Deerns (France) – Building Performance Modelling for 2030 Energy Targets
Energy performance is a key global concern, influenced by climate policies, economic factors and corporate social responsibility. For this project, Deerns France used IESVE to evaluate the performance and energy efficiency of a large, coastal hotel in compliance with France’s Tertiary Decree, which mandates a significant reduction in energy consumption by 2030.
This project demonstrates the innovative use of IESVE to drive sustainability and cost savings in the built environment for highly accurate energy modelling and regulatory compliance planning. By combining detailed real-world calibration, granular performance analysis and predictive scenario modelling, Deerns developed a robust strategy to improve energy efficiency in a complex hospitality environment.
The project was carried out in three stages as follows:
- Information gathering: Data was compiled from As-Built Records, site visits, energy bills, BMS (Building Management System) records and technical manager feedback, which all formed the foundation of the simulation inputs.
- Model calibration: To enhance accuracy, Deerns conducted multiple simulation iterations, adjusting the numerical model based on real consumption data (May 2022 - April 2023). The calibration process refined the hypotheses, ensuring precise predictions aligned with actual energy usage.
- Impact assessment of technical solutions: Once calibrated, the model enabled Deerns to test various energy efficiency measures and scenario optimisations to determine the best path to achieving the Tertiary Decree’s reduction targets
Unique Use of IESVE in Several Innovative Ways
- Complex geometry modelling: The hotel is situated on a mountain above Monaco, so Deerns modelled the thermal conduction exchanges with the ground through the use of precise adjacent spaces.
- Advanced model calibration: Unlike standard energy simulations, this calibration process relied on detailed real-time metering from low-voltage electrical panels, heat meters and BMS data, enabling the team to fine-tune energy loads and system behaviours with high accuracy.
- Granular energy breakdown and scenario analysis: The model provided an in-depth view of energy distribution, highlighting major contributors such as kitchens, hallways, domestic hot water production and air conditioning in high-glazing rooms, enabling precise targeting of efficiency measures.
- Predictive simulation for 2030 compliance: By testing alternative energy management strategies, notably with a prospective weather file, Deerns explored HVAC optimisation, shading solutions and operational modifications, and developed an actionable roadmap to meet regulatory requirements.
- IESVE as a decision-making tool: IESVE software not only served as an analytical tool but also facilitated clear, data-driven decisions for building operators, helping prioritise interventions based on ease of implementation, cost and impact.
Accurate Results
- Calibration success: The model’s predicted energy consumption closely matched actual consumption, validating its reliability.
- Major energy consumers identified: Kitchens (cooking and ventilation), hallways (lighting and fan coils), and rooms (solar heat gains, lack of shading) were the most energy-intensive areas.
- Optimisation pathway established: The analysis provided an energy reduction strategy roadmap, ensuring compliance with France’s Tertiary Decree by 2030.
In Summary
The project for Deerns France successfully used IESVE to evaluate and optimise the energy performance of a large coastal hotel, a critical undertaking in light of France's stringent Tertiary Decree. The close correlation between the model's predictions and the hotel's actual energy consumption reflects the reliability and successful calibration of the IESVE analysis. Deerns delivered an optimised roadmap of energy reduction strategies, effectively ensuring the hotel's compliance with the mandated 2030 targets.
"We used IESVE for dynamic energy simulation (DES), enabling us to model and analyse the building's performance under various scenarios. By integrating real-world data and refining our approach through model calibration, we developed a precise energy consumption model to guide future optimisation strategies for the hotel.”
Ulysse Taste, Environmental Project Manager, Deerns
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