Heatwave: Government launches plan to accelerate adaptation of homes to extreme heat

In response to the increasing frequency of heatwaves, the Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Vincent Jeanbrun, presented a series of measures aimed at improving summer comfort in homes. Among the announcements are a relaxation of voting rules in co-ownership, a reduction in VAT on reversible air-to-air heat pumps, and strengthened renovation schemes.

An "endurance plan" to prepare residential buildings for heatwaves

Presented amidst a heatwave across France, this "endurance plan" accompanies the first assessment of the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PNACC), led by the Ministry for Ecological Transition. This program aims to prepare France for global warming that could reach +4°C by 2100.

During a press briefing, Vincent Jeanbrun emphasized the scale of the challenge facing the housing sector: "The wall in front of us is considerable. A little over one in three homes resembles a thermal kettle. The heatwave is not a meteorological or climatic issue, it is now a question of social justice."

Renovation work made easier to approve in co-ownership

Among the key measures announced is an amendment to the housing stimulus bill, presented Wednesday to the Council of Ministers. This amendment will allow co-ownership associations to approve major renovation work and projects aimed at improving summer comfort by a simple majority vote.

The co-owners may also use a collective loan to finance these works, particularly for the installation of:

exterior blinds;
shutters;
air circulators;
sun protection equipment.

This development aims to accelerate the implementation of adaptation solutions in multi-unit buildings.

Reduced VAT rate of 5,5% for reversible air-to-air heat pumps

The government has also announced a reduction in taxes applicable to reversible air-to-air heat pumps. VAT will be reduced to 5,5%, compared to the current 20% for installation and 10% for the equipment.

Furthermore, summer comfort will now be systematically integrated into the Anru 3 renovation projects in priority neighborhoods of the urban policy.

The ministry also reminds us that the installation of sun protection and air circulators is already eligible for MaPrimeRénov' as part of large-scale renovations of the private residential stock.

Since January 1, 2025, this equipment also benefits from a reduced VAT rate of 5,5% when integrated into renovation work.

Regarding the use of air conditioning, Vincent Jeanbrun stated: "Air conditioning is going to develop," while specifying that this development will have to be conditional on the prior implementation of the "most energy-efficient" solutions.

Nature in the city, geothermal energy and cooling networks at the heart of the strategy

Beyond the building, the minister stressed the role of urban greening in adapting cities to high temperatures.

The government also wants to accelerate the development of geothermal energy and district cooling networks, with the aim of:

to double their capacity by 2030;
to triple it by 2040.

Social housing and new construction: new requirements

In social housing, an inventory of vulnerabilities related to summer comfort will be undertaken. Social landlords will now have to integrate this issue into all renovation projects financed by a loan from the Caisse des Dépôts.

For new housing, the regulatory indicator for summer comfort will be revised to ensure "consistency with the actual warming trajectory" with the publication of a decree announced "before January 1, 2027".

Organizations dissatisfied with the announced measures

The Foundation for Housing the Disadvantaged criticizes a lack of ambition

The government announcements have elicited mixed reactions. In a statement, the Foundation for Housing the Disadvantaged believes that the measures presented do not sufficiently address climate and social challenges.

The organization believes that: "The government's press conference on the eve of a new heat wave should have been an opportunity to announce real measures (...) but while boasting that France would be at the forefront of adaptation, it made no real announcements."

She adds: "The government is content with existing measures, and a few vague announcements, such as the census of housing without solar protection in the social housing stock."

IGNES denounces insufficient announcements

According to IGNES, government announcements regarding adapting housing to extreme heat remain insufficient given the scale of the problem. The organization points out that nearly 90% of homes are vulnerable to summer overheating and estimates that half of them can be considered "thermal kettles." It calls for the implementation of a genuine national adaptation plan, fully integrating summer comfort into renovation policies and existing support programs.

Among its key proposals are better integration of summer comfort considerations into Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), increased recognition of solar protection and cooling measures within the MaPrimeRénov' grant program, and the mandatory inclusion of these issues in all high-performance renovation projects. IGNES also believes it is essential to incorporate summer comfort into technical assessments and multi-year work plans for co-owned properties to facilitate the effective implementation of appropriate solutions.

The organization also believes that several announced measures will have a limited impact without more ambitious regulatory changes. It advocates, in particular, for a relaxation of constraints related to heritage protection and urban planning regulations to facilitate the installation of solar shading devices. It also calls for increased funding for building adaptations, notably through the Green Fund, whose budget has been reduced in recent years.

Finally, IGNES believes that the measures currently being promoted by the Government remain largely insufficient. It emphasizes that access to the reduced VAT rate on solar protection systems remains very restrictive and that work specifically designed to improve summer comfort is still poorly supported by MaPrimeRénov' and Energy Savings Certificates (CEE). The organization therefore calls for an expansion of subsidies to accelerate the deployment of solar protection equipment and high-performance cooling solutions in homes.