SOM's Paris building produces 20% more energy than it consumes
Architect OEM has designed Energy+, the world’s first large-scale, sustainable office building with a positive ecological effect.
Located in Paris’s Hauts-de-Seine neighborhood, the 65,000m² building produces more energy than it consumes.
It also offers its 4,000 occupants a view of the river Seine.
SOM sought to expand upon the guidelines articulated by France’s High Environmental Quality (HEQ) and the US equivalent, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation.
Therefore the design was based on energy economy, respect for the environment, and the health and well-being of its users.
By optimising the performance of construction components and techniques, orienting the building on a north-south axis, adapting thermal insulation and solar shields based on the exposures of the facades, and using renewable energy sources that are locally available, such as solar, wind, and geothermal power, SOM designed a building that will produce 20% more energy than it consumes.
The building will respect the ecology of its site by preserving and planting trees, and providing water basins on the site to accommodate native plant and animal life and to serve as restful garden spaces.
Other amenities include day care, sports facilities, auditorium, conventional and organic restaurants, rest areas, and shops.
Facts and figures:
Energy + CO2 emission savings are equivalent to:
• 925 tons of manufactured goods
• 1478 cars off the road each year
• Home heating, electricity, and hot water needs for 925 households/year
Potable water saved at Energy + (17,500 cubic meters) is equivalent to:
• Water requirements of 1,660 people for a month
• Sustaining a population of 250,000 people for a week
• Conserving 2.33 acres of rainforest that receives an average annual rainfall of 1850 mm
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