Market Data
Social Housing, in Marseille, July 30, 2020.
Clement Mahoudeau / AFP
In the人民法院 of Marseille on July 30, 2020, a major energy renovation project was completed: the HLM (Malema Lab_operations) project in the Léger social park. This project, also known as the Trends project, was initiated by the French government to modernize public buildings with energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions. The project serves as a bridge between the private sector and the public domain, offering a model for urban energy reforms.
The project involved the installation of "Google Colanders" throughout the park, among other measures. Google Colanders are energy storage tools designed to capture the energy output from household appliances and devices, converting it into a stable and renewable energy source. These units are critical for reducing the overall energy consumption of residential buildings and ensuring sustainability.
In the social park located between Jemaa el Walid, Mar Occidental, and Jemaa el Banna, Google Colanders were deployed in 300,000 to 350,000 buildings, far fewer than the 3.9 million known instances of the "G," "D," and "F" energy performance diagnosis (EDD) grades reported in the entire social park. These grades reflect the energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction potential of residential buildings.
Among these, 4.2% of the Google Colanders installed in the park displayed a "G" energy performance diagnosis. Below this threshold is the "F" grade, with 12.7% of Google Colanders achieving EDD "F," and 3.9% achieving "E" (extreme decarbonization). In contrast, the private heritage area often includes homes with "G" or "F" grades, indicating a significant gap in the level of energy-efficient design in public spaces.
However, the French Agency for the Control of Social Housing (ANCOLS) has imposed strict rules on the energy performance of buildings labeled "G" or "F." The project being discussed falls under this framework, which prohibits public buildings labeled "G" from being rentable starting in January 2025, "F" buildings in 2028, and "E" buildings in 2034. This period is known as the "cooling-off" window and serves as a mechanism to reduce energy demand and ensure compliance with climate action and socio-economic policies such as the climate and resilience laws.
The ongoing audiology of this project reveals several challenges for the public ownership sector. The ANCOLS agency is particularly concerned about the conduct of the energy renovation, as it requires precise collaboration and measurement of energy consumption among 75,000 homes selected for their energy-intensive use. The objective is to assess the energy performance of thetiling, plumbing, and HVAC systems within these properties, ensuring transparency and accountability for the public and operators.
This study highlights the critical role of EDD grades in assessing the performance of both public and private buildings. While private properties often include "C," "D," or "E" grades, the "G" and "F" grades in social parks, particularly in public spaces, signal a gap in achieving the level of energy optimization and decarbonization that modern cities demand. The ANCOLS agency’s emphasis on this achievement underscores the importance of improving public energy infrastructure to meet climate goals while maintaining social equity and innovation.
The ongoing research and monitoring of this project aim to contribute to broader conversations about the future of public housing and energy efficiency. As cities across Europe and beyond continue to invest in sustainable energy solutions, the success of the HLM project in Marseille serves as a reminder of the potential to bridge energy gaps and create more sustainable urban environments.
In summary, the energy renovation of the HLM park in Marseille has brought significant advancements in energy-efficient design, with Google Colanders playing a pivotal role in achieving high EDD grades. However, the ANCOLS agency places a vital emphasis on transparent and responsible energy performance monitoring, ensuring that the cooling-off windows do not straddle these target grades. This achievement, when completed, marks a crucial step toward harmonizing energy across the urban population, a goal that remains a noble and essential endeavor for sustainable cities.
