Loire-Atlantique. A major consumer of water, this construction company manages to reduce its bill

After the rise in energy prices, water consumption will be the next challenge for businesses.

This is Anthony Joubert's conviction.

As a facade designer, building sector which uses a lot of water, the subject… is self-explanatory.

The resource, which is subject to severe restrictions during periods of drought, is part of the daily life of the manager whose companies (Sud Loire Projection and Sud Loire Isol'Façade), located in La Chapelle-Heulin, in the Nantes vineyard, are specialized in facade renovation and finishing work and exterior thermal insulation.

Water, the subject for the construction world

These are tens of m³ of water that are consumed per day on construction sites.

Consumption differs depending on the activities.

Cleaning the facades for a renovation of a surface area of ​​150 m2 is the equivalent of 4,500 liters. 450 liters for support watering. Between 750 to 900 liters for mixing water. And between 300 to 400 liters to wash a machine.

For the manager, the building world must address the issue of water.

One, because of the emergency. Water must be considered “as a rare resource”, he insists.

Two, because of the bill which continues to increase.

“More than 10% between 2011 and 2021,” recalls the manager, reporting a study by the magazine 60 million consumers.

Once this observation is made, the manager, whose companies are located in the Ragonnières area, is developing solutions.

Meters to measure consumption

As part of a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) policy, the manager who employs 25 people has implemented a series of actions to save resources.

The first measure resulted in the installation of meters which measure the volume of water consumed per construction site.

Measuring allows us to understand the importance of volumes and to act better.

The second phase of measures consisted of installing technical means: detection of leaks, installation of water connections, air cleaning of the machines, etc.

So many actions that save up to 10 to 15% water.

Another approach, installation and burial in the company's plot a 30 m water tank³.

Rainwater collected from the roof of the building supplies, in a closed circuit, a washing area which will be used to clean the machines of the facade teams.

“Washing a coating machine is 30% of the volume,” recalls the manager, who tries to use less drinking water.

The washing area will be used for local construction sites. For others, Heulinois has invested in portable vats.

A water-saving cleaner

The most important investment for the entrepreneur remains the development of a superheated water cleaner intended for professionals combining a temperature capable of going up to 150°C and a 150 bar high pressure system.

Via the company Thermatech France that he created, Anthony Joubert is the exclusive distributor of this machine made in England.

The ergonomic machine can be used by a single person, disinfects, cleans, degreases and sobers up.

“The high temperature kills micro-organisms,” explains the manager.

Above all, this machine consumes half as much water as a high pressure cleaner. And does not release any pollutants or additives since it only works with water vapor.

The Thermatech machine was used at the La Boissière-du-Doré zoo or recently on the renovation site of the Monnières church.

“18 m3 of water were consumed instead of 60 m3 if we had used a traditional system,” explains the Heulinois

National Award and Water Agency

The know-how of the Nantes Vineyard company just received a national award.

The competition created by Qualiclub Weber celebrates artisanal excellence and remarkable achievements.

The La Chapelle-Heulin company was rewarded for the renovation of the Marie-Anne du Boccage elementary school in Nantes.

At the same time, Anthony Joubert shares his experience with Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Water Agency and the French Building Federation so that these technical solutions that consume less water become widespread and diffuse.

And irrigate the world of construction.

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