{"id":32164,"date":"2019-11-08T16:09:45","date_gmt":"2019-11-08T15:09:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bmhavocats.com\/2019\/11\/08\/energy-france-is-accelerating-the-energy-transition-in-industrial-and-commercial-buildings\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T12:39:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T10:39:44","slug":"energy-france-is-accelerating-the-energy-transition-in-industrial-and-commercial-buildings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bmhavocats.com\/en\/2019\/11\/08\/energy-france-is-accelerating-the-energy-transition-in-industrial-and-commercial-buildings\/","title":{"rendered":"[ENERGY] France is accelerating the energy transition in industrial and commercial buildings"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row type=”vc_default”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/EzeHN7uSZKQ” el_width=”50″ align=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

One after another, two recently adopted regulations will accelerate the \u201cgreen\u201d transition of commercial and industrial buildings. Here\u2019s a brief overview of the main changes. <\/p>\n

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I. New Rules for Energy Efficiency in \u201cCommercial\u201d Buildings<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

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With regard to buildings in the \u201ctertiary\u201d sector (including, in particular, hotels, shopping centers, and office buildings), the Decree of July 23, 2019<\/a>, establishes new rules for reducing final energy consumption inexisting<\/sup> buildings.\u00b9 The goal is to reduce this final energy consumption by at least 40% by 2030, 50% by 2040, and 60% by 2050 compared to20102<\/sup>. This target can also be achieved by bringing the level of final energy consumption down to that of a new building in the relevant category. <\/p>\n

The main criterion used to determine compliance with this regulation is floor area, which must be at least 1,000 square meters.<\/p>\n

The requirements to reduce final energy consumption in commercial buildings took effect on October1<\/sup>, 2019.<\/p>\n

The actions to be taken focus on the energy efficiency of buildings in the broadest sense, the installation of high-performance equipment and systems for monitoring and actively managing that equipment, the establishment of procedures for operating the equipment, the adaptation of the premises for energy-efficient use, and the behavior of the occupants.<\/p>\n

The Government must specify, by decree, the targets for reducing final energy consumption for each economic sector, based onenergy<\/sup> intensity indicators.\u00b3<\/sup> This decree was presented by the Government a few days ago and is expected to be published shortly. <\/p>\n

The Decree provides for various options for adjusting the above-mentioned objectives, taking into account the negative consequences that the measures taken may have on the environment or on other economic interests. The owner and\/or tenant of the building in question must apply to benefit from thisadjustment.\u2074<\/sup> <\/p>\n

The Decree also requires the owner ortenant\u2075<\/sup> of the building to report, via an electronic platform supervised by the government, among other things, the annual energy consumption of the building as a whole, of each part of the building, or of groups of buildings subject to the targets. This reporting requirement also applies to usage intensity indicators related to the activities housed in the building. <\/p>\n

Information regarding final energy consumption and the goals for reducing that consumption must be provided to employees in the building.<\/p>\n

If the owner or tenant fails to fulfill their reporting obligation and\/or does not take the necessary actions to achieve the final energy consumption reduction targets, the locally competent Prefect may issue a formal notice requiring them to promptly submit an action plan. Failing that, or if these actions are not implemented, the Prefect may decide to make the information public (a mechanism known as \u201cname and shame\u201d<\/em>) and impose a relatively small fine on the offending owner or tenant (1,500 euros for an individual, 7,500 euros for a legal entity). <\/p>\n

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II. Commercial and Industrial Buildings: New Requirement to Incorporate a Renewable Energy Generation System in Order to Obtain a Commercial Operating Permit <\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

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Under the terms of the new Article L. 111-18-1<\/a> of the Urban Planning Code, inserted by the draft \u201cLaw on Energy and Climate \u201d<\/em> (\u201cEnergy and Climate Act\u201d<\/em>) recently adopted by Parliament, the issuance of a \u201ccommercial operating permit\u201d for <\/em>new industrial and commercial buildings with a footprint exceeding 1,000 squaremeters\u2076<\/sup> is contingent upon the installation of:<\/p>\n

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