Energy regulations are multiplying on a national and international scale, in the context of the fight against climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy. For businesses, it's crucial to understand these new standards and their implications.

Overview of the main energy regulations

At European level:

• The Green Pact for Europe aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, with binding intermediate targets.
• The Energy Efficiency Directive requires regular energy audits and action plans.

In France:

• The French Energy Transition Law sets a course for carbon neutrality by 2050, with quantified targets.
• The Tertiary Sector Decree requires tertiary buildings to progressively reduce their energy consumption.
• The 2021 Climate and Resilience Law reinforces energy saving and renovation obligations.

Implications for businesses

These regulations have a direct impact on business operations and strategy:

• Mandatory energy audits to identify potential energy savings.
• Consumption reduction targets that must be met or face heavy penalties.
• Energy efficiency investments (insulation, high-performance equipment, renewable energies, etc.).
• Environmental reporting and transparency on greenhouse gas emissions.

To comply, companies need to thoroughly review their processes, train their teams and integrate these issues into their long-term strategy.

Tips for anticipating change

• Keep abreast of regulatory changes and future obligations.
• Carry out a complete energy diagnostic to identify priorities for action.
• Define an energy-climate roadmap with quantified objectives and an investment plan.
• Raise awareness and involve all employees in a continuous improvement process.
• Promote our efforts to customers and stakeholders to reinforce our green image.

Far from being a constraint, energy regulations represent an opportunity for companies to optimize their processes, cut costs and adopt a sustainable development approach that creates value.