ECO-CAMPS-Eco-designand

eco-engineeringofbuildings,amenitiesand
accommodationsincampsites
LIFE04ENV/FR/000321

ProjectdescriptionEnvironmentalissuesBeneficiariesAdministrativedata
R e a d m o r e

Contactdetails:
ProjectManager:Jean-ChristopheLEBRETON
Tel:+3353357578000
Fax:+33556563806
Email:jean-christophe.lebreton@aquitaine.fr

Projectdescription:
Background
Thereareatleast22000smallandmedium-sizedcampingandcaravanning
holidayparkcompaniesinEurope,offering10.8millioncommercialtouristbeds
-morethanthetraditionalhotelsector(8.7millionbeds).
Tourismisamajorandgrowingsectorinmanylocaleconomies,including
Aquitaine.In2001,theregioncountedwith718campsites,93619pitchesand
13millionaccommodationnights.Tomeettheexpectationsof
ever-more-demandingtourists,campsiteoperatorsareinvestinginmore
facilitiesandservices,includingcatering,swimmingpools,nightclubs,
water-gameareasandotherconstruction.
However,theuseanddevelopmentofthesetouristinfrastructuresimpactson
theenvironment,sometimesdramatically.Thisresultsfromincreasedenergy
consumption,productionofbuildingwaste,disturbanceofecosystemsand
habitatsandpollutioncausedbytransportationofmaterials.
Objectives
ThisLIFEprojectaimedtoshowthatitwaspossibletosupportagrowingtourist
industryinthecampingsector,withoutdestroyingthenaturalenvironment.The
projecttooktheattitudethateverybodyhasaninterestinthecampingsector

reducingitsimpactonthelocalenvironment-forthesustainabilityofthe
naturalenvironmentandthesustainabilityofthiseconomicsector.
Eco-campswasplannedasanoperationaleco-designproject.Itaimedtoshow
howenvironmentalissuescouldbetackledatthedesignstagetoreduceoverall
impactfromtheirconstructionandsubsequentuse.Itplannedtoworkonthe
designandinstallationofnewcampsitesorcampsiteinstallationsand
specificallyonthedesignoftwonewmodelsofmobilehomes.
Aswellasreducingenergyandwaterconsumptionandthecreationofpollution
andwastefromthenewfacilities,italsosoughttoprovidevisualandaesthetic
integrationintothenaturalsurroundingstoprotectasmuchaspossiblethe
naturalheritageofthearea.
Theprojecthopednotonlytodemonstratethatitwaspossibletodevelopthis
importanteconomicactivitywhilstlimitingtheenvironmentalimpact,butalso
thattherewasmarketadvantagetobehadforcampsiteownersindoingso.It
soughttomaketheenvironmentadriverofdevelopmentinthesector.
Results
TheFrenchEco-campsprojectdemonstratedhowaneffectivelife-cycle
approachtothedesignofcampsitesandinstallationscanreducetheir
environmentalimpact,whilstsimultaneouslyimprovingthecompetitivityofthis
importanttouristindustry.
Theprojectselectedfivecampsiteswhichwereplanningdevelopmentprojectsto
workwith.Eachcampsitewassupportedbyaconsultantwhoguidedthem
throughaprocessofenvironmentalevaluationcalledtheHighEnvironmental
Qualityapproach(HQEinFrench).Thisconsidered14elementsofeachsite,
coveringeco-design,eco-management,healthandcomfort,andevaluated
performanceagainstindicators.
ThroughtheHQEapproach,theconsultanthelpedthemanagersevaluatethe
environmentalimpactoftheirplans,identifyareasofweaknessandselect
specificmeasurestoimproveperformance.Althoughunforeseenadministrative
problemsdelayedmuchconstructionattwoofthesitesuntilaftertheendofthe
project,importantnewinstallationswerecreated.
Tosavedrinkingwater,theprojectintroducedmeasurestoreduceconsumption
-egpushbuttontaps-andtoaccessalternativewatersourceswhereappropriate
-egrainwatercollectionorcleaningofswimmingpoolwater.Thetotalwater
savingsbytheprojectwereestimatedat5000m3ofdrinkingwaterperyear.
Toreduceenergyconsumption,installationsweredesignedtorequireless
energy-egthroughbetterinsulationandmorenaturallight-andtouseenergy
onlywhennecessary-egthroughlightingsystemstriggeredbylackofnatural
light.Renewableenergysourceswerealsotappedwhereappropriate-eg
solar-poweredwaterheating.
Themethodologyalsoledtooptimisedwastecollectionandtheuseofmore
environmentallyfriendlyandlocallysourcedmaterials.Thebeneficiary
estimatedtheoverallreductioninCO2emissionsfromtheprojectat40tonnes
peryear.

Theprojectworkedwithtwomanufacturers:withDassConstructeurtodevelop
aneweco-designforachalet,whichconsumed45%lesswaterconsumption,28%
lessenergyfromappliancesand60%lessenergyforheating;andwithOHarato
developanewportablesummerhousewithbetterintegrationwithitsnatural
surroundingsandwhichused41%lessglueinassemblyandhadaframemade
of95%certifiedwood.
AswellasadvicetocampsitemanagersonimplementingtheCharteronnatural
hazards,oneofthebigachievementsoftheLIFEprojectwasthecreationofa
modifiedHQEspecificallyforcampsitesbasedonthelearningachievedduring
theproject.Itisnowexpectedthatmorecampsiteswillbeinspiredtousethis
approachtoimprovetheirenvironmentalperformanceandreducetheircosts.
Detailedtool-kitsproducedbytheprojectshouldfacilitatethisprocess.
ThisLIFEprojectshowedhowregionalauthoritiescanleadthewayinpromoting
environmentallysustainablebusinessdevelopment.Theauthorityremains
committedtopromotingtheworkoftheproject,particularlythroughsupporting
theuseoftheHQEapproachbycampsitestoobtaintheEuropeaneco-label.
Furtherinformationontheprojectcanbefoundintheproject'slaymanreport
andAfter-LIFECommunicationPlan(see"Readmore"section).This project has
been selected as one of the 17 "Best" LIFE Environment projects in 2008-2009.
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Environmentalissuesaddressed:
Themes
Environmentalmanagement-Eco-productsdesign
Industry-Production-Building
Services&Commerce-Tourism-Accomodation
Keywords
environmentalimpactoftourismtouristfacilitygreenbuilding
TargetEULegislation
IndustryandProductPolicy
Regulation1980/2000-RevisedCommunityeco-labelawardscheme.
InformationprovidedintheComm...
Natura2000sites
Notapplicable

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Beneficiaries:
Coordinator
Typeoforganisation
Description

Partners

ConseilRgionald'Aquitaine
Regionalauthority
ConseilRgionald'Aquitaine-theRegional
AuthorityfortheAquitaineregionin
south-westFrance;
LaFdrationrgionaleAquitainede
lHtelleriedepleinair(FRAHPA),France
CentreScientitifiqueetTechniqueduBtiment
(CSTB),France

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Administrativedata:
Projectreference
Duration
Totalbudget
EUcontribution
Projectlocation

LIFE04ENV/FR/000321
02-NOV-2004to15-DEC-2007
808,526.00
402,013.00
Aquitaine(France)

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Readmore:
Brochure

Leaflet

Poster
Projectwebsite
Publication:After-LIFE
CommunicationPlan
Publication:After-LIFE
CommunicationPlan
Publication:Article-Paper

Title:"Processusd'coconceptionde
rsidenceslgresdeloisirs"(FR)(1.486KB)
Author:LattanzioE.A.U.Noofpages:1
Title:"ProjetHQEsurlescampings:Paramtres
tudierdanslecadredunetudede
faisabilit/sensibilit
environnementale"(FR)(76KB)Author:IDE
EnvironnementYear:2007Noofpages:3
Title:Campingsitesstatistics(808KB)
Year:2007Noofpages:5
Project'swebsite(FR)
Title:After-LIFECommunication(FR)
Year:2007Noofpages:4
Title:After-LIFECommunicationPlan(EN)
Year:2007Noofpages:5
Title:"Ecocamps"(FR)(158KB)Noofpages:4

Publication:Casestudy

Title:Collectionofexperiences(EN)(1.3MB)No
ofpages:23
Publication:Guidelines-Manual Title:"Ecocamps:Guidelusagedes
professionnelsdelhotelleriedeplein
air"(FR)(246KB)Noofpages:8
Publication:Laymanreport
Title:Laymanreport(DE)Year:2008Noof
pages:7
Publication:Laymanreport
Title:Laymanreport(EN)Year:2008Noof
pages:6
Publication:Laymanreport
Title:Laymanreport(FR)Year:2008Noof
pages:8
Publication:Laymanreport
Title:Laymanreport(ES)Year:2008Noof
pages:6
Videolink
"ECOCAMPS:Overview"(Othervideosavailable
onthewebsite)(5')
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ProjectdescriptionEnvironmentalissuesBeneficiariesAdministrativedata
R e a d m o r e