Jean’s house, in Lagny-sur-Marne (Seine-et-Marne), is still under construction. Some finishes are on the program but the heat pump is well installed. From April 15, MaPrimeRénov’ state aid – intended to encourage the energy renovation of housing – increases by 1,000 euros for households who switch from a gas or oil boiler to a renewable energy boiler. The measure is intended to reduce the impact of rising energy prices, particularly linked to the war in Ukraine, by limiting dependence on fuel oil and gas.
Like Jean, more and more French people are opting for heat pumps. At his house, a module is installed in the garage and the pump is in the driveway, outside the house. “I hesitated with a gas boiler, which offers pleasant heating comfort. I was afraid to go electric but everything is done to electrify energy consumption. In this logic, it was obvious to me. “
It is actually electricity that powers the machine. This sucks the calories from the ambient air to restore them as heat. “If we take the example of a bicycle pump, your arm corresponds to your electrical energy: we compress and produce heat”, popularizes Fabien, installation technician. Thus, for one kilowatt of electricity used, the heat pump can restore four.
According to Fabien, it is an efficient alternative to traditional boilers. “The price of gas is rising and that of fuel oil has exploded. Electricity is something that we control, but we still have to minimize consumption. The heat pump is therefore the ideal solution.” On average, a household will consume three or four times less energy. “That gives you an idea of the savings we’re going to make.”
Faced with these good results, requests are multiplying. Thus, more than one million heat pumps were sold last year. But the installation remains expensive: “Today, to have a good heat pump, you have to count 15,000 to 18,000 euros”, details the technician. From this sum, the aid from MaPrimeRénov’ must be deducted. “It’s a scale with four categories associated with colors. We were in yellow and we were therefore entitled to 3,000 euros”explains Jean.
If he had done the work after April 15, he would therefore have received 4,000 euros. Despite everything, by adding other aids that accumulate, he still saved 8,000 euros on his bill. In total, the amount of MaPrimeRénov’ is capped at 8,000 euros for low-income households, 10,000 euros for very low-income families (not including the new bonus. All for a satisfactory result: “There are still a few things to fix, but the heating comfort is present. You can hardly hear it. There are really no negative points to complain about”welcomes Jean.
But beware of scams or low cost pumps! The French are very often solicited, often by telephone, by companies to encourage them to carry out this work. However, according to professionals, the installation of a heat pump requires a minimum of reflection. “There are a number of minimum precautions to take”recalls on franceinfo Jean-Yves Mano, president of Consumption housing, living environment (CLCV), a consumer association. “First, do not hastily sign an estimate following a canvassing. Moreover, canvassing on energy savings is prohibited.” It alerts in particular on the period of fairs and exhibitions of energy renovation. “It’s a place of absolute scams on energy saving work. We make you sign quotes up to 30,000 euros without going to your house”he says.
Jean-Yves Mano details the different possible scams: “On the prices, on the quality of the equipment – which does not necessarily correspond to the quote issued -, on the quality of the work…”, he lists. He implicates “large companies subcontracting to do the work and, at the end of the day, you don’t have the quality”. In addition, some professionals “sometimes tell you about aid to which you are not entitled”. Jean-Yves Mano therefore advises as “basic principle” of “ask a France Rénov’ agency. There are 450 in France where you will be given all the advice you need”.