance of buildings can be scheduled over several years. Each new development increases the value of the property;
• A building’s occupants engage in relatively constant behavior over time. Their needs tend to evolve over long cycles, without sudden changes, and can be reasonably well anticipated.
2.4.2. The Grenelle Environment Forum: Reducing Emissions by 75% is an Achievable Objective The Grenelle Act confirms that France has undertaken to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by a factor of four by the year 2050, in keeping with legislation enacted in the Energy Policy Act of July 13, 2005, which sets energy policy guidelines (stipulating a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 3% per year). This long-term political commitment presupposes a collective effort, at least within the European Union. This objective was inspired by the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and reflects a convergence objective at global level to succeed in reducing emissions to two tons of CO2 per inhabitant by 2050. France is rather well positioned in comparison
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with its European neighbors: emissions per inhabitant are lower than the average and it will likely be one of the only European countries to respect the commitment it made in the framework of the Kyoto Protocol. In France, the “factor 4 objective” (dividing 1990 emissions by 4) is achievable. First, consumption must be decreased; second, energy from renewable sources must be developed to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions stemming from the country’s energy production. The revival of an energy efficiency policy, accompanied by the massive development of energy from renewable sources, will be sufficient to meet the challenge. Moreover, France is not working alone to meet this goal. The European Community has proposed concerted objectives in the framework of its energy package. It all comes down to reaching two specific goals: (i) reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 14% by the year 2020 (excluding negotiable permit systems), and (ii) producing 23% of total energy consumption from renewable energy sources. Although at the European level decisions are currently focused on these two objectives, it should be noted that energy efficiency is an indispensable prerequisite to comply with these commitments. Over the past 15 years – during which the particularly low energy prices worked against energy management policies – France saved nearly 10 Mtoe of energy. According to ADEME, using currently known technologies, it is possible to envisage sources of additional energy savings of the order of 35 Mtoe by the year 2020, apportioned between industry (10 Mtoe), buildings (15 Mtoe) and transport (10 Mtoe).
© AFD / Implementing Large-Scale Energy Efficiency Programs in Existing Buildings in China / October 2010