Environment
ECO-DESIGN PRACTICES
VINCI's eco-efficiency policy
Anticipating an increase in environmental requirements and a strengthening of state regulation in Europe, VINCI has made it a priority to develop eco-design by integrating the life cycle analysis (LCA) of buildings and structures, creating eco-design tools applied to its businesses, and supporting research through the VINCI-Paris Tech partnership with the Chair in the Eco-design of the built environment and infrastructures.
In 2010, this partnership enabled VINCI Construction France to launch Oxygen, an eco-offer covering all the stages of a building project (design, construction and use), coupled with an innovative energy performance guarantee.
Thus, the company gives a commitment on site to obtain the energy performance announced and validated during the design phase; the commitment can be coupled with financial penalties in the event that the targets set are not achieved. Through the choice of materials, the eco-design approach takes account not only of the energy consumption of the future building but also of CO2 emissions and other aspects of the environmental footprint such as the use of water or natural resources.
Operation Escale known as BBC (VINCI Construction France)
Operation Escale, which was carried out by VINCI Construction France in Illkirch (Alsace), is known as BBC – Bâtiment Basse Consommation (Low Consumption Building) and in particular has external insulation 20 cms thick and a solar-powered hot water production system.
The Stade de France: an eco-responsible infrastructure
Since it was opened in 1998, the Stade de France has gained considerable experience in the implementation of measures to protect the environment. The stadium has signed an agreement with the municipality of Saint-Denis in which it undertakes to ensure that the crowds of spectators cause as little disturbance as possible to the neighbourhood on their way to the stadium.
Furthermore, measures have been put in place to encourage spectators to recycle their waste, and consequently, to reduce the volume of rubbish in the stadium and neighbouring areas. In the 2009-2010 season, 75 tonnes of rubbish was recycled. In this connection, an outstanding initiative was the launch of the Eco-Cup at the start of 2010. The idea is that spectators pay €1 for a plastic cup on entering the stadium. When they leave, they can return the cup for their deposit or keep it as a souvenir of the event.
The initiative has reduced the amount of rubbish in the stadium and has led to savings equivalent of 2.5 tonnes of plastic cups. In 2010, the Stade de France received a bronze medal in the “Responsible Purchasing” category of a national competition organised by a specialist magazine.