This report includes a survey carried out by OnePoll among 14.000 people in seven countries in Europe (Denmark, France, Poland, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom) and the United States *. The latter testifies to an international consensus on the issue of energy renovation. All agree on the need to take action.
ROCKWOOL Group CEO Jens Birgersson says: “It may be a cliché, but it is also a truth: the cheapest, cleanest and safest energy is the energy we don't use. World leaders need to remember that ideas are cheap, but energy is expensive. If we prioritize renovation, we send a clear message: we are investing in the future of people and our planet. And it is a winning formula that we can act on now. "
International consensus on the need for energy renovation of buildings
Under conditions of benefiting from appropriate support and advice, 79% of those questioned (vs. 70% in France) would renovate their housing.
In addition, a large proportion of respondents (73% overall and 75% in France) believe that energy improvement in buildings should be mandatory provided that financial and administrative support is available.
Who receives the bill for energy renovation?
62% (vs. 64% in France) of those polled consider that the social responsibility to make housing more environmentally friendly lies with individuals, provided that governments make it easier for homeowners to access financing already available. housing. 51% of them (vs. 47% in France) cite the budget as the main obstacle to renovation and 53% (vs. 51% in France) think that governments should support the renovation of housing with subsidies or ready.
Note that in France, state aid schemes, including the main MaPrimeRénov ', offer financial support. Proof that France is ahead by already offering adapted measures for individuals, depending on their income.
Jens Birgersson continues: “Money is not the problem. While there will always be a debate about the costs of climate action - and hopefully the costs of inaction as well - the point is that there is enough money for building renovations. and other green investments. And renovation, in itself, does not come under basic research. It requires the use of well known materials and construction practices. This is a great advantage. The question is to connect sources of funding and field projects and to ensure that we have a qualified workforce ”.
Lack of information, enemy of the energy transition
Even though they believe that price is the main obstacle to the energy renovation of their home, 30% of French people are still not aware of the financial benefits linked to improving the energy efficiency of their home. Only 11% of French people say they are sufficiently informed on how to apply for financial assistance, where to find advice and qualified craftsmen. In addition, some feel a sense of fear in the face of unskilled craftsmen (25%) or insufficient installation (21%).
Well aware of these obstacles, ROCKWOOL has developed tools such as the 3D visualization system which helps individuals to better understand the renovation or an interactive advice platform which allows individuals to be put in touch with recommended RGE craftsmen. Faced with the needs and fears expressed, we must go further. ROCKWOOL and Cambridge Econometrics encourage policymakers to develop long-term retrofit programs to support manufacturers in planning their production and training installers, but also to encourage collaboration with banks to combine public subsidies and low-cost loans. interest rate in order to facilitate the procedures of households.
Jon Stenning, Associate Director at Cambridge Econometrics, says: “The renovation of the built environment is a key challenge on the road to decarbonizing our economies. The consumer survey conducted for this report shows their strong appetite for renovation but also the need to do much more to connect financing and renovation projects. A well-designed policy can play a major role in bringing the entire value chain together, ensuring the targeting of resources and helping to build capacity and interest at the local level to secure the benefits of energy retrofitting. ".
* OnePoll survey, conducted from September 16 to 27, 2021, in 7 countries. Representative panel France: 2000.