For almost a decade, Aix-Marseille University has been stepping up its commitment to energy conservation.
Background and general objectives
In accordance with a circular from the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Aix-Marseille Université adopted an ambitious energy sobriety plan at the end of 2022, striving to use this constraint as a lever for action to initiate a large-scale collective transformation across the entire establishment.
This plan affirms the establishment's strategy of reducing its energy consumption by 10% in 2024 compared with 2019, also reducing its associated greenhouse gas emissions by 1,500 tonnes. The target of a 10% reduction by 2024 is only a first step, as Aix-Marseille Université is also committed to reducing its energy consumption by 40% by 2030.
Aix-Marseille Université has drawn up its sobriety plan in close collaboration with its components, departments and laboratories. The challenge now is to bring the actions contained in this plan to life on a day-to-day basis, to coordinate the results of experiments, and to disseminate and develop them for the benefit of the University and society as a whole.
The sobriety plan focuses not only on energy consumption, but also on training, purchasing, travel, digital technology and communications, through a wide range of actions. As such, it concerns many aspects of the life of the University and its services.
Areas of action
The sobriety plan includes improvement actions in the following areas:
- University organization: closing buildings during vacations, adapting working hours, telecommuting, creating a new dynamic around the use of tertiary spaces, sobriety in laboratories and services, sustainable development networks.
- Technical measures: control of facilities, temperature management, management of sports facilities, outdoor lighting, reduction of individual consumption
- Purchasing strategy: better integration of environmental criteria in public procurement contracts, raising staff awareness, etc.
- Travel: company policy on missions, soft mobility, electric vehicle recharging infrastructure.
- Awareness/communication and social dialogue: raising awareness among staff and students, referral networks, best practices, etc.
Would you also like to take action? Here are a few examples of daily actions and eco-gestures