Energy and Environment - "Multidisciplinarity at the service of efficiency"
Studies to improve the safety of a building, its acoustic impact and waste management, environmental certifications, energy audits and passports, or the project owner's support in obtaining authorizations, etc. areas in which Energy and Environment is active are vast.
To fulfill these tasks, the office includes 10 engineers, all versatile and busy: "nobody will focus on a single skill, each one must be multidisciplinary. It is rare that so many different disciplines are grouped together in the same engineering office. Most of the expertise we carry out is often led by freelancers who have developed a great deal of expertise in their field, but who sometimes struggle to meet demand and remain responsive. Our main assets are our responsiveness, as well as the complementarity of our areas of expertise. For example, planning a simple atrium requires studying acoustics, smoke extraction, fire safety, thermal comfort or natural light.
This profession is constantly evolving, it is also the need to update regularly, because, as Sylvain Falzone says, "we must be able to adapt quickly when a new regulation or a new standard is published. . In 27 years of existence, our structure has been able to establish excellent relations with the various administrations of the country, which allows us to be aware of the new legal measures and to be able to discuss in a constructive way their consequences on the projects to come".
Preventive rather than corrective
The office's clientele is mainly made up of real estate players, but also architects and technical engineers, who "seek full support in their procedures for obtaining permits, advice on energy efficiency , acoustics, safety and fire protection ".
Regardless of the project owner, the intervention of Energie et Environnement employees comes mainly before a construction project, so that the building, once taken out of the ground, complies with the regulations, and that no error should be corrected.
"Although our mission is at the pre-project stage, we remain available to the client throughout the course of events to answer all of his questions."
A question of compromise
But concretely, how does the collaboration with the different trades involved in a construction project take place? "At first, we talk to the client, the architect and the engineers about its feasibility. The goal is to respect their desires, the budget envelope of the owner, but also the legislation in force ".
A thorough reflection is necessary to respect all these criteria, and find the right balance. "Take the example of a building whose facade is desired entirely glazed by the architect. We must intervene from the moment of its conception, so as to take into account the constraints in terms of solar gains and risks of overheating, thermal insulation, or even the type of technical installations, in order to maintain control of the budget. for the customer "explains Sylvain Falzone. "In any case, we always adopt an attitude of project partner to ensure that the wishes of the client and the architect can be applied while respecting the regulations. This philosophy differentiates us from the control offices or approved organizations, whose objective is to control the compliance of the project with the same regulations "adds Julien L'hoest.
Ambitious projects
Among those who recently occupied the consulting engineering team, Infinity. There are two towers, one consisting of offices and the other housing, which will also be the highest residential tower in Luxembourg. Located at the entrance of the Kirchberg, they will be connected by a commercial base, and accessible from the underground car park Place de l'Europe. "We have made various requests for authorization, those relating to the law" Commodo-Incommodo ", or that related to the operation of the supermarket. As often, we have also been involved in a wide range of areas of expertise. For example, we have been working on the thermal performance of facades by taking into account the risk of overheating to select the optimum characteristics of the glazing. Note that we also analyzed its acoustic impact on the environment, and realized the concept of waste management, in consultation with the city of Luxembourg ".
Royal-Hamilius is another project in which Energy and Environment is involved. "We performed missions identical to those conducted for Infinity, but we also advised the client, and certify, as an asseseur, that the building meets the criteria of BREEAM Excellent environmental label. The establishment, consisting of 5 buildings, is located in the center of the Luxembourg capital, and must be delivered in late 2019 ".
Recently, the office also took part in the Pfaffenthal station and funicular project, located at the foot of the Pont Rouge, preparing the applications for authorization required for the project.
Do not rest on your laurels
Energie et Environnement supports its customers in the realization of their projects, whether residential, tertiary or industrial. Regardless of achievement, one variable remains constant: "We want to have a precursor image, not a follower. Each project is unique and always pushes us to go a little further. "
If, in order to offer the best service and support the client in his efforts, it is important to learn about new regulations and techniques, technology has played a major role for many years: "For example, we have acoustic simulation software that can determine the sound impact of a project on its environment. Another allows us to simulate the evacuation of people from a building during a disaster, while we use a third during the design of a facade to ensure that solar gain will not cause thermal discomfort for the occupants, even during strong heatwaves.
These software programs, as Sylvain Falzone mentions, are a real advantage for the client, since it is possible to show him, in an illustrated and concrete way, that his building meets his expectations and those of the authorities. "Gradually, the skills of our engineers in numerical simulations of all kinds are recognized by the offices of architects and engineers, who do not hesitate to call our services when needed".
New premises in his image
If the activity of Energy and Environment evolves according to regulations related to the environment and safety, the know-how and the expertise of the collaborators who evolve there remain identical, year after year. To get closer to its customers, the new management in place has even chosen to leave Hostert to join Luxembourg-City, in the heart of the station area.
"We have been living in our new offices since September 2017," says Diane Bermes. "It's a small revolution since now, the whole team is traveling by public transport and no longer by car. Moreover, this building, on which we worked, has BREEAM environmental certification ".
A "green" connotation, therefore, which corresponds well to the philosophy of the office, wanting to remain a precursor at a time when environmental responsibility occupies an important place in the societal debate.
CONTACT
Energy and Environment
15, rue d'Epernay
L-1490 Luxembourg
Phone : (+352) 22 46 23
Email: info@enerenvi.lu
www.enerenvi.lu