Building energy audits: taking stock, a year on

A little over a year since the introduction of the new energy regulations for buildings in the Principality , we would like to review the various steps which have been taken.

As a reminder, these new regulations stipulate that, from 2022, all buildings in Monaco constructed between 1930 and 1990 must undergo a mandatory energy audit to improve their existing energy efficiency and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. To encourage co-owned apartment buildings to take action as quickly as possible, the regulations will be complemented by the introduction of a government grant. The grant, which can cover up to 75% of the audit cost, will decrease in value over time, encouraging those affected to act before the audit becomes a legal requirement, which is expected to be in 2022.

Since spring 2019, some pioneers have already taken advantage of the grant system and carried out their audits. A number of other audits are underway: we estimate that around 30 applications to begin the process have already been submitted.

As part of these initial audits, questionnaires have been or are currently being sent to residents of the audited buildings to gather information on the comfort offered by their building’s energy management. Based on the data collected, as well as other technical data relating to the building, the engineering firm will then carry out an energy assessment and recommend options for improvement, backed up by relevant figures, for each building.

These recommendations will be set out in the form of an action plan, and will broadly follow an approach that moves from the short term towards the longer term:

• What are the priority actions which should be taken?
• What investment will be required?
• What is the expected return on investment?
• What CO₂ gains will be made?

It is about defining the investment required and the return expected, as well as measures that could have a significant environmental impact in the short term.

Naturally, the objective is that following the energy audit, the recommendations will be put in place, often beginning with actions that are simple and specific, such as replacing existing lighting systems with LEDs in common areas. This type of work generally pays for itself in less than five years through the resulting energy – and therefore financial – savings.