Following on from the Abbé Pierre Foundation's report calling for tackling the issue of summer energy poverty head on, IGNES unveils an unprecedented analysis of the DPE's "summer comfort" indicator based on ADEME data[1].
Carried out by POUGET Consultants, this study shows that only 1 in 10 housing units referenced in the ADEME DPE database is sufficiently adapted to high heat according to the DPE indicator, due in particular to the lack of exterior solar protection and air fans. , an observation which also concerns energy-efficient housing.
With significant errors noted and an incomplete methodology, IGNES calls on public authorities to engage in work with professionals and manufacturers to enrich this indicator.
A small minority of housing adapted to high heat
The study shows that only 1 in 10 homes analyzed is sufficiently adapted in the sense of the DPE “summer comfort” indicator.
Nearly half of the homes belong to the last class, “insufficient”, mainly due to the lack of exterior solar protection (on bays facing South, East and West) which concerns almost 1 in 2 homes. Only 5% accommodations are equipped with an air fan.
The study highlights that energy-efficient housing does not systematically guarantee good summer comfort, far from it. Thus, 31% of housing classified A is considered “insufficient” with regard to summer comfort, and only 10% reach the “good” level.
An educational tool that deserves to be improved to establish it as a reference indicator
The study reveals an error rate of 26% in the rating of housing linked to the poor application of the rules for calculating the indicator.
It also highlights an over-representation of housing with an “insufficient” indicator in rural areas, yet less at risk of overheating and heat island effects, a consequence of not taking into account the location (local climate, environment close, presence of mask,...).
The absence of consideration of the performance of construction equipment and materials (type and automation of mobile protections, level of insulation, etc.) denotes the processing of information for the calculation of the energy class.
For Anne-Sophie PERRISSIN-FABERT, General Delegate of IGNES: “The massive adaptation of housing begins with the ability to provide information allowing everyone to understand the quality of their housing with regard to summer comfort. The DPE “summer comfort” indicator could constitute this emblematic tool for the general public. We call on public authorities to bring together professionals in the sector as quickly as possible to work on its improvement. »
[1] The results have not been adjusted and are therefore not representative of the French housing stock.
Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.
