Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
Ville sobre
English translation:
Energy saving/sober city
Added to glossary by
Lara Barnett
Aug 31, 2019 16:55
4 yrs ago
16 viewers *
French term
Ville sobre
French to English
Marketing
Advertising / Public Relations
This is from a marketing text for a company promoting shared workspaces in a city. I'm stuck on how to translate "ville sobre" in the slogan "Pour une ville sobre, fluide et inclusive". I'm thinking something like uncluttered, unencumbered etc. but can't really find something that sounds 100% convincing in English. Creative suggestions more than welcome (I have permission to stray from the French as long as I can create something that reads well in English and conveys the idea...) TIA
Proposed translations
(English)
References
| "Energy-sober" as an adjective |
B D Finch
|
Change log
Sep 10, 2019 09:10: Lara Barnett Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+5
19 hrs
Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Works in field
United Kingdom
www.lingocraft.co.uk
Native in: English (Variants: Irish, Singaporean, UK, South African, British, Scottish) 
Works in: French to English, Italian to English, Romanian to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
Energy saving/sober city
This seems to be a term coined in France perhaps. The idea seems to suggest that we be more subdued and controlled in our use of electricity, fuel etc. :
La sobriété énergétique
"La sobriété énergétique est une démarche qui vise à réduire les consommations d’énergie par des changements de comportement, de mode de vie et d’organisation collective (moindre usage de la voiture, alimentation plus locale et de meilleure qualité, etc.)."
http://www.virage-energie-npdc.org/imaginer-le-futur/la-sobr...
"There remains enormous potential to decrease consumption way further, without damaging productivity. The French call it ENERGY SOBRIETY!"
https://www.edie.net/news/10/Carbon-Brief--UK-s-emissions-co...
"Ms Batho said she hopes to instil a "logic of energy sobriety," with the new measure, which would not apply to cases in which light was needed out of safety concerns, during festive periods, or for businesses that operate at night."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/977...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs (2019-09-01 12:01:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I have included the use of "sober" in my answer, because it could be that one day English also adopts this idea in its language use - who knows, but "energy saving" or "low consumption" could also work.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs (2019-09-01 12:10:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"Moreover, a welldesigned BCA should aim at answering the concerns of developed countries while promoting growth in developing countries, and should be complemented by SOBRIETY POLICIES.15"
https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/5990/UCU-annual-environment-rep...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 17 mins (2019-09-01 17:13:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
You could possibly use "sober City" and then add gloss.
La sobriété énergétique
"La sobriété énergétique est une démarche qui vise à réduire les consommations d’énergie par des changements de comportement, de mode de vie et d’organisation collective (moindre usage de la voiture, alimentation plus locale et de meilleure qualité, etc.)."
http://www.virage-energie-npdc.org/imaginer-le-futur/la-sobr...
"There remains enormous potential to decrease consumption way further, without damaging productivity. The French call it ENERGY SOBRIETY!"
https://www.edie.net/news/10/Carbon-Brief--UK-s-emissions-co...
"Ms Batho said she hopes to instil a "logic of energy sobriety," with the new measure, which would not apply to cases in which light was needed out of safety concerns, during festive periods, or for businesses that operate at night."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/977...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs (2019-09-01 12:01:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I have included the use of "sober" in my answer, because it could be that one day English also adopts this idea in its language use - who knows, but "energy saving" or "low consumption" could also work.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs (2019-09-01 12:10:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"Moreover, a welldesigned BCA should aim at answering the concerns of developed countries while promoting growth in developing countries, and should be complemented by SOBRIETY POLICIES.15"
https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/5990/UCU-annual-environment-rep...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 17 mins (2019-09-01 17:13:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
You could possibly use "sober City" and then add gloss.
Example sentence:
"Established with sustainable and green standards, the VCQ master plan maximizes the use of the natural elements such as wind, water and sun as well as offers all the benefits of an ENERGY SAVING CITY throughout its design and building material: "
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ph_B (X)
: Cf. Pierre Rahbi's Vers la sobriété heureuse.
3 hrs
|
|
Thank you
|
|
| agree |
philgoddard
: I disagree with "sober", though. "Sustainable" would be another option.
16 hrs
|
|
Thank you.
|
|
| agree |
B D Finch
: An energy-sober (hyphenated, as it's adjectival) city/town. See my Reference Comment.
20 hrs
|
|
Thank you.
|
|
| agree |
Daryo
: "sober city" or even better "energy-sober" is exactly this new idea // the method of using some other vaguely related existing term just because it's better known makes no sense - that's not translating, that's rewriting to your own preferences.
1 day 14 hrs
|
|
Thank you.
|
|
| agree |
MatthewLaSon
2 days 12 hrs
|
|
Thank you.
|
|
| agree |
Lorraine Dubuc
2 days 12 hrs
|
|
Thank you.
|
|
| disagree |
Jay Gonzalez
: 'Sober' is a false cognate here, and 'sustainable' describes the larger picture of what a 'ville sobre' is about. The focus on energy is unnecessarily limiting. This is about being efficient with all resources: energy/electricity, water, waste management.
159 days
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
37 mins
Sheila Wilson
Spain
Spain
Native in English
Specializes in field
Spain
20 years producing 100% natural English
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
12
pragmatic/rational/... town
Sobre in French can mean sober in the sense of conservative, serious, etc. There are several synonyms you could play with, depending on what you choose for the others. Check this out: https://www.wordreference.com/synonyms/sober
It suggests to me that this workspace is contributing to a serious-minded town aware of its carbon footprint and all the et ceteras.
It suggests to me that this workspace is contributing to a serious-minded town aware of its carbon footprint and all the et ceteras.
38 mins
Katarina Peters
Canada
Canada
Native in English
Canada
Accuracy and A1 presentation
Native in: Hungarian 
, English (Variant: US)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, Hungarian to English, and 13 more.
Healthy city
in this context
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Sheila Wilson
4 hrs
|
|
Thank you, Sheila!
|
|
| agree |
Yolanda Broad
5 hrs
|
|
Thank you, Yolanda!
|
|
| disagree |
philgoddard
: I can't find any evidence of this.
1 day 11 hrs
|
|
a sober state is a healthy state all the way... healthy economy, healthy society, etc.etc.
|
|
| disagree |
Daryo
: a shot in the dark ... that missed!
2 days 8 hrs
|
|
Could you be more specific?
|
+1
6 hrs
Verginia Ophof
Belize
Belize
Native in English
Works in field
Belize
Near Native Proficiency in Source langua
Native in: English
Works in: Portuguese to English, Dutch to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
12
17 hrs
Mark Harris
France
France
Native in English
Specializes in field
France
Quality, accuracy and flexibility
Native in: English (Variants: UK, British)
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English
Practical
In terms of being sensible and responsible.
160 days
Jay Gonzalez
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Making the most of your message
Native in: English (Variants: US, Canadian, US South, British, UK)
Works in: Russian to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 2 more.
Resource-efficient city
The smoothest-sounding translation in English would be "resource-efficient". The term also aligns with sustainability-minded city design. It does not equate "sustainable", but represents an aspect of sustainability.
Sciences Po Presse also published a book that gives more context to the French term. The book is entitled Villes sobres: Nouveaux modèles de gestion des ressources.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 160 days (2020-02-08 09:14:35 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
This post is an interview with the director of the Sciences Po publication I mentioned: https://forumurbain.u-bordeaux.fr/Actualites/Rencontre-13-To...
It sheds more light on the scope of this concept
Sciences Po Presse also published a book that gives more context to the French term. The book is entitled Villes sobres: Nouveaux modèles de gestion des ressources.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 160 days (2020-02-08 09:14:35 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
This post is an interview with the director of the Sciences Po publication I mentioned: https://forumurbain.u-bordeaux.fr/Actualites/Rencontre-13-To...
It sheds more light on the scope of this concept
Reference:
https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/resource-efficient-cities-vital-step
http://www.pressesdesciencespo.fr/fr/book/?GCOI=27246100346300
Reference comments
1 day 15 hrs
Reference:
"Energy-sober" as an adjective
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317539631_A_2000-WA...
"Proposals of [sic] an energy-sober society"
https://afse2017.sciencesconf.org/142897/document
"This clearly requires that the global system of climate change control rest on objective mechanisms, economic in particular, and that carbon pricing and preferably market mechanisms can facilitate equal efforts from all Parties and then convergence towards the path of an energy-sober economy. It is a obviously a question of efficiency, but also an issue of equity because the effort by every stakeholder (country, and in each country each group of citizens) can thus be precisely measured and eventually compensated for by adequate transfers."
https://ec.europa.eu › research › participants › documents › downloadPublic
Mar 21, 2017 - November 2016, in order promote the achievement of Europe's 2030 climate and energy commitments, and to pursue an energy sober Europe ...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 15 hrs (2019-09-02 08:52:13 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
https://www.hecalumni.fr › event › 2017/05/03
May 3, 2017 - The Paris Agreement sets the world on a course to an energy-sober and low carbon economy.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09613218.2016.1...
"The first evaluations are appearing now (Energiesprong, 2016 Energiesprong. (2016). Eerste ervaringen met prestatiegarantie voor nul op de meter woningen (First experiences with performance guarantees for zero on the meter dwellings). Retrieved from
http://energielinq.nl/resources/monitoringprestatiegarantie
. [Google Scholar]), but they are only based on just a few cases. Some of the occupants are satisfied, but others are dissatisfied because the energy demand concept is below their expectation. It is based on lower indoor temperatures (20°C), short times for showering and an energy-sober lifestyle. If these occupants exceed the allowed level of energy use, then they have to pay extra for it. "
"Proposals of [sic] an energy-sober society"
https://afse2017.sciencesconf.org/142897/document
"This clearly requires that the global system of climate change control rest on objective mechanisms, economic in particular, and that carbon pricing and preferably market mechanisms can facilitate equal efforts from all Parties and then convergence towards the path of an energy-sober economy. It is a obviously a question of efficiency, but also an issue of equity because the effort by every stakeholder (country, and in each country each group of citizens) can thus be precisely measured and eventually compensated for by adequate transfers."
https://ec.europa.eu › research › participants › documents › downloadPublic
Mar 21, 2017 - November 2016, in order promote the achievement of Europe's 2030 climate and energy commitments, and to pursue an energy sober Europe ...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 15 hrs (2019-09-02 08:52:13 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
https://www.hecalumni.fr › event › 2017/05/03
May 3, 2017 - The Paris Agreement sets the world on a course to an energy-sober and low carbon economy.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09613218.2016.1...
"The first evaluations are appearing now (Energiesprong, 2016 Energiesprong. (2016). Eerste ervaringen met prestatiegarantie voor nul op de meter woningen (First experiences with performance guarantees for zero on the meter dwellings). Retrieved from
http://energielinq.nl/resources/monitoringprestatiegarantie
. [Google Scholar]), but they are only based on just a few cases. Some of the occupants are satisfied, but others are dissatisfied because the energy demand concept is below their expectation. It is based on lower indoor temperatures (20°C), short times for showering and an energy-sober lifestyle. If these occupants exceed the allowed level of energy use, then they have to pay extra for it. "
Reference:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317539631_A_2000-WATT_SOCIETY_IN_2050_A_REALISTIC_VISION
Peer comments on this reference comment:
| agree |
Lorraine Dubuc
1 hr
|
|
Thanks Lorraine
|
|
| agree |
Kevin Oheix
: "Shifting to a carbon- and energy-sober society", https://www.eesc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/resources/doc...
2 hrs
|
|
Thanks Kevin
|
|
| agree |
Daryo
17 hrs
|
|
Thanks Daryo
|
|
| agree |
MatthewLaSon
1 day 15 hrs
|
Discussion
Pourquoi laisser le doute persister! LOL
https://www.futura-sciences.com/maison/actualites/batiment-r...
"s’inscrire dans une démarche de transition énergétique; aménager une ville sobre et durable; associer tous les acteurs du territoire; construire une ville attractive et avec une bonne qualité de vie"
https://villesdurables.ifdd.francophonie.org/index.php/VILLE...
"Ville sobre : Qui promeut l'efficacité énergétique, l'économie circulaire, la réduction des GES"
https://institutvilledurable.fr/la-ville-durable-a-la-franca...
"Sobre et durable : engagé dans une voie vertueuse intégrant les enjeux du changement climatique afin de faire de l’agglomération le premier territoire littoral urbain à afficher un bilan « zéro carbone » en France"
https://www.agglo-larochelle.fr/action-publique/projet-de-te...
https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/energy-restrain...
"‘Energy sobriety’: A disruptive notion catching on in France"
"Moreover, a welldesigned BCA should aim at answering the concerns of developed countries while promoting growth in developing countries, and should be complemented by SOBRIETY POLICIES.15"
https://www.ucu.org.uk/media/5990/UCU-annual-environment-rep...
Partenariats >
Gecina
Gecina, au coeur de la vie urbaine
Gecina détient, gère et développe un patrimoine immobilier de 19,3 milliards d’euros à fin 2018. La foncière, spécialiste de la centralité et des usages, oriente son activité autour du premier patrimoine de bureaux d’Europe, situé à près de 97% en Ile-de-France, et d’un pôle de diversification composé d’actifs résidentiels et de résidences étudiants. Gecina a inscrit l’innovation durable au cœur de sa stratégie pour créer de la valeur et anticiper les attentes de ses quelque 100 000 clients et utilisateurs finaux, grâce à l’implication et l’expertise de ses collaborateurs, qui s’engagent pour une ville sobre, fluide et inclusive.
http://chaire-immobilier-developpement-durable.essec.edu/par...
sobre = ??? le choix n'est pas simple:
https://www.cnrtl.fr/synonymie/sobre
sobre comme l'opposé de:
https://www.cnrtl.fr/antonymie/sobre
???
they keep reusing the same PR text, not that it makes it any clearer:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q="pour une ville sobre, flu...
Are they hinting at reduced commuter traffic...? Less bustle...? Fewer ugly office blocks...? I really can't get my head round this...!
We have one of these in our city — though I think it may already have died a death!