Energy Efficiency of a French university

Abstract: COFELY-GDF SUEZ, a global energy services company, has signed an Energy Performance Contracting(EPC) agreement with the University Versailles Saint Quentin En Yvelines for a period of 25 years. The master thesis aims to identify all the different solutions to improve energy efficiency in the buildings and thus, achieve the objectives of the EPC: How reduce the energy consumption of the different buildings,which includes 19,000 students, by 33% for gas, by 11% for electricity and by 19% for water consumption. Another important aspect of the thesis is to manage and control CO2 emissions. The scope of the master thesis is thus to find some solutions well suited to decrease energy consumption in an university and to develop accurately one of these solutions: heat pumps. An extensive study of the different energy saving measures has been performed, based on visits onsite,feasibility studies conducting, and meetings with the university’s administration as well as geographic dataanalysis. In addition, a thorough analysis of one of these saving energy saving measures has been conducted: the installation of air source heat pumps. The effect of these air source heat pumps on energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions has been studied. Moreover, a metering plan for energy and fluids is essential for following up the energy consumption and thus estimate the energy saving agreed bythe Energy Performance Contracting. Many obstacles have been encountered in energy efficiency of building systems and energy conservation.The technical and economical aspects must be taken into account when reducing gas, electricity and water consumption. Consequently, the energy saving strategies and measures described in the thesis have been implemented before, and therefore, are of a practical nature. The French Environmental Round Table defines the key points of government policy on ecological and sustainable development issues. At the end of it, improvement of building’s energy and environmental performance seems to be the best and preferred solution to answer this pressing situation, managed by the economic actors. Consequently, in order to face climate change, COFELY has to adapt to the new regulations and to tackle the different issues.