Bordeaux wants to significantly increase its energy autonomy

“We did not wait for this crisis to work on the energy autonomy of our most energy-intensive buildings, declared the elected ecologist during his back-to-school press conference. Bordeaux will go from 7 to 41% energy autonomy by 2026. It's a giant step that our city will take".

“The municipal team has been working for two years to reduce our energy consumption and to develop renewable energies,” he continued.

The City must thus deliver ten solar installations before the end of 2023 and intends to cover 27% of its annual electricity consumption with photovoltaics by the end of the term of office in 2026. It also plans to get rid of gas for food of its swimming pools which will be connected to heating networks (geothermal or wood).

In addition, it will lower the heating to 19 degrees in cultural establishments and schools, and even 12 degrees in large gymnasiums. In the swimming pools, the temperature of the water as well as the air "will be lowered", also indicates the municipality without further details.

From January, "the City will turn off 55% of its light points from 01:00 a.m. to 05:00 a.m.," added Mr. Hurmic, who also plans to "turn off the illumination of 90% of public buildings".

"The State is asking us to save 10% of energy. In Bordeaux we are more ambitious, we are reducing the city's energy consumption by 12% and we are reducing our public lighting bill by 20%", added he assured.

"It is a major and necessary effort to reduce the City's energy bill, the increase in which could amount to around 20 million euros," said the mayor. This amount is the "worst" scenario envisaged by the municipality, according to the assistant in charge of finances, Claudine Bichet.

Faced with this additional cost, Mr. Hurmic called on the State to help communities.

"Like other mayors of large cities, I am asking the State today to erect a price shield for everyday public services by regulating a volatile and speculative market, like the price shield that protects today today's households from the energy surge," he pleaded.