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Faced with rising energy costs and stricter regulatory requirements, controlling energy consumption has become a strategic issue for Tertiary buildings. Offices, educational establishments, shops, public buildings and healthcare facilities account for a significant proportion of national consumption.
For technical departments and operators, the challenge is clear: understand where energy is consumed, access reliable data and implement effective long-term actions.
Key figures for the service sector in France
The tertiary sector represents a considerable volume, both in terms of surface area and energy consumption.
A vast sector with rising energy consumption
The tertiary sector represents approximately 1.2 billion m² in France, of which nearly 1 billion m² is directly affected by regulations such as the French Tertiary Decree (buildings or groups of buildings larger than 1,000 m²).
Since the 2000s, energy consumption in the sector has not decreased, on the contrary:
- the electricity end-use consumption of tertiary buildings has increased by around +2%,
- and consumption of all forms of energy combined is still rising by an average of +0.8% per year.
Today, final energy consumption in the tertiary sector is estimated at around 235 to 240 TWh per year, or nearly 17% of national final energy consumption.
Key figures
1,2
billion square metres of Tertiary buildings
~249 TWh
annual consumption
17 %
The tertiary sector accounts for 17% of final energy consumption in France.
These trends highlight a reality: without targeted and measured action, consumption will continue to increase despite technological advances.
Key figures: the main areas of energy consumption
To act effectively, you need to know where the energy is going. Consumption varies depending on the activity, but certain trends are common to most Tertiary buildings
Heating remains the biggest energy consumer
Unsurprisingly, heating remains the main source of energy consumption in cTertiary buildings, particularly in offices, public buildings and educational establishments.
However, other uses, long considered secondary, are becoming increasingly important.
Rapidly increasing energy uses
Office equipment, communication tools and, above all, air conditioning have been growing steadily for several years.
In 2015, these uses accounted for:
32% of electricity consumption in the tertiary sector, compared with 25% fifteen years earlier.
This trend reflects:
- an increase in the number of electrical appliances,
- greater demand for thermal comfort,
- increasingly intensive digital usage.
Breakdown of consumption in the tertiary sector
In the tertiary sector, energy consumption is divided between several main uses:
- HVAC: accounts for up to 50% of a building’s energy consumption,
- Lighting: accounts for around 25% of the sector’s energy expenditure,
- Office equipment,
- Domestic hot water,
- Other uses.
These figures highlight a key point: new electrical uses are accounting for an increasingly large share of energy bills and require close monitoring.
Public buildings: an often underestimated issue
Contrary to popular belief, energy management is not solely the concern of private entities.
Nearly 40% of the total floor space of Tertiary buildings is occupied by public buildings:
local authorities, schools, administrative buildings, sports and cultural facilities. These entities are therefore fully affected by energy issues… and regulations.
ADEME has highlighted an increase of around 4% in energy consumption by local authorities over the last five years.
This is a strong signal at a time when:
- local authority budgets are under pressure,
- energy efficiency is becoming imperative,
- and regulatory obligations are becoming more stringent.
40 %
~ 40% of the floor space in the national park of Tertiary buildings is occupied by public buildings.
Mastering energy: a threefold imperative
Controlling energy consumption in Tertiary buildings today addresses three interrelated challenges:
- Environmental, to reduce the carbon footprint of existing buildings,
- Economic, to keep energy costs down in the long term,
- Regulatory, with obligations that are now structural.
The key role of IoT in moving from constraint to action
In Tertiary buildings, the challenge is not so much about wanting to reduce consumption as it is about knowing precisely where, when, and why energy is being consumed. Overall monitoring, often monthly or yearly, provides a partial view and limits the ability to take effective action.
The IoT provides an operational response to this challenge by giving access to reliable, continuous, and actionable data directly in the field.
Measure accurately to understand better
IoT sensors enable continuous monitoring of energy consumption (electricity, gas, heat, water) and environmental factors in a room (temperature, humidity, etc.) and analysis at a level of detail appropriate for the tertiary sector:
- distinction between main uses (heating, air conditioning, lighting, equipment),
- view by zone, floor or building,
- precise monitoring of variations over time.
This detailed measurement makes it possible to quickly identify the most energy-intensive items and target the most relevant actions, without undertaking major work.
Detecting deviations and taking action at the right time
Beyond measurement, IoT enables a shift from passive monitoring to active consumption management:
- detection of abnormal overconsumption,
- identification of equipment left running when not in use,
- implementation of alerts for rapid intervention.
Operators thus have concrete indicators to adjust settings and correct deviations before they become permanent.
Compare, prioritise and manage over time
For tertiary property managers, the IoT makes it easier to compare buildings or areas with similar uses:
- identifying the most energy-intensive sites,
- prioritising high-impact actions,
- tracking gains over time through data logging.
This progressive approach makes energy management part of a sustainable and measurable process.
A data foundation for regulatory compliance
Finally, data collected via the IoT provides a reliable basis for meeting regulatory requirements, whether in terms of energy monitoring, reporting or justification of actions taken.
The IoT is thus becoming a structuring tool, at the crossroads of energy performance, building operation and regulatory compliance.
Conclusion
Energy consumption in commercial buildings continues to rise, driven by rapidly changing usage patterns.
Faced with environmental, economic and regulatory challenges, energy management has become a strategic necessity.”.
By relying on reliable data and tailored IoT solutions, it is possible to turn regulatory requirements into a structured, data-driven strategy that improves the energy performance of buildings.