The French and eco-renovation: between the desire to act and budgetary constraints

While energy savings remain the primary motivation, existing aid is deemed insufficient, and distrust of scams and the difficulty of identifying trustworthy professionals continue to hamper efforts. However, the French are reportedly willing to invest an average of €3.634, an 8% increase compared to last year. Payment options in installments could also serve as an incentive.

• A monthly energy budget of 272 euros, up 97% since 2021
• One in two French people regret not being able to carry out the eco-renovation work they want due to lack of resources (47%)
• The French are prepared to allocate an average of 3.634 euros to their eco-renovation work.
• 70% of them could give up on eco-renovation work for fear of being scammed

An energy budget up 97% since 2021

The monthly energy budget reached €272 this year (+€27), an increase of 8% since last year, and 97% since 2021. This increase is weighing heavily on households, and this year, 4 out of 10 French people fear not being able to pay their energy bills with the end of the tariff shield (41%).

In this context, reducing energy bills is even more important and appears to be the primary reason for undertaking eco-renovation work (73%). Half of French people would also undertake this work to improve the comfort of their homes for their families (51%), and three in ten would do so to avoid wear and tear on their homes (35%) or for environmental reasons (28%).

Projects hampered by a lack of resources

Despite this context, the French are undertaking or planning to carry out fewer eco-renovation works than in previous years: this proportion is down for almost all of the proposed works, returning to levels similar to 2021.

Indeed, energy renovation work appears to be a logical solution for reducing energy bills, but it is still too often out of reach and its cost remains a major obstacle. Thus, one in two French people regret not being able to carry out the eco-renovation work they want due to lack of means (47%), a proportion which is nevertheless down 10 points compared to last year. This trend can be explained by the need to make trade-offs in the face of purchasing power difficulties. Indeed, at the beginning of the year, the French still estimated a high inflation rate (16%), and a deterioration in their purchasing power over the coming year (69% expect this)[1]. In these conditions, they are forced to organize their budget in the short term and make trade-offs placing eco-renovation work second in their concerns.

The French would allocate 3.634 euros to eco-renovation work

Despite the cost of the work being a barrier, households are aware of the importance of eco-renovation and would be willing to spend more on it if they could afford it: €3.634 (+8%), up for the first time since 2022.

This budget is increasing, but a priori insufficient to cover all expenses. While eco-renovation work in an apartment, for example, would cost 10.000 euros[2] on average, government aid remains particularly popular and is requested by half of those surveyed (50%, +8 points). But this aid is not enough. While the reduction in the MaPrimeRénov' budget was confirmed at the beginning of the year, 64% of French people say that the aid is not sufficient to allow them to consider eco-renovation work.

Installment payment solutions could find their place in financial packages and serve as an incentive. They continue to attract a greater number of French people (31%, +3 points), as do credit options (42%, +8 points).

Essential aid, but a need for increased support

The French share their difficulty in finding trustworthy professionals in the field of eco-renovation. Seven out of ten admit to finding it difficult to identify a tradesperson they trust (75%), and might forgo eco-renovation work for fear of being scammed (70%).

These fears are reinforced by a persistent lack of information surrounding eco-renovation. 65% say they are not sufficiently informed about the assistance available to them (+7 points). More than half also say they are poorly informed about the terms and conditions of the work (60%), and the risks of fraud/the reflexes to adopt to avoid them (55%).

Finally, the French would be receptive to facilitating offers. Thus, a "turnkey" solution (work and financing solutions) would convince more than half to accept a quote from a craftsman more quickly (55%).

For Franck ONIGA, Managing Director of Sofinco: "This new Sofinscope survey confirms the real desire of the French to better control their energy consumption, but also their strong expectation of concrete and secure solutions, which allow them to reconcile budgetary and societal issues. Professionals and individuals alike need support to navigate this complex and evolving issue. This is the whole point of the approach undertaken by Sofinco over the past several months to make energy renovation work more accessible and to collectively achieve our climate objectives by 2030."

The Sofinscope – OpinionWay Barometer for Sofinco

[1] OpinionWay for Bonial – The relationship of the French with consumption Wave 12 – January 2025

[2] https://www.journaldelagence.com/1398828-quel-budget-pour-gagner-deux-lettres-sur-le-dpe

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.