Energy renovation: 38% of French people want a return on investment in less than 5 years

The French spend an average of €274 per month on home energy. Reducing this expense, which has increased dramatically since 2021 (+99%), is the primary reason given by the French for undertaking renovations. Energy-efficient renovations are thus approached primarily from the perspective of measurable savings and increased purchasing power. These are the main findings of the latest Sofinscope – OpinionWay Barometer for Sofinco.

Eco-renovation is emerging as a pragmatic response to budgetary pressures

While the energy budget has exploded since 2021, rising from 138 euros per month to an average of 274 euros, 77% of French people cite reducing their bill as the primary motivation for undertaking energy renovation work, ahead of improving thermal comfort (71%).

A requirement for rapid profitability

Undertaking energy renovation work is seen as an investment, and 81% of French people consider it important to know the payback period before starting such work. Specifically, 38% would like a return on investment in less than 5 years, and 27% believe that 10 years is an acceptable timeframe.

This expectation of rapid profitability reflects a rational approach by the owners: in a context of persistent budgetary constraints, the financial effort must produce visible effects in the short or medium term.

However, the capacity for action remains limited.

More than half of French people (53%) say they want to carry out renovations but lack the financial means (+6 points compared to 2025). Although government assistance is mentioned as a source of funding for renovations, only 32% of French people consider it sufficient (-2 points).

For Franck ONIGA, Managing Director of Sofinco: “The trigger for renovating a property is often the financial urgency of skyrocketing energy bills, exacerbated by the current economic climate. To support French people in their renovation journey, and not rely solely on public subsidies, it is important to simplify, accelerate, and diversify financing solutions so that everyone can increase the value of their home and reduce their energy bills.”

This study was conducted with a sample of 1.090 people, representative of the French population aged 18 and over. The sample was constructed using the quota method, based on the criteria of gender, age, socio-professional category, size of urban area, and region of residence. The interviews were conducted from February 11 to 12, 2026, via a self-administered online questionnaire using a CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interview) system.

All results are available online on the website Sofinscope: the barometer that gives you a head start on consumption

The Sofinscope – OpinionWay Barometer for Sofinco

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.