dénergies

Dénergies is a term used in some French-language energy and sustainability discourses to describe a framework or set of practices aimed at lowering overall energy demand while preserving or enhancing human well-being. The term combines the French prefix dé- with énergie (energy) and is often used to distinguish the deliberate reduction of energy use from mere changes in energy source or supply.

Conceptually, dénergies encompasses efficiency improvements, behavioral change, and systemic redesign of production and consumption to deliver the same services with less energy, as well as strategies to scale back energy use in low-impact ways (sufficiency). It emphasizes demand reduction alongside cleaner energy supply and aims to reduce energy vulnerability and greenhouse gas emissions.

Applications include building retrofits and passive design, urban planning that reduces travel demand, shifts to low-energy mobility, circular economy approaches, and policy tools such as energy pricing, standards, and information campaigns that encourage lower energy use without compromising welfare.

Relation to other terms is fluid; the concept overlaps with energy efficiency, energy sufficiency, degrowth, and energy democracy. Critics argue that dénergies can be vague or politically sensitive, risking normalization of energy austerity if not anchored in social justice and economic feasibility.

Origins of the term are not fixed; it appears sporadically in academic writings and policy debates from the 2010s onward, with varying definitions and emphasis across languages and regions. As a result, its precise content and uptake depend on context and the actors using it.