17/12: Kbane L'Habitat Durable - concept store
Category: Week 12 - Compagnons du Devoir
Posted by: troachadmin
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.
