The sustainable campus of ENSTA Paris

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With the aim of reducing the environmental footprint, the management of ENSTA Paris has strived to obtain, from the design phase of the construction of the new premises of the School in Palaiseau, a high environmental quality (HQE) certification. This means compliance with strict energy performance requirements as regards its consumption but also respect for the environment with a reduction in land footprint, use of renewable energies (geothermal energy, thermal solar panels) and the creation of vegetated natural spaces (valleys, green spaces, etc.).

“Excellent” level HQE certification

In 2019, ENSTA Paris was awarded the "Excellent" level by the Certivéa body, depositary of the "NF Haute Qualité Environnementale" (High Quality Environmental) standard. This standard includes 14 thematic targets, many of which relate to energy management. 

This exemplary management, on the part of the three players of this Public/Private Partnership (PPP), is embodied mainly in the energy field by the establishment of an energy performance contract allowing a longitudinal monitoring of consumption, the presence of an automated control of the facilities and lighting according to their occupancy, a student residence reducing transport needs or even the promotion of soft mobility.

Concrete measures for the environment

Particular attention was paid to energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies. This project is characterised by:

  • Geothermal space heating based on a hundred wells
  • Hot water production by thermal solar collectors
  • Production of electricity from photovoltaic sources
  • Insulation from the outside
  • "Green" roofs
  • Double flow ventilation
  • Cooling by forced ventilation at night
  • The use of deciduous climbing vegetation for shade on the southern facade in summer
  • The installation by the BDE of sorting garbage cans in the student residence

Finally, the rainwater treatment is based on a system of five "vegetated" retention basins with regulated discharge of stored rainwater to the hydrographic network.

The mobility plan (MP)

The mobility plan aims to improve the quality of home-work commutes and professional travel, encourage the use of public transport, the use of carpooling and soft modes of transport by relying on accompanying measures. On the Saclay plateau, some fifteen institutions have initiated a similar reflection. The survey issued by the School on the travel habits of students and staff mobilised more than half of them.

Availability of electric charging stations

The staff have 10 spaces dedicated to parking and recharging electric vehicles, encouraging the transition to this type of vehicle with zero or low emissions.