energy renovation must be “a priority project” by increasing public aid, recommends a parliamentary report

In 2017, France consumed on average 13.8 kg of oil equivalent per m2 (kgep/m2) for heating, i.e. 4 kgep/m2 more than the European average. The energy renovation of buildings must become a “priority project”, details a parliamentary report, adopted Wednesday October 4 by the National Assembly. According to the document, the majority of renovations carried out are not “efficient overall renovations”due in particular to excessively high out-of-pocket costs and an aid system which favors “monogestes” such as changing the heating system.

The 47 proposals in this report are the result of an information mission led by MPs Julie Laernoes (EELV) and Marjolaine Meynier-Millefert (Renaissance). The text request the exam “as quickly as possible” of the energy climate programming bill (LPEC) and recommends to “change paradigm”favoring insulation and overall renovation of housing. “The energy renovation objectives of buildings constitute an energy, climatic and social imperative”, underline the rapporteurs. Building is the fourth sector that emits the most greenhouse gases.

France currently has 7.2 million homes considered to be energy sieves. By 2050, 95% of the real estate stock must undergo comprehensive and efficient renovation, which is not the case for the majority of renovations carried out to date, underlines the report. To speed things up, the MEPs propose evaluating the “decision-making processes” in co-ownerships and to impose renovation work on the most energy-intensive (classified F and G).

Too much outlay, sometimes of the order of “several tens of thousands of euros”, further discourages owners from carrying out all the necessary work. This is why the rapporteurs are calling for an increase “very substantial and rapid public spending in favor of energy renovation” as well as facilitating the use of dedicated loans. The State should therefore increase its spending in this area by 14 billion euros per year and set quantified objectives for the distribution of the zero-rate eco-loan, which is currently underused.