“To save energy, we must support global renovations” and offer a premium “incentive” to condominiums, according to Pierre de Montlivault, the president of Fedene (Federation for energy saving and renewable heat).
He was invited Tuesday, November 1 on franceinfo while the deputies voted the previous night an extension of 12 billion euros in credit for the renovation of housing, on the initiative of deputies on the left. Today there are five million thermal colanders in France, poorly insulated homes that are difficult to heat. The government had the objective of renovating 80,000 and yet only 2,500 were renovated last year.
franceinfo: Why does it take so long to renovate housing that needs it?
Pierre de Montlivault : What makes things complicated is that you have to change your approach, from the historical approach where things were done step by step, to a more global one. In the past we said “we will give you a sustainable development tax credit” to change your boiler or your window and we were satisfied with it. However, it is not going fast enough and far enough in the energy renovation of housing. To save energy, it is essential to help and support people who embark on comprehensive renovations.
Companies have a full order book but they lack manpower. Did we lack anticipation on this point?
There are pressures on employment in almost all sectors of the economy, not just in the energy renovation sector. Now, in France, we have not sufficiently highlighted these trades in the technical field, nor encouraged young people. We have a problem of attraction. Did we lack anticipation when it was necessary to recruit plumbers, heating engineers, roofers? It is possible, but we do not decree the creation of a business. On the other hand, from next year, when we pass a major climate and energy law which will provide a program for our country’s energy policy, if we can put in front a program of the resources that will be allocated to it, that would be good. The market will grow, so it will be logical to invest and recruit new collaborators.
There are also other concerns, especially for condominiums as for others: the procedures can be very long and the administration can often slow down. What are the other limitations of MaPrimRenov?
There is also a simple economic problem. In co-ownership, there are much lower aid ceilings than for a single-family house. That we are less generous in a co-ownership by dwelling, that is understandable, there are economies of scale, but on the other hand, the economies of scale have been over-evaluated and therefore today we have little incentive to help . It’s a shame, because to receive assistance in a condominium, you have to save 35% of energy, that’s a great ambition, a truly global renovation!