The French and heating: what changes in attitudes and behaviors since 2018?

In 2018, Eni and IFOP conducted a first study aimed at finding out more about the behaviors, small gestures and habits of the French with regard to their "heating consumption". In 2022, in this difficult energy context, Eni and IFOP are relaunching this survey and are interested in changes in French behavior and perception since 2018.

Ideal interior temperature, podium of rooms where it must be hot, small gestures to reduce the energy bill, energy renovation work, use of auxiliary heaters... have the French people changed their relationship to heating since 2018? How do they react to government announcements and the “19°C rule”? Are they better students in terms of energy saving?

We learn that the French are more and more sensitive to energy savings, to the point of reducing their comfort and have an increasingly reasoned use of heating. On the energy renovation side, if the enthusiasm is significant, the completion of the work in the short term is not planned. As for the 19°C rule… Even though it is lower than the ideal temperature for the French, it was able to convince: 70% of the French people surveyed intend to apply this instruction and 63% consider this declaration justified.

For Frédéric DABI, Managing Director of the IFOP: “The Prime Minister's message, perceived as legitimate by a majority of French people, is the sign of a real collective awareness. Measured adherence to the 19°C setpoint is in fact the corollary of a longer-term process of gradual adoption of behaviors intended to reduce energy expenditure. The energy crisis announced for this winter, on the other hand, has accelerated this process, and undeniably reinforced the heating habits of his home which had already been observed in 2018.

For Benoît IGNACE, Deputy Managing Director of Eni: “While energy has always been a major concern, ecological awareness coupled with the energy crisis have made it a major issue for the French. Launched in 2018, the “ENI – IFOP, the French and heating” survey provides a better understanding of the French people's relationship to their energy consumption and above all to identify the challenges of tomorrow. This new edition sheds new light on the need to assist the French with energy efficiency work because while nearly 50% plan to carry out energy improvement work, only 8% plan to do so in the short term, whereas it is a major lever for energy savings… It is urgent to support consumers and this is the mission that Eni has set itself for several years. »

In addition to this great national vision, the Eni – Ifop survey also makes it possible to observe the main regional characteristics, heating not escaping the phenomenon of “territorial borders”.

Find full survey here.