A recent report by the French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE) outlines a strategy to position commercial buildings as key players in the energy transition.
This report—produced through a fast-track mission involving stakeholders across the value chain—aims to enhance energy efficiency and demand-side flexibility in large tertiary buildings.
👉 Read the report (in French)

Climate urgency and the energy transition

The energy transition is essential to addressing the climate crisis. Increasing renewable energy and improving energy efficiency are critical to achieving carbon neutrality. This requires tighter control over energy use and widespread deployment of flexibility measures—especially in the building sector.

Untapped potential of commercial buildings

Today, only 6% of tertiary buildings larger than 1,000 m² are equipped with energy management systems. Even among these, many are not fully leveraging their potential. With proper optimization, these buildings could provide up to 6 GW of demand-side flexibility during peak periods.

Key recommendations for better energy management

The report identifies barriers to the adoption of energy management systems and provides practical recommendations. Key proposals include:

• Strengthening energy management awareness: Promote and track the implementation of the BACS (Building Automation & Control Systems) decree. Encourage best practices and provide targeted financial support.
• Activating demand flexibility: Improve flexibility features in energy control systems, enable an "emergency EcoWatt mode," and adapt the regulatory framework. Develop standardized data protocols and ensure system interoperability.
• Economic valuation of flexibility: Embed flexibility into electricity contracts and supply offers to make it more attractive. Continue and expand pilot programs conducted by energy service providers.

A collective challenge

CRE’s foresight reports are designed to inform public debate on key energy issues, targeting policymakers, businesses, researchers, and the general public.

Conclusion

Turning commercial buildings into active participants in the energy transition is crucial for meeting climate targets. By improving energy management systems and making demand-side flexibility a core feature, we can significantly cut consumption and strengthen grid resilience.
The CRE’s recommendations offer a clear roadmap toward these goals—highlighting the importance of collective action and innovation in building a sustainable energy future.