In commercial, industrial, and healthcare buildings, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems represent a major source of energy consumption. Controlling these systems is essential to reducing costs, improving energy efficiency, and achieving climate goals.
The energy situation in France: figures that raise concerns
The building sector accounts for approximately 45% of final energy consumption in France, across all uses (heating, air conditioning, lighting, equipment, etc.).*
In this sector:
- Heating is the main energy consumption item, representing more than 65% of the energy used in residential buildings **
- Air conditioning, although less widespread than in hot climates, still accounts for approximately 1% of household energy consumption, but tends to increase in response to extreme heat.***
These figures show that optimizing heating, air conditioning and ventilation is a major lever for reducing a building's energy footprint.
A closer look at the service sector
According to Mitsubishi Electric's 2026 barometer****, conducted on 34,800 m² of commercial (offices, hotels, and bank branches) and 1,600 HVAC systems, the average energy consumption related to heating, cooling, and ventilation is 27.7 kWh/m²/year. This figure is half the reference target set byADEME's OPERAT observatory for 2030 (56 kWh/m²). This difference is explained by the fact that the buildings studied are either new or renovated and equipped with connected energy management solutions.
The study highlights a classic distribution of HVAC uses:
- 66.3% for heating (889.6 MWh)
- 33.7% for air conditioning (451.4 MWh).
However, the differences are significant depending on the type of business: hotels consume on average three times more energy than offices (90 kWh/m² versus 29.4 kWh/m²), due to continuous occupancy and high thermal comfort requirements. In the hotel sector, air conditioning accounts for up to 62% of HVAC energy consumption, compared to heating, which is the dominant energy source in offices and banks.
Another key finding: 70% of the offices studied are equipped with connected energy management tools, compared to only 25% on average in the service sector. These devices allow for significant savings: time-based programming reduces consumption by up to 37%, and certain advanced technologies (dual heating/cooling setpoint with energy recovery) generate an additional 24% savings.
These results confirm that HVAC performance depends as much on the quality of equipment as on its intelligent control, a key lever for achieving the objectives of the tertiary sector decree.
Why optimize HVAC systems?
1. Reduce energy consumption
Small regulatory actions can have a significant impact:
- Lowering the heating temperature by 1°C can reduce consumption by approximately 7%.
- Setting the air conditioning to 26°C rather than 22°C halves the energy consumed.
2. Improve comfort and well-being
Well-ventilated, temperate air without excessive energy consumption and renewed air ensures:
- optimal thermal comfort
- fewer health risks (air quality, controlled humidity),
- an environment conducive to productivity or convalescence (in healthcare facilities).
3. Reduce operating costs
Here's how optimization works in concrete terms:
- Reduced energy consumption : efficient or better-managed equipment consumes less electricity, gas, or heating oil. For example, a properly sized and regulated heat pump can halve heating bills compared to a conventional electric radiator.
- Reducing peak consumption and additional costs related to contracted power: Intelligent regulation adjusts heating and cooling production according to actual occupancy, avoiding heating or cooling unused areas. The result: fewer power overruns and therefore savings on subscriptions and energy bills.
- upkeep and maintenance : Optimized and continuously monitored systems detect anomalies or performance losses more quickly. The result: fewer breakdowns, fewer costly emergency interventions, and extended equipment lifespan.
- Recovering energy: Some systems, such as heat pumps, allow for the recovery of waste energy (condenser heat, residual cold) for use elsewhere in the building. This reduces primary energy consumption and therefore the costs associated with heating or cooling production.
How to finance the installation or renovation of heating, air conditioning and ventilation?
Upgrading your heating, air conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) systems represents a significant investment. Fortunately, several solutions now exist to finance installation or renovation without straining your cash flow.
Third-party financing: the Powesco approach
Powesco offers a third-party financingthat allows for the completion of the work without any initial investment. The principle is simple: Powesco manages the entire project (audit, design, supply, installation, and maintenance). The resulting energy savings gradually recoup the installation costs. The client thus benefits from a more efficient and comfortable building while controlling their expenses.
- Available aid and subsidies
Depending on the type of building and the work carried out, several measures can reduce the net cost:
- Energy saving certificates (CEE) for the renovation of heating and ventilation systems.
- ADEME subsidies for innovative projects and high energy performance buildings
- Regional or local aid for the energy renovation of commercial or industrial buildings.
By combining these solutions, it is possible to renovate or install high-performance HVAC systems without compromising cash flow, while ensuring sustainable and measurable energy savings.
Powesco: comprehensive support for sustainable energy efficiency
Powesco supports businesses in the service, healthcare, and industrial sectors in the design, deployment, and optimization of high-energy-performance heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The goal: to sustainably reduce energy consumption without compromising occupant comfort.
High-performance HVAC equipment adapted to specific uses
Powesco selects and implements proven solutions tailored to the actual needs of buildings:
- THPE condensing boilers : collective or individual, these very high energy performance devices allow significant savings by utilizing the heat contained in the fumes.
- Heat pumps (HP) : aerothermal or geothermal, they provide heating and cooling with high efficiency and reduced energy consumption.
- Heat pumps : these thermodynamic machines with tandem control produce heat and cold simultaneously. They allow for the recovery of waste heat, covering heating, domestic hot water or cooling needs depending on the season and site usage.
- New generation electric radiators : a high-performance solution to guarantee comfortable and better-controlled heating.
- Humidity-controlled mechanical ventilation : ventilation systems automatically adjust airflow according to humidity, in order to maintain optimal indoor air quality while limiting consumption.
Optimizing existing systems: a key lever for energy performance
Beyond equipment replacement, Powesco focuses on optimizing existing HVAC systems, often resulting in quick and measurable gains:
- Balancing of collective heating networks, for better heat distribution throughout the building.
- Optimizing the restart thanks to self-adaptive regulators, which are more efficient than conventional systems.
- regulation and control, with control loops adapted to the actual occupancy of the premises and real-time needs.
- Reduced modes, non-heating or non-cooling temperatures, regulation of flow rates and pressures on AHUs, control of pumps according to pressure or temperature differences: these are all technical levers that make it possible to improve energy performance, preserve the lifespan of equipment and guarantee optimal comfort for occupants.
Heating, air conditioning, ventilation: a key lever for the energy transition of buildings
Heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) systems play a central role in the energy transition of buildings, from a regulatory, economic and environmental perspective.
Regulatory issues
Commercial, industrial and healthcare buildings must comply with increasingly strict standards:
- The tertiary decree imposes a progressive reduction in energy consumption, up to 60% by 2050 for buildings larger than 1,000 m².
- Thermal regulations and requirements related to certifications (BREEAM, HQE, LEED) encourage the use of high-performance and intelligently controlled HVAC systems.
Optimizing HVAC therefore makes it possible to comply with legal obligations, while anticipating regulatory changes.
Emissions reduction
HVAC systems represent a major part of a building's energy consumption and, consequently, of its CO₂ emissions : Thus, HVAC optimization contributes directly to the national objective of carbon neutrality by 2050.
Read also: How to define your company's carbon trajectory?
Real estate asset valuation
A building equipped with high-performance, intelligently controlled HVAC systems sees its value increase. Indeed, controlled energy consumption is a key criterion for both investors and occupants. Furthermore, buildings renovated or constructed with high-performance HVAC systems benefit from a better energy performance certificate (EPC) rating and increased market appeal.
FAQ
How to maintain good indoor air quality?
Indoor air quality depends on the proper functioning of mechanical ventilation or natural ventilation. It is essential to:
- Check the air vents and filters regularly
- Ensure the regular cleaning and inspection of indoor and outdoor units,
- Control the noise level and the circulation of the heat transfer fluid.
These actions help to eliminate pollutants and ensure fresh, healthy ambient air.
How does an HVAC system optimize comfort and efficiency in a commercial building?
An HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system is designed to regulate indoor temperature, ensure healthy ambient air, and manage airflow in each room or space. In commercial or industrial settings, precise technical control allows for:
- Regulating the hot or cool air according to the outside temperature,
- Optimize the thermal comfort of occupants while reducing electricity consumption
- Extend the vigor and lifespan of equipment by respecting good maintenance and control practices.
This process requires specific management, often assisted by connected tools and interconnection between indoor and outdoor units, to ensure maximum efficiency.
Sources:
*https://batizoom.ademe.fr/chiffres-cles/consommation-denergie
** https://batizoom.ademe.fr/indicateurs/consommation-surfacique-des-batiments-residentiels-par-usage
*** https://batizoom.ademe.fr/indicateurs/part-des-logements-climatises
