The FFB Window Division makes proposals to consolidate energy renovation work

The FFB (Fédération Française du Bâtiment)* Window Cluster brings together five professional organizations representing the activities of windows, glazed facades, verandas, glazing, shutters and blinds. With renovation as its primary market (more than 70% of construction sites), this French sector innovates, invests and creates jobs. With approximately 1.200 ETIs and industrial SMEs, manufacturers of windows and components, as well as 51.000 SMEs and craftsmen, manufacturers and installers spread throughout the territory, it represents nearly 240.000 employees, managers and self-employed workers.

In view of the current consumption of the French stock of buildings to be renovated, and the possible energy savings in the medium term, the Pôle Fenêtre FFB wishes to be associated and contribute to the work of the Government. It thus intends to participate in the debates and work with the Ministries in order to co-construct the French energy sobriety plan. The FFB Window Cluster aims to promote windows and solar protection in financial incentives, while limiting budgetary impacts. The Pôle Fenêtre FFB has already presented two initial proposals concerning housing and tertiary buildings.

Why is the renovation of windows fundamental in the energy sobriety plan?

For professional organizations grouped around the Pôle Fenêtre FFB: “The interest of replacing windows in renovation actions to achieve energy sobriety in buildings has already been demonstrated. Depending on their surfaces, losses from old joinery represent 15 to 40% of the building's total losses. Replacing old joinery with high-performance products can reduce heating needs by up to 30%. In absolute value, this reduction can represent up to 60 kW/m2/year, that is to say more than 25% of the improvement necessary to bring a dwelling from 300 to 80 kW/m2/year. In addition, in collective housing, it is the only individual work station to which households have access. Finally, it is a gesture of thermal renovation which is carried out in the short term with immediate effects. »

With the approach of winter, the priority of households, professionals and the State is above all to consider savings in heating consumption. The replacement of the windows makes it possible to insulate a large part of the external envelope of the building and offers free heat contributions thanks to solar contributions in winter. The saving is directly visible on the energy bill and avoids a restriction plan. These renovations are accessible to a large number of French households.

Moreover, after having experienced several episodes of heat waves, it is now essential to control interior temperatures and limit solar gain in summer. Thanks to the shutters and blinds associated with it, the bay window has thus contributed to reducing the need for cold. It is the only equipment to offer the possibility of night cooling without energy consumption. Its efficiency can be improved by installing sunscreens that limit the entry of cold and heat loss in winter. They also make it possible to control solar gains in summer, and the use of air conditioning. The total replacement of joinery also contributes to a substantial saving in lighting thanks to the increase in clear glazing.

Proposals on financial incentives in order to consolidate energy renovation

Today, the financial incentives do not make it possible to massiveize the energy renovation taking into account the too important remainder to be paid and the complexity of some of them. The FFB Window Center presents several proposals for housing and the tertiary sector:

For housing

The financial incentive measures dedicated to the energy renovation of buildings are all based on the eligibility conditions of MaPrimeRénov'.

The FFB Window Center proposes a reorganization of the eligibility conditions in order to allow a greater number of households, whose purchasing power is today strongly impacted, to access this aid and support.

This reorganization could be based on simplifying the conditions of eligibility for financial aid and incentives from the State, banking organizations and local authorities:

Some examples of proposals from the FFB Window Center:

• a universal lump sum, applicable from the “modest means test” level,
• an increase in the universal package for very low incomes,
• the abolition of the distribution of the conditions of resources by regions of France,
• the abolition of the obligation to replace single glazing. Today, nearly a third of the windows replaced are equipped with old generation double glazing whose thermal insulation performance is no longer suited to the energy saving objectives adopted by France,
• taking into account the renovation of the entrance doors leading to the outside,
• the maintenance of eco-conditionality (obligation of the RGE mention for the implementation companies).

The FFB Window Cluster asks that in return for the efforts demanded from manufacturers and households, the VAT applicable to the renovation work on joinery (exterior doors, windows and shutters) remains at the reduced rate of 5,5% without any particular condition.

Considering the growing share of air conditioning consumption in housing, the Pôle Fenêtre FFB also proposes that a “thermal comfort” component be integrated into the public policy of energy renovation of housing.

For the tertiary sector

The possible postponement in the application of the Tertiary Eco Energy system seems difficult to accept given the source of energy savings for buildings.

The FFB Window Pole asks to consider an entry into force in January 2023.

The profession is working on the creation of standardized Energy Savings Certificates (EEC) sheets, dedicated to glass facades and solar protection in tertiary buildings. The other standardized CEE window sheets for housing and the service sector are currently being revised: the sector is also asking for them to be upgraded.