The climate engineering equipment sector calls for a clear direction and greater stability to relaunch energy renovation

As the fight against climate change remains a major challenge for which France continues to display strong ambitions, the professional sector is asking the public authorities to remain pragmatic.

Thus, large-scale and single-action energy renovations are two highly complementary levers for action. Whether it involves replacing a generator or undertaking a range of work, each action contributes to reducing consumption and emissions.

And today, nothing prevents us from including single-action measures in a coherent and intelligent perspective, thanks to a high-performance renovation process in successive stages that Uniclima and its partners are calling for.

On the occasion of the Renodays forum which takes place on October 7 and 8, 2025 at Paris Porte de Versailles, all united under the same banner, Uniclima and its partners highlight the need for a strong commitment from public authorities around two key axes:

• The need to maintain public investment in 2026 in favor of a virtuous energy renovation dynamic for the French economy.
• The implementation of a renovation process in successive stages which will make it possible to include different single-step renovation actions with a view to efficient renovation.

For Stanislas Lacroix, President of Uniclima: "Faced with climate challenges and the persistent market decline, our sector remains mobilized. Technical solutions exist and can act immediately to improve comfort, indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and reduce the carbon footprint. At the same time, they fit perfectly into a phased, high-performance renovation process, allowing households to progress at their own pace while ensuring the efficiency of the work undertaken. We also call for the MaPrimeRénov' budget to be maintained in 2026, which is essential to support this momentum and ensure the continuity of renovations."

Two priority messages addressed to public authorities

Maintain an ambitious public aid envelope in 2026

Energy renovation aid, particularly MaPrimeRénov', should be considered a strategic investment for the future and not a government expense. Remember that one euro of aid invested in renovations per action generates an average of four euros of work in 2025.

This work also generates:

• A reduction in France's dependence on imported energy
• Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
• Increased economic activity for companies in the sector
• Tax revenue for the State (VAT, jobs, activity, etc.)
• Added value and jobs in the region, particularly in industry

Uniclima and its partners are therefore asking the public authorities to guarantee in 2026 an envelope of aid for energy renovation at least equivalent to that of 2025 (3,4 billion euros for MaPrimeRénov').

It is also necessary to maintain a balance between piecemeal renovation and large-scale renovation, in order to maintain momentum and avoid a further slowdown in the markets, already weakened by two consecutive years of decline.

Recognize a high-performance renovation process in stages

Large-scale renovation and renovation by gesture are two complementary and necessary paths.

• Major renovation should be prioritized when technically and economically possible.
• Renovation by gesture should allow households to progress at their own pace, according to their investment capacity.

Every action, whether it's replacing a generator, improving insulation or installing efficient equipment, immediately contributes to reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Uniclima and its partners are campaigning for the implementation of an efficient renovation process in successive stages, based on:

• An energy audit
• A renovation passport specific to each home
• A progressive payment of increased aid based on a certain number of steps completed within a given timeframe

This pragmatic approach would make it possible to mobilize more households by encouraging them to continue their virtuous work approach and to include each technical action in a coherent perspective of decarbonization.

Equipment perfectly compatible with a renovation process in successive stages

Several studies and practical cases demonstrate that it is possible to carry out efficient renovations in successive stages in different work orders without harming the final result.

Replacing an older-generation generator with a newer, much more efficient one immediately generates savings, both on energy bills and carbon footprint. A wide range of generator technologies can therefore be used, before or after thermal insulation work. Pragmatism must therefore prevail, depending on each situation and individual priorities.

Heat pumps

Installing a heat pump is one of the most effective solutions for reducing household energy consumption, improving thermal comfort, and accelerating the decarbonization of buildings (ONRE study). A recent Ademe measurement campaign demonstrated that the performance of the heat pump is not degraded if thermal insulation work is carried out after its installation. On the contrary, it becomes more efficient: lower water law, reduced use of back-up heating, less frequent operating cycles, etc.

Biomass boilers

Modern wood boilers, both automatic and log-fired, are compatible with all emitters and have very high efficiencies regardless of the outside temperature conditions or the quality of the building's thermal insulation. If the installation of a wood boiler is the first step in a high-performance renovation in stages, the boiler, thanks to its modulation and adjustment capacity or its buffer storage volume, will be able to adapt to the future improvement of the building's thermal performance, and its reduced demand will further extend its lifespan.

Solar heat

Solar heat is free energy that is stored in a tank when it is available. The coverage rate of solar heat compared to heating needs will be all the better if heat losses are reduced through thermal insulation after the equipment is installed.

Mechanical ventilation

Mechanical ventilation provides the air renewal strictly necessary to maintain good IAQ and preserve the health of occupants and the durability of the building, thus optimizing the energy consumption of buildings. Professionals recommend systematically incorporating it into all renovation work to ensure these fundamentals.

Refrigerants

National and European regulations regarding refrigerants are undergoing significant changes to take the next step toward reducing environmental impacts. These new considerations must be integrated into all renovation operations. Solutions exist depending on the configurations that combine environmental benefits and safety.

Hot water loop

Highly appreciated, particularly in collective residential or rural areas, the hot water loop which distributes heating in many buildings, is compatible with most energy efficiency and decarbonization solutions, from heat pumps to biomass or biofuel boilers.

The climate engineering sector remains under pressure

After two years of marked decline in equipment sales, the trend at the end of August 2025 shows no signs of significant improvement.

Explicative note

The figures presented in this press kit reflect industrial sales in volume. These data are not always directly comparable to the markets for installation and maintenance, whether new or renovated.

For a large proportion of products, manufacturers' sales are directed to distributors who themselves market the equipment locally. This scenario is the norm for all small and medium-power products. These data can therefore also be influenced by stockpiling or destocking phenomena in distribution.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.