The need for a change of scale to accelerate the energy renovation of housing

Even today, nearly 5 million homes - referred to as "energy sieves" - are poorly insulated, and 3,8 million households have difficulty paying their heating bills. In this context, the Cetelem Observatory Barometer on the energy renovation of housing analyses the perception of the French with regard to their housing, as well as the motivations and obstacles that come into play in the acceleration of the energy transformation of housing.

French people satisfied with their housing

89% of French people consider themselves generally satisfied with their housing, with 4 out of 10 of them placing comfort at the top of their satisfaction criteria. The location of the accommodation, in particular its proximity to shops and services, as well as its price are also cited as important criteria.

However, there is one shadow that tarnishes this picture: the energy bill, with 33% of Europeans noting that it has increased significantly over the last 12 months, and 38% considering it excessive in relation to their usage. This feeling is even more marked among the French: 44% of them consider that their energy bill has increased significantly, and one in two consider it excessive. A situation that is exacerbated by the fact that nearly 7 out of 10 French people fear a crisis in their purchasing power in the coming year. As a result, whether they are owners or tenants, 36% of them are faced with difficulties related to their housing expenses.

Simple but insufficient efforts to achieve real energy savings

Following the rise in energy costs, the French are looking to control their consumption. 56% of them believe that their energy budget can be optimised. Without being prepared to give up their comfort, they adopt simple, common sense and easy-to-reach actions on a daily basis to reduce their consumption, such as turning off the lights when leaving a room (79%), closing windows and shutters when it is cold or very hot (63%), installing low-energy light bulbs (57%)... and only 43% lower the temperature of their heating by one or more degrees in winter. However, these efforts are considered by 45% of French people to be insufficient to achieve significant energy savings.

Energy renovation: a key lever for reducing the French people’s energy bills

Energy renovation is essential to enable the French to reduce their energy bills. 45% of them have already undertaken energy renovation work in the last 3 years and 26% plan to do so within 3 years. Their main motivations are saving money (38%), improving the comfort of their home (31%) or ecological conviction (16%).

Window replacement (41%) comes first among the renovation works carried out, followed by insulation work (33%), the installation of photovoltaic panels (23%) or a heat pump (22%), and the replacement of a boiler (20%).

These works nevertheless remain limited, both in terms of the budget invested (56% of owners invest less than €10.000) and the impact sought (only 16% believe they will succeed in reducing their energy consumption by more than 25%).

Raise awareness, inform, support: the triptych to accelerate energy renovation

This limitation of work is linked to a feeling of energy waste (poor insulation, excessive energy consumption, few good reflexes implemented, etc.) which remains underestimated by the French. Indeed, only 34% of owners express a strong feeling of energy waste. This perception is partly due to a lack of knowledge of the energy performance of their home: although 67% of owners say they know their DPE (Energy Performance Diagnostic), the highest figure among the European countries studied, 25% of them overestimate it by classifying it in category A or B.

The study shows a correlation between the feeling of energy waste and the desire to carry out work: 35% of French people wishing to carry out renovation work express a strong feeling of energy waste, compared to only 21% of those who do not plan to carry out work.

Although 72% of French people say they are aware of the existence of public aid for energy renovation, only 21% know exactly what it consists of. This lack of knowledge translates into financing of the work being mainly self-financed, with 46% drawing on their savings, while 31% take out a loan, and only 31% actually use this public aid. In addition, the French feel insufficiently informed about the different phases of a renovation project, with only 52% declaring themselves "well informed" about the potential savings they could make, 47% about the stakeholders to contact, 46% about the amount to invest, and 45% about the aid available.

For Flavien NEUVY, Director of the Cetelem Observatory: "The energy renovation of housing in France is facing a major challenge: the need to change scale. It is by intensifying their efforts that all stakeholders, united, will be able to support the French in the necessary conversion of the housing stock. Together, we will be able to respond to the climate and economic challenges that are looming. Raising awareness of energy waste and the benefits of renovation is a crucial issue to accelerate the pace of decarbonization of housing. A better understanding of their DPE, for example, could encourage more owners to undertake more ambitious renovations, especially since in 2034, all E-rated housing, after F in 2028, G in 2025 and G+ since 2023, will be excluded from the rental market."

For Charlotte DENNERY, Administrator, Managing Director of BNP Paribas Personal Finance: "The sustainable energy performance of housing in France is an absolute priority to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. According to the Cetelem Observatory, the French want to act, but lack information and support to define and finance their projects. In a context of unprecedented budgetary tension, BNP Paribas Personal Finance is committed to supporting them to improve their living conditions and their carbon footprint. For more than 20 years, we have been supporting individuals and professionals in financing the energy renovation of housing, this is a major objective included in our strategic plan. Our ambition is to double our production volume to reach 5 billion euros of green outstandings by 2025, thus contributing to the acceleration of the pace of decarbonization of housing."

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.