Committed to a voluntary sustainable development policy, the university is now involved in the “Éco-campus d’@venir” project for the Cézeaux university complex. The entire site is among the pioneering campuses identified for this operation by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research in partnership with Caisse des Dépôts.
A Real Estate Strategy Focused on Sustainable Development
Since 2010, the university has initiated an in-depth reflection to develop a real estate strategy over a period of about ten years. This approach is based on comprehensive technical and regulatory assessments conducted on the entire heritage. In this plan, optimizing the use of premises is one of the keys to energy savings and maintenance cost reduction. It will be materialized by consolidating teaching, research, and administrative activities into building clusters.
At the same time, the institution embarked on an initiative to implement an ambitious “sustainable development” action plan. The signing of a framework agreement in March 2013 between the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and Caisse des Dépôts was supported by several preparatory working groups, including the one dealing with “rehabilitation and management of heritage, energy performance, sustainable campuses,” to which Université Blaise Pascal contributed.
The Cézeaux Site, an Exemplary “Éco-campus”
In this context, the Cézeaux campus located in the town of Aubière on the outskirts of Clermont-Ferrand was identified as a pioneering “Éco-Campus d’@venir” site. This university complex, representing 50% of the built area of Université Blaise Pascal, has already undergone significant external rehabilitation, with the final phase of work currently nearing completion.
The “Éco-campus” project began in 2014 with the execution of a “sustainable development” project management assistance mission. An “energy/water/waste/biodiversity” master plan will establish the operational framework for the actions to be taken, particularly regarding the energy overhaul of the buildings.
This analysis approach, carried out in close collaboration with local authorities, aims to position the Cézeaux site as an experimental site for the energy rehabilitation of university heritage. The homogeneous structure of the buildings allows for the implementation and testing of various technical solutions and financing strategies. These can be analyzed over the long term in terms of performance and return on investment.
An Essential Contribution from Users
The “Éco-campus” project is not limited to renovating buildings and improving their energy performance. All users, students, and staff will be involved in this eco-responsible approach because success depends on optimizing usage and behavior. For example, the university organizes an annual sustainability awareness week, trains its cleaning staff in eco-friendly practices, and develops a reasoned approach to green spaces, positioning itself as an example for the community.
Cézeaux Campus in Numbers
- 75 hectares
- 100,000 m2 of gross floor area
- 10,000 users welcomed every day
- €3.3 million spent on utilities annually
- Predicted energy savings of €1 to €2 million per year by 2020
DD&RSE Plan
At the request of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research through the Climate and Biodiversity Plan, higher education and research establishments are invited to develop a DD&RSE master plan which is intended to encompass all of the activities of the establishment, from its core business to support functions, including all dimensions of its mission.
The establishment of the establishment’s RSE strategy is reflected in its desire to promote soft modes of transport for staff and students of the University of Clermont Auvergne through the development of a Mobility Plan, awareness-raising to the preservation and improvement of the environment, a sustained partnership with associations with social and environmental goals, a responsible purchasing policy, active participation in territorial committees concerning the ecological and energy transition.