Beware of falsehoods regarding the obligation to install a thermostat

Manufacturers of electrical and digital solutions for buildings, including thermostats, wish to recall the facts, put into perspective the objective of this obligation adopted in 2023 by the current government majority and the relevance of the deadline of January 1, 2027.

Does the requirement stipulate the installation of a smart thermostat?

No, the requirement starting January 1, 2027, does not apply to a smart thermostat, but to a thermostat that allows you to control your heating temperature room by room. A non-smart thermostat is sufficient to meet the requirement. Why room by room? Because energy savings are significantly greater when you regulate the temperature based on room occupancy, absences, etc. According to ADEME (the French Agency for Ecological Transition), room-by-room control can result in energy savings of up to 15%.

Is a thermostat really that expensive?

The initial investment for equipment is relatively moderate compared to other types of energy efficiency improvements. The key factor is to consider the savings on energy bills. According to ADEME (the French Agency for Ecological Transition), for a house heated with electricity, a programmable thermostat can save up to €270 per year on a heating bill of €1.800 per year, and for a house heated with gas, up to €210 per year on a heating bill of €1.400 per year.

A thermostat thus pays for itself quickly (in less than 5 years). It's an easy way to save money on your energy bill, especially since 85% of French people say these expenses are a concern.

It was at the request of consumer associations that the High Council for Energy, meeting on December 4, opposed the Government's plan to postpone the deadline to 2030 in the residential sector.

Why make it mandatory when the financial incentive of lower bills could be sufficient for the installation of this equipment?

The thermostat is indeed a familiar device, offering significant energy savings. Despite this, figures show that, prior to the requirement, only 12% of French households had thermostats allowing for room-by-room heating control. This low figure is likely due to a lack of awareness regarding the energy savings these devices provide.

This requirement, which carries no penalty, is actually a signal sent to households to adopt best practices. It's an effective measure, as it's estimated that 50% of households are now equipped with these systems. Contrary to what has been said or written, there are not, to date, 27 million homes that still need to be equipped.

This measure primarily aims to ensure that the 40% of tenant households can quickly benefit from this minimum heating control equipment, as they currently rely on their landlords for its installation. The figures confirm that tenant households are currently less well-equipped (only 40% compared to 60% of owner-occupiers). This requirement therefore aims to rectify an inequality between tenants and homeowners.

Why is this obligation "falling upon us" today?

The widespread adoption of thermostats is a measure announced in 2022 and implemented in 2023 at the initiative of Agnès Pannier-Runacher and Elisabeth Borne. It's nothing new; the media discusses it regularly, especially during the heating season.

This measure was not intended to "get through just one winter" during a period of energy crisis, but rather to contribute sustainably to reducing our consumption of fossil fuels and our greenhouse gas emissions.

Home heating consumes 85 TWh of gas, 28 TWh of heating oil, and 3 TWh of LPG annually. Fossil fuels thus still account for 47% of heating energy consumption, resulting in over 30 million tons of CO2 emissions each year.

The widespread adoption of thermostats should enable us to activate, in the very short term, a potential source of 3 to 4 million tons of CO2 emissions avoided, and every ton counts. It is essential for achieving our climate objectives, particularly the halving of CO2 emissions from buildings planned in the multi-year energy programming and national low-carbon strategy recently presented by the Government.

It is also a matter of sovereignty. This generalization aims to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, while France imports 99% of its fossil fuels – notably Russian or American gas – at a cost to our trade balance of €70 billion.

Is this obligation really designed to "annoy the French"?

No, it's a social measure designed to allow everyone, whether homeowner or tenant, to manage their heating at least minimally, with a very quick return on investment. Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels also means mitigating price fluctuations on energy bills, particularly those linked to international tensions. Installing a thermostat is therefore a way to save on energy bills and reduce carbon emissions for the planet.

Is it justified to postpone the obligation by "giving households more time"?

It is clear that this obligation is effective since it has enabled the number of households equipped to increase from 12% to 50% in a very short time, with a strong acceleration as 2027 approaches, without cost to public finances.

The remaining issue is household equipment, which will only comply as the deadline approaches, or even after the obligation comes into effect. Postponing it by three years, as the Government is considering, will only result in these households losing three years in acquiring the necessary equipment, and will further delay the expected reduction in CO2 emissions.

Ultimately, this postponement, if confirmed, would add instability to a sector already severely affected by policy shifts. It would further undermine the credibility of decisions, rules, and trajectories set by public authorities.

Postponing this obligation weakens the entire regulatory framework on which our energy and environmental efficiency policy in construction and buildings is based (RE 2020,...).

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.