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Pierre-Louis Guhur

Pierre-Louis Guhur

CEO of Argile

175 articles published

Pierre-Louis is CEO and co-founder of Argile. He holds a PhD in machine learning, written at Inria under Cordelia Schmid on vision-language models. In 2017 he renovated a house with his own hands, inside and outside insulation, new windows, a heat pump and solar thermal, and took one conviction from it: the plan is the easy part, the site is where everything can go wrong. He now designs the software that lets renovation companies produce reliable energy studies, from the 3CL survey through to heat pump sizing. On the blog he writes about what he implements: the 3CL-DPE 2021 method, NF EN 12831 and building physics as a calculation engine has to handle them, assumption by assumption.

Subjects covered

3CL-DPE methodNF EN 12831 sizingBuilding modelling

Their articles

ContractorsMarch 27, 2026
Heat pumps in renovation: the 5 most common sizing mistakes

On a renovation job, correct sizing is what separates a smooth-running project from a string of callbacks. When the machine is too powerful or too marginal, you pay for it with short cycling, discomfort and climbing consumption. By mastering 5 common pitfalls, you secure your quotes and save time from the study phase onward.

5 min read

ContractorsMarch 26, 2026
Insulating Ventilation Ducts in Unheated Lofts

In an unheated loft, a poorly insulated ventilation duct can quickly cause condensation and airflow loss, followed by service calls you could have avoided. With a few good habits around choosing the insulation, sealing the connections, and routing the ductwork, you secure the job's performance and durability. The idea is to keep air circulating well, with no moisture creeping in where it shouldn't.

5 min read

Energy renovationMarch 26, 2026
CO₂ (R744) heat pumps: the next revolution?

R744 is not a fluorinated greenhouse gas. It sits outside EU Regulation 2024/573, and therefore outside the quotas, the Article 5 leak checks and the Annex IV bans, and it also sits outside the French regime of Articles R543-75 and following. What constrains it lies elsewhere: the high pressure of the transcritical cycle, and the hot water temperatures set by the French order of 23 June 1978 as amended.

5 min read

ContractorsMarch 25, 2026
Air-to-water heat pump and underfloor heating: the winning duo

This article deals with the air-to-water heat pump and underfloor heating pairing from the sizing side only: the output the floor can actually deliver under the applicable caps, the water regime that follows, and the minimum modulated output the machine has to be able to hold. The site work, testing and heat-up, is covered in a separate article.

5 min read

ContractorsMarch 24, 2026
Dry vs fluid thermal-mass radiators: what are the differences?

When a client is torn between dry and fluid thermal mass, you're often the one who settles it. It's up to you to turn two closely related technologies into a simple choice, discussing comfort, responsiveness, maintenance and installation constraints. With a few clear benchmarks, you secure the quote and avoid callbacks.

5 min read

Energy renovationMarch 24, 2026
Which refrigerants for heat pumps in 2026?

In 2026, the choice of refrigerant is no longer a minor detail. On site, it can tip a sale between compliance, performance and equipment availability. Between tightening bans and new refrigerants with a lower climate impact, you need a simple benchmark to propose the right solution, without risk to your client or your schedule.

5 min read

ContractorsMarch 21, 2026
How to grow your revenue without hiring

When your schedule is already full, the real lever is not adding more hands. It is making every job more valuable, by pricing more accurately, framing better, and cutting the "invisible" hours that eat into your margin. You can grow your revenue without hiring, by making your quotes more profitable and your teams more efficient, starting in the next few weeks.

5 min read

ContractorsMarch 21, 2026
Passive cooling: free cooling and night purge ventilation

Summer comfort has only one official set of figures in France, and it applies to new build alone: the RE2020 discomfort degree-hours. In a retrofit no text sets a threshold, which means your written commitment on the quote is the only document anyone can hold you to. Worth knowing exactly what RE2020 measures before promising anything.

5 min read

Argile productMarch 20, 2026
Non-heating temperature: the threshold that triggers the calculation

On a job, knowing exactly when to stop heating isn't about comfort, it's about control and lower bills. With a simple calculation method, you can justify this threshold to the customer and set your controls according to insulation, building thermal inertia and free gains (sun, usage). The result: less overheating, cleaner regulation, and works whose impact shows up in consumption figures.

5 min read

Argile productMarch 20, 2026
5 renovation priorities: comfort, savings, environment, summer, property value

On an energy retrofit job site, everything often comes down to the order of operations. As a tradesperson, you save time, secure performance and cut down on rework when you start with the right measures at the right moment. From the building envelope to the systems, here's a simple method to help you decide fast, without guesswork or overpromising.

5 min read

ContractorsMarch 20, 2026
Reversible air conditioning: heating and cooling in a single unit

When a client wants comfort in both summer and winter, you have to decide quickly between output, efficiency and placement, without turning the job into a headache. With a good reading of room-by-room needs and a few points of vigilance on noise, units and controls, you can offer a solution that both heats and cools, while staying simple to maintain.

5 min read

ContractorsMarch 19, 2026
External Wall Insulation: Mastering Thermal Insulation from the Outside

On site, external wall insulation is often decided by the details. Layout, thermal bridges, base starter, finishes, every choice matters to hold performance and avoid costly rework. If you set a clear method from the site visit onward, you save time, secure quality, and leave a clean result your client sees right away.

5 min read

Argile productMarch 19, 2026
Argile's 5 pillars for simplifying energy renovation

When your clients want to renovate without getting lost in grants, quotes and technical choices, you're the one who brings order to it all. With a simple 5-point method, you save time, secure the job, and explain the value of your recommendations more clearly. Enough to move quickly, with no vague promises or unnecessary complexity.

5 min read

Argile productMarch 19, 2026
Solar coverage factor: impact of orientation and climate zone

On a roof, orientation and the zone you're working in change everything, both for summer comfort and for winter gains. By mastering the coverage factor, you can justify your choices to the client without endless calculations, and secure the actual performance of the job. The idea is simple — aim for the right balance between protection and gains, based on the façade and the local climate.

6 min read

ContractorsMarch 19, 2026
Switching from split heating to central heating: when it pays off

Between a single system and room-by-room equipment, the question isn't the technology, it's the right project scenario. As a tradesperson, you save time when you know where the real costs hide — network to build, maintenance, controls, and above all how the home is actually used. The idea is to choose the solution that holds up over time, not just on the quote.

5 min read

Argile productMarch 18, 2026
Mistakes avoided thanks to Argile's AI assistant

On a job site, mistakes don't forgive. A gap in a quote, poorly checked information about a grant, and you lose time, or even end up with an unhappy client. With an AI assistant built for energy-renovation professionals, you secure your answers, your technical choices and your deliverables, without drowning in paperwork.

4 min read

ContractorsMarch 18, 2026
Base outdoor temperature: the key parameter for sizing

For sizing that holds up, everything hinges on the right local cold-weather scenario. As a tradesperson, this benchmark is what keeps you from installing a heat pump that runs at overcapacity or, conversely, an oversized system that costs more and regulates poorly. With a few simple checks, you can secure your power choice and your on-site performance.

5 min read

ContractorsMarch 18, 2026
Central vs split heating: implications for renovation

Between a single hydraulic network and room-by-room equipment, your clients mainly want comfort without a runaway bill. In renovation, the right choice turns on three very concrete points: the state of the building, actual usage patterns, and the ability to control zone by zone. By framing these criteria as early as the visit, you secure the quote and avoid bad surprises on site.

5 min read

ContractorsMarch 18, 2026
How to choose between an air-to-air heat pump and an air-to-water heat pump?

On a job site, the right heating choice often comes down to two simple questions. What level of comfort does your client expect, and what network already exists in the home, radiators, underfloor heating, or nothing at all. By asking the right questions from the site visit, you avoid bad surprises and protect your margin.

5 min read

ContractorsMarch 17, 2026
Structuring your energy renovation business in 2026

In 2026, what makes the difference isn't just your know-how, it's your organization. A clear structure, well-defined roles and tight job tracking save you from endless days and margins that evaporate. Set the right framework now, and you gain as much in peace of mind as in profitability.

5 min read

Argile productMarch 14, 2026
How Argile builds your custom landing page to win clients

When a prospect lands on a page, you have a few seconds to convince them to request a quote. With Argile, you start from a clear page, in your colours, that highlights your projects, your coverage area and the available subsidies, without spending your evenings tinkering with copy. The result: you capture more qualified leads and keep time for what matters, your job sites.

5 min read

ContractorsMarch 14, 2026
Electrician in Energy Renovation: A Trade in Full Transformation

On an energy renovation job site, you're no longer just 'the person who runs the cables.' Heat pumps, mechanical ventilation, heat-pump water heaters, load control — it all comes down to your connections and settings too. When your clients want grants, what they really expect is a rigorous professional, able to coordinate, explain, and deliver an installation that runs right the first time. And that's exactly where your trade gains value.

5 min read

Argile productMarch 11, 2026
Generate local leads through your presence on the Argile directory

When a request comes in, everything hinges on a few kilometres. By being clearly visible on the Argile directory, you attract clients near your job sites more easily, with clear information, photos, and reviews that reassure. The result: less time wasted chasing contacts, and more qualified requests, in the right place, at the right time.

5 min read

Argile productMarch 10, 2026
Save time with Argile: automated quotes, tracking, and invoicing

Between chasing clients, adjusting for site conditions, and paperwork, your days fill up fast. With Argile, you centralize quotes, tracking, and invoicing in one place, without re-entering data twice, and with documents ready to send exactly when the client expects them. You keep your rhythm on site, and the admin work finally keeps up.

5 min read

ContractorsMarch 3, 2026
Comprehensive renovation vs. step-by-step: how to guide your clients

6%: that's the share of French homes rated A or B on the DPE in 2024, far too little to aim for carbon neutrality, and a clear signal that 'step-by-step' quickly hits its limits. Between comprehensive renovation and phased works, the challenge is guiding your clients toward the right scenario, at the right time, without overselling or undersizing. This guide helps you decide, with arguments and points of attention to back it up.

7 min read

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