Construction set to begin for new energy-efficient Airbus facilities

Airbus is underscoring its commitment to eco-efficiency with the construction of two highly energy-efficient office buildings in Toulouse, France, which will accommodate 320 employees from the A350 XWB programme and development teams beginning in October.

8 April 2011
Located in close proximity to the company’s A350 XWB final assembly line, these two new facilities were designed to meet the requirements of France’s voluntary high energy performance (HPE) standard – which corresponds to conventional energy consumption that is 10-per cent less than the country’s RT 2005 thermal regulations.

To attain this status, the 4,150-square metre buildings will feature better-insulated walls and flat roofs, along with very low consumption lights, zone lighting controlled by presence detectors, solar water heaters and sunshade systems. Construction of the offices will begin later this month.

According to project manager Christophe Gavalda, the new facilities’ performance levels will even be 35 per cent higher than France’s current RT 2012 standard – translating to 65 kilowatts used per square metre, rather than the maximum 99 kilowatts allowed for buildings subject to planning permission since October 2010.