We are living in a time of great change. The energy world is at the center of an economic and social transition driven by unmatched innovations in technology. Energy efficiency and related services, which are helping to save energy and improve comfort, play a leading role.

1. The Rexel Foundation
FOR A BETTER
ENERGY FUTURE

2. Summary
4 THE FOUNDATION’S KEY FIGURES
6 OUR BELIEFS
8 OUR PROGRAMS
10 OUR ACTIONS
12 OUR KEY PROJECTS
14 OUR GOVERNANCE
"The Rexel Foundation aspires
to be a true catalyst for progress."
"Today, energy is transforming the world thanks to unmatched innovations
in technology. And yet, not everyone is benefitting from this progress:
1.3 billion people worldwide do not have access to electricity
and 1OO million Europeans are living in a situation of fuel poverty.
With these issues in mind, the Rexel Group created its Foundation from
a desire to go one step further in its commitment to a better energy future.
In partnership with our clients, our suppliers, our employees,
and with society at large, we have set our mission to promote public interest
initiatives that improve access to energy efficiency for all.
The goal of these projects is large-scale adoption and the creation
of major benefits, both social and environmental, for the ecosystems
in which we operate.
I invite you to discover our mission, our core principles and our initiatives,
in the hope that this will inspire you to join us."
Rudy Provoost,
Chairman of the Rexel Foundation for a better energy future
and Chairman and CEO for the Rexel Group.
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3. THE FOUNDATION’S
KEY FIGURES Improving access to energy efficiency for all
Fighting fuel poverty: a global challenge*
1.3 billion
people still do
not have access
to electricity.
3 types of programs:
- Community projects;
- Grants;
- Knowledge.
100 million Europeans
are now living in fuel poverty,
meaning that they spend over 10%
of their income on paying energy bills**.
2.7 billion people
have no choice but to rely
on dangerous materials to heat
their homes and cook their meals.
48 billion dollars must be invested every year in order to meet
the UN goal of achieving universal access to modern energy services
by 2030.
Asia Pacific
26%
21%
5%
16%
16%
16%
Latin America
North America
Europe
World
France
7
6
6
Assessment based on
4 core principles:
- socially innovative;
- environmentally friendly
and providing energy savings;
- collaborative and partnership driven;
- repeatable and scalable.
Community projects
Grants
Knowledge
19 projects have been implemented
or are underway.
Actions taken in 13 countries.
Geographic distribution of projects Distribution of projects by program type
* Source: International Energy Agency, Energy for all - Financing access for the poor, 2011.
** Source: Article published in the January 21, 2013 issue of Le Monde, “Une coopération franco-allemande
contre la précarité énergétique” (France and Germany work together to fight fuel poverty).
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4. OUR BELIEFS
A better energy future for all
Faced with the world’s rising population
and the increasing scarcity of natural energy
resources, energy management has become
a primary concern – all the more so as the effects
of climate change are worsening.
Energy efficiency offers a credible solution
to the current three fundamental challenges.
Economically speaking, energy efficiency enables less
dependence on fossil fuels; environmentally speaking,
it meets the need to decrease greenhouse gas
emissions, thanks primarily to renewable energies;
and socially speaking, it improves access
to energy for all and thus helps fight fuel poverty.
Consequently, the Rexel Foundation strongly believes
in the importance of taking immediate action, together
with all the stakeholders in the energy sector, through
a variety of programs intended to drive progress
toward a better energy future for all.
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5. OUR PROGRAMS
Throughout the world, the Rexel Foundation
supports three kinds of programs:
community-based public interest projects;
grants programs; and studies
designed to improve knowledge
of energy efficiency issues.
Community projects
The Rexel Foundation establishes partnerships with NGOs, social
entrepreneurs and foundations to support community projects that
involve increasing awareness of energy efficiency, providing
education and training, renovating low-income housing
or accompanying experts in the sector. All of these programs
benefit disadvantaged populations in OECD member countries
and in the so-called “developing” countries.
Lætitia Bertholet,
In charge of the Foundations in the areas
of social and solidarity-based economy,
Fondation de France.
Shadi Goodarzi,
post-doctorate, HEC.
Grants
Émilie Étienne,
Microsol Study
Coordinator. Jean-Jérôme Calvier,
Robert Harmsen, Program 2013, Soleni.
Assistant Professor
Energy & Resources,
Copernicus Institute
of Sustainable
Development.
The Rexel Foundation supports research programs
and educational projects by awarding grants to students
and researchers in their early career.
These academic projects are an opportunity to better
understand energy consumption patterns and to develop solutions
to modify behaviors, as well as to develop technical solutions:
energy storage systems, microgeneration, innovative equipment
in the areas of home automation, regulation, etc.
Knowledge
Winner of the IMPACT
Energy Efficiency
The Rexel Foundation wishes to contribute to the creation
of a shared knowledge base on energy efficiency. To achieve this,
it supports studies whose goal is to improve understanding
of the issues at stake, such as improved access to energy or
funding solutions for end-users. Through the development
of platforms, programs and events, results and knowledge
will be shared with all stakeholders.
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6. France
BAIL POUR TOUS,
REXEL FRANCE
> Help people from
disadvantaged backgrounds
to manage their energy
consumption and bills.
ACTION TANK
> Measure the social benefits
of renovating run-down joint
ownership housing.
PLANÈTE D’ENTREPRENEURS
> Create an impact evaluation
tool for energy efficiency
community projects.
ESTP PARIS
> Study on ventilation system
control strategies, with
the aim of reducing energy
consumption by incorporating
occupant behavior.
HEC PARIS
> Study the possible channels
for disseminating renewable
energy systems.
North America
NSCC (NOVA SCOTIA
COMMUNITY COLLEGE), NEDCO
> Support research to optimize energy
distribution.
THE UNIVERSITY
OF COLORADO - DENVER
> Develop a mobile application to optimize
building energy consumption according
to the thermal comfort of users.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
> Support a study on the effects
of energy-related environmental public
policy on the housing market.
Latin America
ELECTRICIANS WITHOUT BORDERS,
BIZLINE, IPG, REXEL PERU
> Provide electricity to remote villages
using photovoltaic panels.
THE SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
FOUNDATION, CEDUC
> Update the technical equipment
in a training laboratory for students
in the energy management sector.
MICROSOL
> Study carbon credit mechanisms to help
implement energy efficiency projects
in the Andean region.
Community
projects
Knowledge
Grants
China
MAVERLINN,
REXEL CHINA
> Provide
an autonomous
solar power
station for a
Chinese school
located in a
remote area.
Europe
THE REXEL GROUP AND
ITS PARTNERS LEGRAND,
FONDATION D’ENTREPRISE
DELOITTE AND PLANÈTE
D’ENTREPRENEURS:
> Assist and support social
entrepreneurs in the energy
efficiency sector.
ENERGISE SUSSEX COAST, REXEL UK
> Provide advice and eco-efficient
electrical supply kits to households
living in fuel poverty.
OSRAM
> Study the issue of lighting and
the benefits of LED technology
in the context of fuel poverty.
UTRECHT UNIVERSITY
> Study the obstacles to energy efficient
retrofitting.
OUR ACTIONS
Through the Rexel Foundation, the Group
and its subsidiaries support numerous projects
around the world with the combined efforts
of all stakeholders.
International
ADVICE FOR CHANGE
> Study the local social entrepreneurship
ecosystem in the energy efficiency sector
in Latin America and Asia Pacific.
ELECTRICIANS WITHOUT BORDERS, HÄGER
> Study the best practices for leading energy
access community projects.
OPINION WAY
> Support a study on the perception of energy
efficiency among consumers, electricians
and contractors.
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7. OUR
KEY PROJECTS
PROGRAM: KNOWLEDGE
ENERGY ACCESS AND CARBON FINANCE PROGRAM
The Rexel Foundation and Microsol joined forces
to conduct a feasibility study on the development
of a carbon credit exchange system related to
energy efficiency in the Andean region (Peru,
Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia). The study
revealed a true need for electricity in remote rural
communities. Renewable energy sources remain
untapped despite available technological solutions
that could be implemented on a large
scale. Furthermore, carbon mechanisms can be
used as a means of both ensuring the long-term
sustainability of projects and improving their
social and environmental quality, but only if carbon
mechanisms are given greater value.
To learn more: http://bit.ly/carbonsolidarity
PROGRAM: COMMUNITY PROJECTS
EDUCATION AND SOLAR ENERGY
In China, the Rexel Foundation took part in a
comprehensive solar power station / Green IT
Classroom initiative to provide students at
San Xing Elementary School, located in the
province of Hebei, with access to new technologies
and better information. Thanks to a solid
partnership with Faurecia and the social enterprise
Maverlinn, the school now has an IT classroom
and a source of free energy, which guarantees
the installation’s long-term sustainability, greater
control of costs related to energy consumption,
and, above all, an independent energy supply.
PROGRAM: GRANTS
OBSTACLES TO ENERGY EFFICIENT
RETROFITTING
Led by the researcher Robert Harmsen from Utrecht
University in the Netherlands, this project aims
to identify, chart and understand the obstacles to
the implementation of effective energy efficiency
strategies in existing constructions.
PROGRAM:
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
A JOINT SKILLS PLATFORM IN SUPPORT
OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS
Designed to support social entrepreneurs, the
joint skills platform aims to connect the numerous
players involved in energy progress. The goal:
Enable the emergence, consolidation and large-scale
proliferation of social enterprises in order to
fight fuel poverty. The platform thus brings together
multiple sponsors (companies, associations,
etc.), who provide material resources (through
donations) or financial aid (under certain
conditions) to member social enterprises
according to their needs, their skills and their
expertise (through volunteer involvement).
To learn more:
http://bit.ly/socialentrepreneursptf
FOCUS
“Les 7 Vents” has received the Rexel Foundation’s support
in implementing an ambitious Franco-British renovation project:
the RENO-3.0 project.
The goal: Design a demonstration building in which the most
effective new energy solutions will be accessible. “Les 7 Vents”,
a member of the social entrepreneur joint skills platform,
rallies organizations and individuals, members and partners,
around a common goal: create a framework conducive
to the development of sustainable systems, including everything
from microeconomics to heating systems.
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8. OUR
GOVERNANCE
In order to ensure optimal governance and respect of its core principles and ethics, the Rexel Foundation,
under the aegis of the Fondation de France, is managed by an Executive Committee, as well as by a project
Pre-selection Committee.
The Pre-selection Committee
This committee considers every project in detail before submitting
it to the Executive Committee. Projects are selected according
to their concordance with the four core principles of the Foundation.
They must therefore be: environmentally friendly and provide
energy savings; socially innovative; repeatable and scalable;
and collaborative and partnership driven. To these are added
other, more traditional criteria, such as the area targeted
by the project, how the impact of the project will be measured, etc.
The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is responsible for deciding on the strategy
of the Foundation, voting on the budget and approving the accounts
and loans. It assesses and selects the projects submitted for
consideration, determines the funds allocated to each project
and carries out an annual evaluation of partners. It convenes
at least once a year and is composed of eight members,
including three independent experts. Because the Foundation
believes that sharing mutual aspirations and values is key
to establishing a sustainable, innovative partnership,
it pays close attention to the quality of the projects presented.
THE REXEL GROUP
Rexel, a global leader in the professional distribution of products
and services for the energy world, addresses three main markets:
industrial, commercial and residential. The Group supports
customers around the globe, wherever they are, to help them
create value and run their businesses better.
With a network of some 2,300 branches in 38 countries and
over 30,000 employees, Rexel’s sales reached €13 billion in 2013.
After creating a Community Involvement Charter, the Group
decided to go one step further, with the creation of
the Rexel Foundation in 2013 under the aegis of the
Fondation de France.
For more information, visit www.rexel.com
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9. If you would like to get involved in the promotion of energy efficiency
by leading a community project, want to know more about the programs
or are looking for further information about the Rexel Foundation:
• website: www.rexelfoundation.com
• contacts: rexelfoundation@rexel.com
- Pascale Giet, Vice-Chairman of the Rexel Foundation
- Xavier Galliot, General Secretary of the Rexel Foundation
© Photo credits: Corbis, Getty Images, Stocksy, Shutterstock, DR.
Publication director: Pascale Giet. Publication managers: Marion Berger, Julien Fernandez. Editorial concepts and content:
Caroline Chaumin/Tildé Paris. Graphic design: Mary de Wailly. Realization: .
Special thanks to: Lætitia Bertholet, Shadi Goodarzi, Émilie Étienne, Robert Harmsen, Jean-Jérôme Calvier and our other partners.