Buildings energy improvement continues on islands

On the three unconnected islands: Sein, Ouessant et Molène, the improvement of houses energy efficiency was carried on from 2012 to 2018. During this period, 18% of main houses were improved with a number of works reaches 2,46 M€ saving 822 000 l/year of gasoil.

Les îles du Ponant association tested a new program in 2019, it was funded mainly by “EDF Systèmes Energétiques Insulaires” based on energy certificates market. The conclusion is that a program will be in place until 2022 to improve all buildings (houses but also utility buildings, craft workshops and shops). The subsidized work includes all work to insulate the roofs of the walls and carpentry, as well as work to build wood boilers, controlled mechanical ventilation, solar hot water production and regulation and heating programming.

The first estimates lead to the consideration of a new program being developed for two more years. The aim is to carry more than 1 M€ for energy improvement on buildings. This would save more 500 000 l/year of gasoil. The aim of this program is to reduce carbon dioxide emission on these three islands but also to be an example to the others “Ponant islands” and the mainland.

The introduction of smart meters since 2018 now allows an accurate calculation of energy gains and reductions in carbon dioxide emissions directly resulting from the works done more than estimation based on theoretical calculation.

In addition to this consumption reduction program, the agreement of the beneficiaries to an innovative new experiment is collected. It will allow to propose an off-peak hours interesting price linked with renewable energy production periods. On Ouessant island, a multi-sources renewable production project is undertaken (wind, photovoltaic and tidal current). The full-hour/off-peak system is considered as a good way to move consumption during the production of renewables rather than during the use of diesel generators…