Testimonial - Loren Le Toullec
Energy and Environmental Efficiency Expert, FranceLoren is a thermal engineer working within Carbon Shift—our dedicated offer supporting clients on their decarbonisation journey. What drives her? A deep respect for client needs—powered by ingenuity and innovation.
What’s your background?
I’m a graduate of Polytech Nantes, with a degree in thermal and energy engineering. I spent 14 years working in a contracting engineering office, where I developed solid expertise in HVAC systems—covering heating, ventilation and air conditioning. I worked with a wide range of clients: from industrial sites to office buildings, hospitals and even the naval sector.
Later, I joined a design office to get involved earlier in the project lifecycle. In 2022, I moved to Equans and joined the PEEM department (Energy, Environment and Maintenance Performance). That experience helped me sharpen my energy-focused skills in HVAC engineering.
In 2024, PEEM evolved into two separate entities. One of those is Carbon Shift, a new Equans entity—and that’s where I work today.
How do you support clients through Carbon Shift?
Carbon Shift offers end-to-end support for clients at every step of their decarbonisation journey—from strategic roadmaps to the implementation of low-carbon solutions. We commit to performance outcomes and help unlock financing options such as grants and energy certificates.
When we first engage with a client, we assess their systems and identify their energy needs. Based on that, we co-create an action plan. This could include reducing consumption, generating green energy locally, and more. Tools like the energy master plan guide this work.
We mostly work on existing sites, but we also support clients whose operations or buildings are evolving.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I’m based in Nantes, but I travel often. Carbon Shift operates across France, while keeping the agility and close-knit feel of a small team—around 50 people.
Recently, I worked with a perfume factory near Chartres to help them meet the tertiary decree requirements*. I also support our clients during the project execution phase—from design studies all the way to final delivery.
What I love about this job is the variety. Every site is different, technologies are constantly evolving, and the challenges keep us on our toes. It’s exciting and rewarding.
* The “tertiary decree” is a French regulation requiring companies to reduce energy consumption in buildings used for service-sector activities.
Has any recent project stood out for you?
Yes—helping a hypermarket in eastern France completely rethink its heating system. During the process, we discovered the site had untapped geothermal potential.
We carried out a feasibility study and then launched works to replace their gas heating system with a geothermal solution. Not only does this support their decarbonisation goals, but it also secures their energy supply, making them less vulnerable to fluctuating gas prices.
It’s a great example of how environmental performance and cost efficiency can go hand-in-hand.
What other major projects are you working on?
Right now, we’re building a new production line for a soft drinks plant in northern France. We’ve been involved from the design phase and are now overseeing execution and construction.
I’m specifically managing ventilation and compressed air systems used to inject gas into the bottles—something a bit unusual! We're also delivering heating, steam, and chilled water systems, using natural refrigerants. Plus, we’re coordinating electrical and civil engineering work.
To bring it all together, we use 3D modelling to virtually walk through the plant and optimise the design before we build.
Projects like this place us right at the intersection of energy, industrial and digital transitions—and that’s exactly where Equans aims to lead.
