Construction21 has just revealed, as part of World Green Building Week, the 7 French champions of the Green Building solutions Awards 2016.
The competition continues the international momentum in the fight against climate change, and is dedicated to casting the spotlight on the most sustainable and innovative achievement in environmental performance for buildings. The French winners will take part, along with the other international champions, in the international final set to end on 14 November at COP22 in Marrakesh.
No fewer than 23 experts were called upon to select the best of the best for the distinctions. Five judging panels were formed, consisting of specialists in sustainable construction, energy efficiency, life cycle analysis and smart technology, to assess the candidates and collectively designate the French winners in each category.
Agua wins the award in the Smart Building category
Agua was the 1st tertiary building in France to be awarded the BEPOS-Effinergie® label and, one year down the line, posts actual energy consumption of 20.28 kWh/m2/year due to comfort-facilitating facilities, i.e. 90% less than the level allowed by the thermal regulations (RT2012). This makes it an energy-positive building. The unconsumed surplus energy is re-channelled into a Smart Grid set up for the neighbouring buildings.
Agua is not just a high-efficiency building, it is a smart building. A pioneer in a new generation of offices, Agua is monitored and configured in real time, using the Galaxy Pilot® software developed by GA Group in 2006. Connected to several thousand sensors set throughout Agua, Galaxy Pilot® processes nearly 16,000 data events per second. Equipped with an artificial intelligence module, the software does not just run, it is smart. It learns from the behaviour of employees, incorporates their habits and takes into account weather forecasts. Employees are furthermore provided with a mobile application which they can use to control their comfort settings from their smartphone, adjusting the heating and lighting, as well as monitoring the quality of the indoor air.
Photo header: Jean Darreux
