Introduction to Le Hive

Schneider Electric’s headquarters, known as Le Hive, located in the suburbs of Paris, serves multiple functions beyond being a corporate workspace. It acts as a center for collaboration, a representation of corporate culture, and a live demonstration field for innovative building products. Established in collaboration with French insurance company La Mondiale, Le Hive holds the distinction of being the first building globally to comply with the stringent ISO 50001 standard focused on energy management systems.

Designing for Energy Efficiency

In 2008, Schneider Electric undertook a project aiming to retrofit Le Hive to meet ambitious energy and carbon reduction targets. The company set notable goals, including achieving carbon neutrality in operations by 2025, a 25% reduction in absolute carbon emissions by 2030, and zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.

Implementation of Smart Technologies

Key to Schneider’s strategy was the commitment to ensuring that any enhancements made to building systems would yield financial returns within a five-year window. Recognizing the expectations of corporate tenants for quick payback on investments, the retrofit was designed without disrupting the building’s existing occupancy.

To begin, an extensive installation of over 3,500 connected sensors was completed to monitor energy flow within the 375,000-square-foot facility. These sensors measure essential metrics such as occupancy, temperature, humidity, air quality, and lighting levels. “The first step is measuring everything in a building,” stated Jean-Marc Zola Schneider, Building Segments President at Schneider Electric. “It is a low investment and usually pays itself off in only one or two years.” This comprehensive data collection is critical to understanding energy usage and identifies areas for improvement.

Enhancing Building Operations

Once data is collected, facilitating actionable insights is essential for optimizing building performance. Zola emphasized the importance of empowering facilities management teams to act on the data generated. Intelligent software solutions can automate adjustments, like temperature resets and plug load management. Furthermore, on lightly occupied days, staff can be repositioned to minimize energy use in less populated areas of the office.

Investing in Upgrades

After optimizing existing systems, Schneider Electric’s facilities team turned to larger investments in infrastructure. This included improving the building’s envelope and shifting to a geothermal heating and cooling system, significantly enhancing energy efficiency in all seasons.

Results and Impact

The initiatives taken to retrofit Le Hive have proven highly effective. Schneider Electric has realized a remarkable 50% reduction in annual energy consumption and a 44% decrease in its carbon footprint. Furthermore, these updates have led to a 38% reduction in energy costs for occupants, with all improvements generating adequate savings to meet the initial five-year cost recovery target.

The Broader Implications of Le Hive

Le Hive serves as more than just an office—it’s a benchmark for sustainable practices in corporate settings. By demonstrating the viability and financial prudence of building upgrades, Schneider Electric illustrates a proactive approach to energy efficiency, proving that such investments can be self-sustaining within typical commercial lease periods. The innovations tested at Le Hive will pave the way for future sustainability efforts, aiming to assist other organizations in reducing energy consumption and minimizing environmental impact.