"Responsible Real Estate" Project

Objective

  • Keep the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the buildings to a strict minimum.

Priorities for 2011

  • Provide training in Societe Generale’s building benchmark standards (RBR) governing the construction and renovation of buildings.
  • Continue to improve energy consumption in the Group's different buildings.

Highlights in 2010

  • Granite Tower is awarded HQE® certification for its construction, operations and use.
  • Integration of LED lighting for the new logos and panels of the Group’s retail bank branches.
  • Creation of an energy-savings unit within the Group’s Real Estate Department.
  • Finalisation of the Responsible Buildings Reference Framework (RBR) tool and launch of several pilot projects.

Constant quest to improve the energy performance of Group buildings

Throughout 2010, different technical work was carried out at the head office buildings to reduce their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions:
  • Installation of variable speed drives for the cold production units at Tigéry in order to reduce their electricity consumption (permanent saving of 5,000 kW).
  • Completion of the replacement of all refrigerating units with new generation power units that offer a better technical performance and removal of the last of the R22-type refrigerant fluids (Périval site).
  • Overhaul of the washing facilities at the canteens in the Valmy tower (La Defense) and removal of systems used to transport waste in liquid form.
  • Installation of a system to retrieve organic waste from the canteens which can then be treated by methanisation in order to produce electricity for the head office towers.
  • Compilation of a practical "tool set" for the logistics managers of small entities (surface area of less than 500m²). The documents included are intended to help managers familiarise themselves with their buildings, the technologies in place and the improvements that can be made to reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption.
  • Participation by the Real Estate Department teams in transverse projects to reduce CO2 emissions and in defining the Group’s environmental policy.