A parliamentary report calls for a “paradigm shift” in energy renovation

The report, which formulates 47 proposals, is the result of an information mission by the National Assembly led by deputies Julie Laernoes (ecologist) and Marjolaine Meynier-Millefert (Renaissance).

Building is the fourth sector that emits the most greenhouse gases.

“The energy renovation objectives of buildings constitute an energy, climatic and social imperative”, underline the rapporteurs.

However, France consumed on average 13,8 kgep/m2 (kilogram oil equivalent per m2) for heating in 2017, compared to an average of only 9,8 kgep/m2 in the European Union.

Among the recommendations, the report calls for the examination "as quickly as possible" of the energy climate programming bill (LPEC) and recommends giving priority to insulation and reducing energy consumption.

France has 7,2 million energy sieves. By 2050, 95% of the housing stock must undergo comprehensive and efficient renovation, which requires renovating 500.000 homes per year from 2017 then 900.000 from 2030.

But the majority of renovations carried out are not “high-performance comprehensive renovations”. In particular, too high an out-of-pocket cost and an aid system which favors "monogesters" such as changing the heating system.

To speed things up, the deputies propose to evaluate the "decision-making processes" in co-ownerships and to impose renovation work on the most energy-intensive (classified F and G).

On the other hand, according to them, the building deserves "to move away from 'all electric'" while electricity is the most consumed energy in the residential sector, with 34% of the total ahead of gas (29%) in 2021.

Another observation: the weakness of the network of companies specializing in energy renovation and the lack of qualified labor. In this regard, the rapporteurs propose the launch of planned housing improvement operations.

Concerning the financing of the work and the remaining costs which sometimes reach "several tens of thousands of euros", the deputies call for a "very substantial and rapid increase in public spending in favor of energy renovation".

The State should therefore increase its spending in this area by 14 billion euros per year and set quantified objectives for the distribution of the zero-rate eco-loan, which is currently underused.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.