New study sees number of 'energy strainers' on the rise

According to the new method of calculating the energy performance diagnosis (DPE), which since 2021 labels housing from A to G according to their energy consumption and their level of greenhouse gas emissions, 17,3% of the stock of main residences are classified F or G.

In January 2018, the ONRE estimated the number of energy strainers at 4,8 million among main residences, or 16,7% of the stock.

According to the new study published in July, approximately 1,5 million main residences (5% of the stock) are, on the contrary, considered to be "low energy consumers", labeled A or B by the DPE.

The share of energy strainers is higher among second homes (32%, or 1,2 million homes) and among vacant homes (27%, or 0,8 million homes).

The mode of heating and the characteristics of the accommodation (surface, date of construction, etc.) “influence energy performance”, specifies the study.

Thus, "44% of dwellings heated by fuel oil are classified F or G (...) On the contrary, dwellings heated by gas or wood and by a heating network appear to be more energy efficient (respectively 12% and 13% of labels F and G)", according to ONRE.

In addition, "the smallest dwellings are the most energy-intensive": nearly 34% of dwellings of less than 30m2 have an F or G label, compared to 13% of dwellings of more than 100m2.

Energy sieves are also more common among individual houses than among collective housing, and in private housing than in social housing.