Soaring gas and fuel prices: what solutions to avoid an explosion in the heating bill?

For families heated by gas and oil, on the front line in the face of soaring prices, Effy takes stock of the most effective solutions to contain their budget and their cost.

For Audrey Zermati, Effy Strategy Director: "The war should unfortunately weigh heavily and for a long time on the price of gas and fuel oil. At the moment T, no one can really estimate either how far or how far these prices will increase. Families therefore have every interest to consider as of today sustainable solutions to deal with the increase in tariffs.The objective is to achieve energy savings that will make it possible to best neutralize these increases, while maintaining the same quality of life at home. "

Case 1. For a family that heats with gas, neutralize a 50% increase in tariffs

• A family of 4 with middle income (≤ €79.041 in IdF, ≤ €60.336 outside IdF)
• Lives in an 80m² pavilion with energy class E
• Heated by gas with a conventional gas boiler
• Its annual bill for 2021 was €1.482 for a consumption of 14.000 kWh

To neutralize a 50% increase in prices and reduce its energy consumption by at least half, the family must combine three actions: the insulation of the attics, the insulation of the floors and the installation of a THPE gas boiler (Very High Energy Performance).

• Estimate of the overall cost of the works, excluding aid: 8.000 €
• Amount of aid (EEC premiums): 1.735 €
• Amount of the remainder payable: 6.265 €
• Return on investment in years: 5,6
• Annual invoice 2021: 1482 €
• Invoice 2022 (gas tariff + 50% vs. 2021) without carrying out the work: 2.223 €
• Invoice 2022 (gas tariff + 50% vs. 2021) by carrying out the work: 1.111 €

Case 2. For a modest family that heats with oil, to face prices that have doubled

• A family of 4 with low incomes (≤ €52.925 in IdF, ≤ €40.201 outside IdF)
• Occupies a 100m² house classified as a thermal sieve
• She heats up with oil
• Its annual bill for 2021 was €2.000 for a consumption of 2.000L / year

To "neutralize" a 100% increase in the prices observed at the moment, the family must opt ​​for the thermal insulation of the lost attic and the replacement of the oil boiler by a heat pump which allow at least to divide by two home energy consumption.

• Estimate of the overall cost of the works, excluding aid: 13.540€
• Amount of aid (MaPrimeRénov', CEE premiums): 7.450€
• Amount of the remainder payable: 6.090€
• Return on investment in years: 3
• Annual invoice 2021: 2.000€
• Invoice 2022 (gas tariff + 50% vs 2021) without carrying out the works: 4.000€
• Invoice 2022 (gas tariff + 50% vs 2021) by carrying out the works: 1.000€

Switch to wood heating or self-consumption: more and more French people want to turn away from fossil fuels

Soaring energy prices logically encourage many families to question their mode of energy consumption at home. The war in Ukraine has further exacerbated these questions. Effy has seen an increase of almost 35% in the volume of requests for information in one week.

The requests reveal an increasingly clear propensity of the French to consider turning away from fossil fuels. Requests for heat pumps increased by nearly 70%; + 75% for wood boilers and + 44% on solar self-consumption.

For Audrey Zermati, Effy Strategy Director: "We understand very well that the French are looking for solutions to overcome these energy price increases which can weigh heavily on the family budget. Before thinking about changing heating energy or opting for photovoltaic self-consumption, we invite families to first check the quality of their home's insulation. This is the first step in a successful energy renovation project."