Energy efficiency, digital frugality, infrastructure optimization… many injunctions are piling up on the shoulders of commercial building managers, with one essential guideline: Do better with less! This shared ambition is that of an entire society, bringing together private and public players, to rise together to the challenge of energy transformation. But how?
Communities at the heart of the energy transformation project
Responsible for managing a multitude of infrastructures on their territory, local authorities pursue a dual ambition:
- Deliver quality services tailored to the needs of their citizens
- Acting as a social model, to engage users in individual and collective well-being
A mission as easy to summarize as it is complex to implement. Because every region is different, every population has its own specific characteristics, and every locality has its own priorities for public action.
To achieve this, local authorities are now paying particular attention to the environmental impact of the technical assets mobilized to deliver value-added services to their users: more efficient public transport, nature-friendly public lighting, modernized schools, economical administrative buildings…
These efforts applied to the management of their real estate fleets fit directly into the national objectives of carbon neutrality, and in particular the action obligations issued by the Tertiary Decree of July 23, 2019 (decree n°2019-771 of the ELAN Law). Indeed, this imposes a reduction in the energy consumption of tertiary buildings, ranging from 40% by 2030, 50% by 2040, to finally reach 60% by 2050!
To achieve this, the process must be gradual… and begin as soon as possible! However, local authorities’ commitment to energy efficiency can be constrained by limited investment capacity, and a lack of expert resources available in this field. So how can we support local authorities in their energy transformation? How can they optimize their energy resources intelligently?
Predictive maintenance for a secure ecological and digital transition
The commitment of local authorities to an ecological and digital transition raises many different issues, including :
- Meeting regulatory requirements
- Centralize and simplify the management of a wide range of equipment
- Efficient life cycle management and plant safety
- Flexible use of buildings
To ensure the management of all the service infrastructures deployed in the region, one of the actions commonly adopted is the deployment of a CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System). This provides local staff with a tool for understanding and monitoring the operation of assets, as well as efficient, centralized scheduling of interventions. However, this “preventive” method has a number of limitations: limited access to certain data, unnecessary replacement of equipment, unnecessary repair costs, strain on technician schedules, etc.
To make this management more reliable and accelerate the energy performance of buildings, complementary solutions are gradually invading the market, drawing on the potential of artificial intelligence and connected objects. This is the case, for example, with our BLPredict digital platform, which collects and analyzes real-time data on energy consumption and equipment status. Interoperable with any CMMS, and in particular the CARL Source CMMS developed by CARL Berger-Levrault, it relies on the deployment of connected objects coupled with business AI to deliver maintenance focused on optimizing resources and reducing energy impact (electricity, gas, fuel oil, water).
This turnkey solution is quick and easy to deploy:
- Data collection – We install sensors on public equipment (heating, ventilation, meters, rooms, etc.) to collect various operating measurements: temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, resource consumption…
- Data analysis – Our platform intelligently analyzes and translates data in real time.
- Information visualization – Maintenance operatives use customized dashboards to monitor the operation and energy performance of their equipment: consumption tracking, temperature control in domestic hot water circuits, ventilation system operation, office occupancy or environmental monitoring…
- Request for qualified intervention – In the event of deviations or anomalies (overconsumption, leaks, breakdowns, etc.), BLPredict sends an alert to the building’s CMMS system, to initiate a request for qualified intervention.
- Decision-support reports are generated, to advise local authorities on the best economic and technical profile for their equipment, and to advise them on how best to control consumption and reduce energy bills.
High-performance, sustainable building operation
The adoption of predictive maintenance – at the right time – optimizes the management of energy flows. With BLPredict, the main gains are visible after 6 months of use:
- A 15% reduction in energy costs
- 25% reduction in operating costs
- 10% increase in equipment life expectancy
This is the challenge taken up by the local authority of Le Havre Seine Métropole, for example, which wanted to facilitate maintenance management for its 200-plus buildings. The deployment of our innovative BLPredict solution at the Stade Océane has enabled us to limit health risks and improve user comfort during events in private rooms, and to optimize energy performance by detecting a major water leak and optimizing boiler cycle operation. This is currently being followed by automated intervention processes.
Read our full article on the deployment of BL.Predictat the Stade Océane in Le Havre Seine Métropole.
The energy efficiency of local authorities in France is a major challenge that requires immediate action to revisit the day-to-day practices of an entire ecosystem involving administrative bodies, manufacturers and users of city services. Faced with this major challenge, modernizing the management of facilities and infrastructures, through the use of digital platforms incorporating artificial intelligence and connected objects, is helping to make the transition to a more sustainable society, while generating substantial savings.
