The Union of Joinery Manufacturers (UFME) unveils its Manifesto in favor of a sustainable housing renovation policy

At the same time, the construction sector must ensure its sustainability in the face of an ongoing crisis (fall in purchasing power, political instability), which has already caused the loss of 25.000 jobs since 2023.

Massifying the thermal renovation of buildings is the main challenge for the sector, requiring an institutional climate of trust and stability to encourage the French to fully commit. Faced with the relative effectiveness of the support policy implemented to date, and in line with its open letter addressed to the President of the Republic last January, the UFME (Union des Fabricants de MEnuiseries) is taking action.

As part of the debates around the 2025 Finance Bill, the UFME is sending public decision-makers its Manifesto structured around three major, complementary and easily applicable proposals to support thermal renovation with a view to the massification of energy improvement work on housing. These proposals respond to three principles - simplification, support and anticipation - and do not generate any increase in public finances:

1. Stabilize the base of works eligible for VAT at 5,5%;
2. Fully re-engage the French through a stabilization of MaPrimeRénov';
3. Include climate change adaptation and health dimensions in policies supporting the energy renovation of housing.

For Bruno Cadudal, President of UFME: "The 2025 Finance Bill is currently being examined in Parliament. The UFME, which represents the door and window sector, is mobilizing to put forward concrete proposals to increase energy improvement work in housing. The objective is to adapt the policy of support for energy renovation to be in line with the reality of the housing stock, and to produce results that meet the environmental and economic challenges of housing. While the country must reconcile the climate emergency with budgetary seriousness, the UFME is positioning itself as a partner and provider of solutions so that each euro produces a maximum impact. Our sector has all the necessary assets to meet the challenge of the energy transition and create a trigger within households by restoring their confidence: local businesses that know their business and the market, a product that is identified and popular with households, and public authorities that mobilize aid. These proposals are also essential to support the entire sector. We are forecasting a drop in activity of more than 10% in 2024 compared to 2023. To revive the markets for improving the thermal performance of housing, accelerating energy renovation operations is essential since 75% of projects concern renovation, including 68% residential renovation.

Stabilize the base of works eligible for VAT at 5,5%

This 5,5% incentive rate is the central tool for improving the energy performance of housing, it is essential to maintain it as it is. Changing its outlines, or completely eliminating it, would send a negative message to households, for whom cost is the primary discouraging factor for undertaking energy work. This would contribute to reducing the number of such works, and therefore to reducing state revenues, and would encourage greater recourse to undeclared work.

Fully re-engage the French through a stabilization of MaPrimeRénov'

The UFME proposes four simple actions to continue the dynamic of improving the reformed MaPrimeRénov' formula:

• Make the Accompanied Journey more flexible to transform it into an "energy renovation passport" dedicated to individual housing in energy classes D, E, F and G. This action would allow households to carry out, over a period of up to three years, all the work recommended by Mon Accompagnateur Rénov'. They would proceed methodically and as a priority to the renovation of the enclosure and roof, including the replacement of glass walls.
• Adjust the operation of the Simple Path, accessible to housing already considered efficient (classes A to C) in order to best meet the needs of the French and to standardize the eligible actions. It is necessary to maintain the transitional measures implemented for renovation by actions and to align the list of eligible actions of the Simple Path with that of the Accompanied Path, which is more inclusive. For example, the replacement of first-generation double-glazed windows is eligible for the Accompanied Path but not for the Simple Path.
• Continue the work undertaken by the previous government aimed at simplifying the administrative procedures of MaPrimeRénov' in order to remove the last obstacles.
• Protect the budget allocated to MaPrimeRénov' after the cancellation of credit and affirm its operation without resource conditions in order to achieve European decarbonization objectives.

Include climate change adaptation and health dimensions in policies supporting energy renovation of housing

By improving summer and winter comfort, insulating homes helps save on energy costs while reducing carbon emissions. It also provides benefits for public health. In a more global approach to public spending, it is essential to note that investment dedicated to energy renovation allows savings, or even substantial gains, to be made in other areas. The French Barometer of Healthy Buildings 2024 indicates that:

• poor housing generates 1 billion euros in direct health costs and 20 billion euros in indirect costs (absenteeism, sick leave, loss of productivity),
• Large-scale energy renovation of housing could result in savings of more than 750 million for the health system.

The installation of new generation double glazed windows, with high energy performance and equipped with UV filtration technologies, ensures a real improvement in summer comfort in the home.

* Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion - Data 10/2022
** Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion - Data 01/2023

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.