Friday, 11 December, I was introduced to a new concept store for sustainable home improvements, the first of its kind in France, perhaps in Europe. Located just outside Lille in the north of France, Kbane L'Habitat Durable opened in early 2009. It's a subsidiary of GROUPE ADEO, also the parent company of Leroy Merlin, a large home improvement store in France and Europe (similar to Lowes or Home Depot in the USA).
Kbane, with an organic grocery store next door "La Ferme" or the farm.
Kbane L'Habitat Durable is targeting individual family houses. The store has a heavy emphasis on educating the consumer and helping them understand and select products. In addition to selling product, they provide design and consulting services to help families choose the best system for their homes. Kbane L'Habitat Durable also has an installation arm, similar to Home Depot or Lowes in the USA. Whereas Home Depot or Lowes might offer design and installation services for kitchen and bath layouts, Kbane L'Habitat Durable focuses their design and installation services on mechanical and electrical systems: conducting energy audits and assessments, as well as design of solar electrical and hot water systems, wood pellet boiler heating, heat pump systems or double flue systems, and other mechanical or plumbing systems. This is in addition to selling environmentally friendly paints and stains, flooring, insulation, light-bulbs, gardening supplies, rainwater harvesting systems, individual composting toilets, and the like.
The interior of Kbane, showing a double flue system orginating in Canada, and an array of solar options. Kbane noted that most of the technologies are coming out of Germany, Austria, and the Scandinavian countries. They do have one American solar panel, Sunpower, in the store.
The French government is encouraging solar power with substantial financial incentives. The incentives are set up to encourage keeping people on the grid (no batteries at the house). Individuals typically pay Electricité de France (EDF) around 0,10€ or 0,12€ per kilowatt [Note: 1€ = $1.50]. If a homeowner installs rooftop-integrated solar panels, EDF will buy the electricity generated at something like $0.60 per kilowatt. In addition to this monthly incentive, the French government will subsidize around half the initial purchase and installation cost. Note that if a homeowner installs surface-mounted solar panels on the roof, the EDF buy back rate is much less, around 0,35€ per kilowatt. From what I can gather, there is no technical reason for this. It is purely an aesthetic decision affecting the French landscape.
Outside of Nancy, solar panels installed by Energetik Concept, another young start-up company that will design and install renewable energy and high-efficiency mechanical systems in residences. Energetik Concept was founded by an engineer and a Compagnons du Devoir, two forward-thinking individuals.
Kbane, with an organic grocery store next door "La Ferme" or the farm.
Kbane L'Habitat Durable is targeting individual family houses. The store has a heavy emphasis on educating the consumer and helping them understand and select products. In addition to selling product, they provide design and consulting services to help families choose the best system for their homes. Kbane L'Habitat Durable also has an installation arm, similar to Home Depot or Lowes in the USA. Whereas Home Depot or Lowes might offer design and installation services for kitchen and bath layouts, Kbane L'Habitat Durable focuses their design and installation services on mechanical and electrical systems: conducting energy audits and assessments, as well as design of solar electrical and hot water systems, wood pellet boiler heating, heat pump systems or double flue systems, and other mechanical or plumbing systems. This is in addition to selling environmentally friendly paints and stains, flooring, insulation, light-bulbs, gardening supplies, rainwater harvesting systems, individual composting toilets, and the like.
The interior of Kbane, showing a double flue system orginating in Canada, and an array of solar options. Kbane noted that most of the technologies are coming out of Germany, Austria, and the Scandinavian countries. They do have one American solar panel, Sunpower, in the store.
The French government is encouraging solar power with substantial financial incentives. The incentives are set up to encourage keeping people on the grid (no batteries at the house). Individuals typically pay Electricité de France (EDF) around 0,10€ or 0,12€ per kilowatt [Note: 1€ = $1.50]. If a homeowner installs rooftop-integrated solar panels, EDF will buy the electricity generated at something like $0.60 per kilowatt. In addition to this monthly incentive, the French government will subsidize around half the initial purchase and installation cost. Note that if a homeowner installs surface-mounted solar panels on the roof, the EDF buy back rate is much less, around 0,35€ per kilowatt. From what I can gather, there is no technical reason for this. It is purely an aesthetic decision affecting the French landscape.
Outside of Nancy, solar panels installed by Energetik Concept, another young start-up company that will design and install renewable energy and high-efficiency mechanical systems in residences. Energetik Concept was founded by an engineer and a Compagnons du Devoir, two forward-thinking individuals.
Some images of the training facilities and work of young persons achieving the stature of Compagnons.
Compagnons à Nancy. Wing at the left houses ateliers or workshops on the first and second floors. Classrooms are on the upper floors. The center wing houses administrative offices on the ground floor and dormotories on the upper floors. The building supplies against the building are for the students' use.
Final carpentry and roofing projects (Nancy)
Ironwork Atelier or Workshop (Nancy)
Final woodworking, upholstery, and other projects (Nancy)
Final carpentry and roofing projects (Nancy)
Final carpentry project (Angers).
Windmill in classroom at ICCB, Angers
My photos don't do these justice, nor do they explain the richly creative environment of the workshops, classrooms and facilities.
Compagnons à Nancy. Wing at the left houses ateliers or workshops on the first and second floors. Classrooms are on the upper floors. The center wing houses administrative offices on the ground floor and dormotories on the upper floors. The building supplies against the building are for the students' use.
Final carpentry and roofing projects (Nancy)
Ironwork Atelier or Workshop (Nancy)
Final woodworking, upholstery, and other projects (Nancy)
Final carpentry and roofing projects (Nancy)
Final carpentry project (Angers).
Windmill in classroom at ICCB, Angers
My photos don't do these justice, nor do they explain the richly creative environment of the workshops, classrooms and facilities.
The Compagnons du Devoirs is the descendant of the medieval guilds, begun around the 12th century with the construction of the cathedrals. The Compagnons carry on the traditional techniques of 24 trades and crafts, including stonecutter, roofer, upholsterer and baker. The training is based on a culture of apprenticeship, communal living, and a multi-year voyage of improvement called the "Tour de France".
The training process typically begins with young men and woman at the end of "lycée", at age 16 years old. It is a 3-stage process.
1. Apprentice or "Stagiere": The students spend two years working and living together in one of 84 training centers across France. In addition to learning the fundamentals of their chosen trade, they are also educated in mathematics, English, etc. The students balance class time with on-the-job training with a company.
2. "Aspirant" or "Affilié": Student in the couse of perfecting their skills via their personal "Tour de France". They spend 6 months to a year with one jobsite or company, then rotate to another, and so on. This process can last 5 to 6 years.
3. Compagnons: The title is earned after the student has demonstrated their capabilities with a master work. Within the Compagnons, there are different levels of mastery. The highest level is marked with the attachment of a gold ring in each earlobe. This mark of achievement is readily visible and immediately recognized on the jobsite.
From what I observed, there is a direct link between the high level of craftsmanship and responsibility developed by the Compagnons and the system of construction in France which favors direct contracts with the trades over a general contract who then subcontracts to the trades. This has been an interesting point of discussion with craftsman and architects alike. The French believe their system provides better quality craftsmanship. Perhaps they are right. But the tradition of journeyman and craftsmanship is jeopardized by the capitalist tenet that efficiency is achieved through standardization and repetition. When the mind is separated from the hand, quality may be harder to attain and retain. The challenge in both countries is to keep individuals engaged. Another challenge is the integrated nature of renewable energy technologies, such as solar power that involves multiple trades (roofing, electrical systems, possibly carpentry).
The Compagnons also offer continuating education courses for craftsmen and professionals. While in Angers, I had the opportunity to sit in on one day of a 9-day course for architects and engineers teaching how to design and build with wood. Unlike the USA, wood construction is not part of typical architectural or engineering training in France. With the climate change discussion, wood is being encouraged in France as a renewable resource. Both wood construction and wood pellet boilers.
Three different components of the Compagnons generously introduced me to their process, know-how (savoir faire), responsibilities, and some of their current challenges :
Institut des Métiers du Sanitaire et du Génie Climatique – IMSGC in Nancy, Yann DUHAL, Director (of the Institute of Plumbing & HVAC Department)
Institut de la Charpente et de la Construction Bois – ICCB in Angers, Daniel COUDERT, Director (of the Institute of Carpenters and Wood Construction)
Friday, Koen Grieten, International Relations, accompanied me to Lille to show me Kbane, a new concept store for sustainable home improvements.
Many thanks to Yann, Daniel, Koen, and their colleagues for their warm welcome and interesting discussions.
The training process typically begins with young men and woman at the end of "lycée", at age 16 years old. It is a 3-stage process.
1. Apprentice or "Stagiere": The students spend two years working and living together in one of 84 training centers across France. In addition to learning the fundamentals of their chosen trade, they are also educated in mathematics, English, etc. The students balance class time with on-the-job training with a company.
2. "Aspirant" or "Affilié": Student in the couse of perfecting their skills via their personal "Tour de France". They spend 6 months to a year with one jobsite or company, then rotate to another, and so on. This process can last 5 to 6 years.
3. Compagnons: The title is earned after the student has demonstrated their capabilities with a master work. Within the Compagnons, there are different levels of mastery. The highest level is marked with the attachment of a gold ring in each earlobe. This mark of achievement is readily visible and immediately recognized on the jobsite.
From what I observed, there is a direct link between the high level of craftsmanship and responsibility developed by the Compagnons and the system of construction in France which favors direct contracts with the trades over a general contract who then subcontracts to the trades. This has been an interesting point of discussion with craftsman and architects alike. The French believe their system provides better quality craftsmanship. Perhaps they are right. But the tradition of journeyman and craftsmanship is jeopardized by the capitalist tenet that efficiency is achieved through standardization and repetition. When the mind is separated from the hand, quality may be harder to attain and retain. The challenge in both countries is to keep individuals engaged. Another challenge is the integrated nature of renewable energy technologies, such as solar power that involves multiple trades (roofing, electrical systems, possibly carpentry).
The Compagnons also offer continuating education courses for craftsmen and professionals. While in Angers, I had the opportunity to sit in on one day of a 9-day course for architects and engineers teaching how to design and build with wood. Unlike the USA, wood construction is not part of typical architectural or engineering training in France. With the climate change discussion, wood is being encouraged in France as a renewable resource. Both wood construction and wood pellet boilers.
Three different components of the Compagnons generously introduced me to their process, know-how (savoir faire), responsibilities, and some of their current challenges :
Institut des Métiers du Sanitaire et du Génie Climatique – IMSGC in Nancy, Yann DUHAL, Director (of the Institute of Plumbing & HVAC Department)
Institut de la Charpente et de la Construction Bois – ICCB in Angers, Daniel COUDERT, Director (of the Institute of Carpenters and Wood Construction)
Friday, Koen Grieten, International Relations, accompanied me to Lille to show me Kbane, a new concept store for sustainable home improvements.
Many thanks to Yann, Daniel, Koen, and their colleagues for their warm welcome and interesting discussions.
