Decarbonization of buildings: analysis and proposals for Balance of Energy

(Summary of the contribution of Équilibre des Énergies to the Government consultation available: HERE)

The business association unveils its proposals around a three-part strategy: display a clear objective: reduce CO2 emissions, implement regulatory and incentive actions adapted to the objective, adopt relevant monitoring indicators in adjusting the DPE.

For Brice Lalonde, former Minister of the Environment and President of Équilibre des Énergies: “For decades, the French heated with coal, then came fuel oil and then gas. Now is the time to transition to climate-friendly systems. Electricity and the heat pump are on the front line. »

The need to renovate housing is not disputed by anyone. French real estate assets are of poor quality, energy consumption for heating weighs on the French budget, greenhouse gas emissions are still far too high and gas supplies are subject to significant uncertainties.

Some would like to immediately impose global renovations. But the sums to be mobilized would be considerable. The account will never be there to respect the European obligations (Fit for 55) to which France has subscribed. The best is the enemy of the good: renovation in stages should not be excluded.

Others dream of seeing biogas replace natural gas. But biogas is rare and expensive. It must be reserved for much more rewarding uses than being burned in a boiler.

Balance of Energy offers a realistic three-pronged strategy

Display a clear objective: reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Climate change requires that priority be given to reducing emissions which is not currently happening at the necessary pace. However, France has made strong commitments. To meet them, the pace of emissions reduction must practically double.

It is essential that this objective is clearly stated by the government and becomes the common thread of all the actions implemented.

Implement regulatory and incentive actions focused on this objective

The share of fossil fuels in buildings remains high (41,6%) and is only decreasing by 0,5% per year. The use of carbon-free energies (electricity, renewable heat) is therefore an absolute priority to reduce emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. Heat pumps constitute the reference solution to be developed. Their impact on the electricity peak will remain marginal and French manufacturers are the leaders in Europe.

• The development of electricity uses must be clearly displayed as a major orientation of the next energy-climate law. Regulatory obstacles (notably regulations expressed in primary energy) must be removed.
• Heat pumps must be the subject of an incentive program to accelerate their deployment, covering industry, innovation and training aspects. Objective: 10 million homes equipped with heat pumps in 2030.
• The renewal of gas equipment must be discouraged: creation of a bonus for the conversion of boilers and disincentives (notably tax) for their installation.
• The eradication of thermal sieves must be refocused on homes heated with fossil fuels.

Monitor progress made by a readjusted DPE

The energy performance diagnosis (DPE) must guide the French towards the best renovation actions and make it possible to measure the progress made. The analysis of the two million DPEs carried out in 2022 leads to several recommendations:

• the DPE must stop penalizing homes heated with electricity, including heat pumps, the use of which we wish to expand;
• the thresholds relating to greenhouse gas emissions must be more restrictive;
• the treatment of small dwellings must be reconsidered because they are unfairly penalized;
• energy savings linked to the installation of efficient energy management and ventilation systems must be better exploited.