The upper echelons of power must be exemplary.
The Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, asks, in a circular addressed to her ministers on Tuesday, "the exemplary" of the administrations in terms of energy savings.
This involves taking a series of measures aimed at “reducing energy consumption and accelerating the exit from fossil fuels”.
"The international tensions" generated in particular by the war in Ukraine "as well as the unavailability of part of the French nuclear fleet impose on us an unprecedented effort in terms of energy sobriety", explains the head of government, in charge of energy planning. , in this circular of which the AFP press agency obtained a copy.
“These measures are necessary, not only to improve our energy sobriety, but also for the sake of setting an example and acceptability of the efforts that are required of society as a whole,” emphasizes Elisabeth Borne.
The government recently announced that it wants to reduce energy consumption in France by 10% within two years compared to 2019.
No heating above 19°C
Public administrations, ministries, decentralized State services, public operators, and establishments open to the public are thus requested to use air conditioning only when the interior temperature exceeds 26°C, not to leave electronic devices on standby and systematically turn off the lights when they are not needed.
The Prime Minister also asks the administrations to equip the buildings with thermostats, to activate the heating only when the temperature of the offices is lower than 19 degrees, to close the access doors of the buildings open to the public when the air conditioning or the heating is working.
In terms of travel, Elisabeth Borne also wants to “encourage sustainable mobility practices” such as carpooling, shared bicycles and access to electric or very low-emission vehicles.
Finally, it asks the administrations to propose “ministerial plans for energy sobriety and exemplary”.