LFP: Energy savings in the French sports sector

LFP: Energy savings in the French sports sector

Forecast of at least 10% energy savings in one winter for sports facilities participating in the French Energy Savings Championship, with the HQ of the French LFP helping to reach this number of savings.

The Government’s Energy Saving Plan, contextualised to the sports sector by the 40 energy saving measures of the Ministry of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, defined a framework of actions, in which the sports movement was involved. The objective of these measures is to reduce energy consumption in the sector in the long term by modifying the use of heating, air conditioning and lighting in particular, and relies on the commitment of sports venue managers.

A4MT can quantify these reductions in consumption, through the quarterly results of winter 2023 of the participants of the “Sports Infrastructure League” of the French Energy Savings Championship. For the months of December 2022 to March 2023, the reduction in energy consumption ranges from 5% to 30% per month for the following sites:

• Paris La Défense Arena (winner of the 2022 special prize in the French Energy Savings Championship)
• Ernest-Wallon Stadium of Stade Toulousain
• Performance and Training Centre and offices of CA Brive Corrèze
• Head office of the LFP, the French Professional Football League
• Hippodromes of Paris-Longchamp, Saint-Cloud, Chantilly, Auteuil and Deauville of France Galop
• Head office of the Ile de France Table Tennis League
• Academy Mouratoglou Hôtel Sophia Country Club and Academy Mouratoglou Liberty Country Club

In view of these initial results, the annual reduction in consumption should be in excess of 10% savings from the first season, thanks to the support of the candidates, the modification of uses and the appropriation of the right settings. The governmental objectives (10% reduction in 2 years until 2024) should be reached in a few months, while the leader(s) of the ranking of this league could even comply with the regulation of the Tertiary Eco-Energy Scheme, imposing before 2030 40% savings for tertiary equipments of more than 1.000m², from the end of this first season.

The energy savings represent more than 532,000 kWh saved to date, and 90,516 tons of CO2 emissions reduced.

About the French Energy Saving Championship

Created in 2013, the French Energy Saving Championship is originally an annual energy saving competition for tertiary buildings. To date, the Championship is composed of several leagues: schools, colleges, high schools, car fleets, sports facilities, housing etc.

This field programme makes it possible to raise awareness of the challenges of the energy transition among the employees of the candidate buildings by encouraging them in a playful way to change their practices, and helps to set in motion a dynamic of change that is sustainable over time. Indeed, the energy transition will be achieved by encouraging individuals, both citizens and consumers, to adopt new low-carbon practices.

Every year, hundreds of buildings demonstrate that cooperation and teamwork can lead to energy savings of 15% on average, and even 30% or more for some. A sports infrastructure league bringing together public and private managers of stadiums, arenas, racecourses, aquatic centres and head offices has been launched for the 2023 season, an initiative sponsored by the Ministry of Sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Ligue des Infrastructures Sportives will hold its first championship in 2023, with 7 participants including 2 founding members, France Galop and the Ligue de Football Professionnel.