Energy savings: heating and operating hours

Update, November 2026: the BMS obligation mentioned below has applied since 1 January 2025 to buildings above 290 kW. For buildings from 70 to 290 kW, the deadline has been moved to 1 January 2030 (see our news).

At a glance

Order of magnitudeLowering the heating set point by 1 °C cuts consumption by about 7%, according to ADEME.

Set point19 °C in occupied rooms, 16 °C outside occupied hours, according to ADEME.

Match use to needAlign lighting, heating, ventilation and cooling with actual occupancy, ideally through a BMS.

The cheapest energy is still the energy you do not use.

This was all the more true in the context of the time (2022):

France aims to cut its energy consumption by 40% by 2050 as part of its carbon neutrality target.
Tensions on natural resources, including natural gas, which plays a key role in heat production in France and in electricity generation in Europe, were driving energy prices sharply upwards.

Controlling energy consumption is essential, especially in winter, and every player has a part to play.

Action 1: adjust your set-point temperature

Lowering the temperature by 1°C can cut energy consumption by around 7%.

This rule of thumb is a simplification, but the idea holds: every degree saved can have a significant impact on the energy bill.

The French government recommends a set-point of 19°C in offices. It is a reference value that keeps things simple.

Perceived temperature depends on several factors: air temperature, air speed and the radiant temperature of the surroundings (walls, partitions, windows). It expresses the subjective feeling of cold or heat relative to the measured temperature.

Depending on the building (insulation, draughts), the perceived temperature will differ between two buildings with the same set-point. The aim is to lower the set-point as far as possible while keeping a perceived temperature of 19°C.

Action 2: match equipment operation to actual needs

It may sound like common sense, yet we still too often see technical equipment running regardless of whether the building is occupied. Our advice:

switch off interior lighting at night, at weekends and during closure periods, as required by the regulations;
adapt the operation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) to occupancy and outdoor conditions;
switch off all IT equipment when nobody is there.

A BMS (building management system) is one way to control and adapt equipment schedules. Regulation settings must be tailored to each building’s specific needs.

To find out more, contact us at contact@lunaar.io.

Sources