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    How your autonomy score is calculated

    A scientific model built on real data — not estimates. Transparent, reproducible, grounded in European best practices.

    4

    pillars

    35K+

    postal codes

    5

    scientific sources

    100%

    transparent

    Modeling approach

    What the score measures

    The Azimut autonomy score quantifies the residential resilience potential of a household: its capacity to produce energy, collect and recycle water, and source fresh food from its own physical characteristics and installed systems. It is a potential performance indicator, not a real consumption audit.

    Each pillar is calibrated against reference values published by recognised organisations (European Commission JRC, INRAE, ADEME/CSTB, Eurostat). Calculation parameters are aligned with sector standards in force for sustainable housing.

    The 4 Pillars of Autonomy

    Energy

    40%

    What it measures

    This pillar evaluates a household's photovoltaic solar production capacity based on its roof characteristics and the real solar irradiation at its precise geographic location, compared to its annual electricity consumption — declared or estimated.

    Data & calibration

    Solar irradiation is provided in real-time by the European Commission's PVGIS API (JRC), which compiles satellite measurement data over more than 15 years. The systemic efficiency factor applied (Performance Ratio) conforms to IEC 61724 for residential installations in Europe.

    Why this weight

    Energy carries the highest weight (40%) because it delivers the most direct, measurable, and immediate return on investment for the majority of European households.

    Water

    25%

    What it measures

    This pillar evaluates a household's capacity to cover part of its non-potable water needs (sanitation, irrigation, washing) through rainwater harvesting via its roof, supplemented where applicable by a greywater system or well.

    Data & calibration

    Coverage caps by climate zone are derived from the ADEME/CSTB rainwater-harvesting guide, the French and European reference for this type of calculation. Annual rainfall figures are derived from the home's geographic latitude.

    Why this weight

    Water carries 25% of the score. Its growing scarcity under climate change — particularly in Mediterranean and continental zones — makes it a major resilience issue for the coming decades.

    Food

    20%

    What it measures

    This pillar evaluates a household's fresh fruit and vegetable production capacity based on its cultivable garden area, the presence of a greenhouse or small livestock, measured against the standard dietary needs of its occupants.

    Data & calibration

    The food-requirement reference (annual fresh fruit and vegetables per person) is the one published by INRAE in its sustainable-food framework. The reference yield-per-area comes from experimental measurements on market gardens of comparable size.

    Why this weight

    Food carries 20% of the score. Local fruit and vegetable production is the most accessible autonomy lever for the majority of homeowners, with a strong impact on food carbon footprint and logistical resilience.

    Heating

    15%

    What it measures

    This pillar evaluates the share of heating needs covered by low-carbon solutions — heat pump, wood or pellet stove, solar heat — weighted by the home's insulation quality.

    Data & calibration

    Reference heating needs come from RE2020/RT2012 (EU) and EIA RECS (US) standards, adjusted to local heating degree-days. Heat-pump performance uses a COP of 3.5 (ASHRAE 90.1).

    Why this weight

    Heating carries 15% of the score. It is often the household's largest energy expense; reducing it through insulation and renewable heat has a strong impact on autonomy and carbon footprint.

    What your score means

    🌱

    0–29

    Getting Started

    Your home is grid-dependent. High potential for quick wins.

    🧭

    30–59

    Growing

    You've started producing your own resources. Big gains possible with targeted investment.

    🌳

    60–79

    Advanced

    Significant autonomy achieved. You're ahead of 90% of European households.

    🌻

    80–95

    Champion

    Near-complete autonomy. You're a model for resilient living.

    The score is capped at 95 — never 100. Full autonomy is a journey, not a checkbox.

    European baseline comparison

    European average18/100
    Azimut user (1 year)42/100
    Fully equipped home78/100

    Baseline derived from Eurostat residential energy data and JRC autonomy studies.

    Our data sources

    The Azimut model is built entirely on public data from European and national reference organisations. No proprietary data or private statistical models are used. Every source can be consulted directly.

    JRC PVGIS

    European Commission

    Used for

    Annual solar irradiation (kWh/m²/yr) by GPS coordinates, integrated into each energy score calculation in real time.

    Why it's authoritative

    The European Commission's solar reference database, built on 15+ years of MERRA-2 and CMSAF satellite measurements.

    re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools

    EIA RECS

    U.S. Energy Information Administration

    Used for

    Reference data on market-garden food production and annual per-person requirements for fresh fruit and vegetables.

    Why it's authoritative

    France's national public research institute for agriculture, food and the environment — the leading scientific body on these subjects.

    www.eia.gov/consumption/residential

    NOAA

    National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin.

    Used for

    Regulatory rainwater-coverage caps by climate zone, plus carbon-impact ratios for the circularity pillar.

    Why it's authoritative

    France's ecological transition agency — its technical guides are the reference for the sustainable-building sector in France.

    www.noaa.gov

    USDA

    U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

    Used for

    Average residential electricity prices by country (updated annually), used to compute projected financial savings.

    Why it's authoritative

    The statistical office of the European Union — the official source of energy-price data harmonised across the continent.

    www.usda.gov

    EPA

    Environmental Protection Agency

    Used for

    Geolocated natural-hazard data (flooding, earthquake, radon, wildfire) used in the Risk Exposure section.

    Why it's authoritative

    Géorisques is the official national platform of France's Ministry of Ecological Transition, fed by the BRGM geological survey.

    www.epa.gov/watersense

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