Energy renovation of buildings: the Court of Auditors curbs the government

“The Court finds insufficient coherence in the articulation” of public policies for the energy renovation of buildings, she underlines in this text of which AFP has received a copy.

The very notion of renovation remains "imprecise" and the "frequent reforms" of the sector have harmed "the readability" of the systems put in place, adds the Court of Auditors.

She points in particular to "inconsistencies" between administrations, such as "urban planning rules" which lead the decentralized services of the Ministry of Culture or certain local authorities to "prohibit energy renovation work in city centers or around historical monuments".

“The policy of energy renovation of buildings lacks strong and effective management and an efficient public service of support throughout the national territory”, deplores the Court.

In her written response, posted online by the Court, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne argues for the tightening of the management carried out since January with the launch of a public housing renovation service France Renov', which according to her offers " neutral and independent information, advice and support".

"1.800 France Renov' advisers, spread over more than 500 Advice Spaces, welcome our fellow citizens throughout the national territory to answer their questions and help them with their projects", says Ms. Borne.

The Court of Auditors considers for its part that this new entity "has not yet made it possible to clarify the roles and missions of the different structures".

"Efforts must still be made to continue simplifying the accumulation of aid between them, and to consolidate the coherence of the system as a whole around investment aid focused on the most efficient works and favoring the most modest households" , admits the Prime Minister in her response.

She promises the deployment of a "simplified course" for the end of 2022, making it possible to "couple the benefit of MaPrimeRénov' and the zero-rate eco-loan" and ensures that her government intends "to achieve in 2024 an even simpler system , more readable, and which encourages more to carry out efficient and global energy renovations".

This exchange comes after the denunciation by the Defender of Rights on October 17 of "serious malfunctions in the public aid mechanism" for energy renovation MaPrimeRénov', set up in 2020 and piloted by the National Housing Agency ( Anah).

This device aims to help low-income French people renovate their homes to reduce their energy consumption and their CO2 emissions, but the online procedures are marred by numerous malfunctions denounced by the Defender of Rights.