40% of French households have chosen gas for their domestic heating: how to anticipate and transition from the end of gas to responsible energies?

This is particularly the case for gas, the energy most used for heating, which is highly subject to new standards which force its implementation. We may fear that these regulations extend to all buildings. It is therefore necessary to turn today to new sources of energy that are more environmentally friendly.

What solutions to improve its energy efficiency?

There are different solutions to improve the energy efficiency of your home:

• Improve insulation: Good insulation is essential to keep the heat inside the house during the winter and outside during the summer. You can insulate the walls, the roof, the floors and also opt for double-glazed windows.
• Use renewable energy: Installing solar panels can help you generate your own electricity. Solar water heaters can also be an interesting option.
• Opt for efficient lighting: Replace traditional bulbs with LED bulbs, which are much more efficient and last longer.
• Automation and smart controls: Replace old heating and cooling systems with more modern and efficient ones. Installing a smart thermostat can help reduce energy consumption by adapting heating and cooling to your needs. Likewise, energy management systems can help control and optimize energy use throughout the home.

This is why myEko radiators have advanced energy saving functions: when they detect an absence or an open window, they switch off automatically to avoid wasting energy. With smart scheduling and 100% connected remote control, you can avoid unnecessary energy waste and ensure you only heat the rooms you need.

The hestiia app provides real-time energy consumption data, allowing you to track your energy usage and adjust your heating settings to your liking. Improved airtightness: Airtightness is an often overlooked aspect of energy efficiency. Make sure your home is well sealed to prevent air leaks. Energy usage habits: Finally, even the little things, like turning off the lights when you leave a room, can add up to help reduce your energy use.

Financing: what aid is offered by the government in favor of the energy transition?

MaPrimeRénov' is the main state aid for energy renovation. It is accessible to all owners, regardless of their income. Only its amount varies according to their income and the ecological gain of the work.

Since April 15, 2022, the Ma Prime Rénov' aid granted for the installation of a virtuous heating system (biomass boilers or heat pumps, to get out of gas or fuel oil) has been increased by €1.000.

MaPrimeRénov' Serenity

For low-income and very low-income households, the MaPrimeRénov' Sérénité aid finances comprehensive renovation work allowing energy savings of at least 35%. The aid covers up to 35% or 50% of the cost of the works. In addition, with MaPrimeRénov' Sérénité, the owner benefits from systematic and individualized support so that they are no longer alone with the work and the procedures.

MaPrimeRénov' Condominium

In order to accelerate the energy renovation of 9,7 million collective housing units, MaPrimeRénov' Copropriété is accessible to all condominiums. It thus simplifies the financing of work in common areas (insulation of facades, waterproofing of roof terraces, replacement of the collective heating system, etc.), thanks to a single collective aid, allocated to the syndicate of co-owners and directly deducted from the quota -part of the works.

“Boost” aid for heating and insulation (CEE)

All households can benefit from “boosting” aid. They are increased for households with modest and very modest incomes. This system aims to help individuals get out of fossil fuels, insulate their homes and thus significantly reduce their heating bills.

With the heating programmer bonus, via the energy saving certificates program (EEC), the State offers support of up to €65 per household for the installation of a programmer on an existing boiler.

There are also different loans to improve your home:

The zero-rate Eco-loan is a loan with zero interest rate and accessible without conditions of resources, to finance work to improve energy performance, up to €50.000.

Social housing eco-loan (eco-PLS)

The social housing Eco-loan is available to social landlords and is presented as a loan for an amount of €9.000 to €22.000 per dwelling.

As well as other loans helping to renovate your property in favor of the ecological transition:

• The loan on the Sustainable Development Booklet
• The social access loan
• Loans from energy distributors
• home improvement loan

Gas dependency: how to anticipate and transition to alternative solutions?

Anticipating and transitioning to alternative solutions to gas for heating homes can be a challenge, but there are several potential solutions:

Heat pumps use electricity to move heat from one place to another, instead of generating heat directly like a gas heater does. They can be a very efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to gas heating, especially when coupled with renewable electricity sources.

Electric heating may also be an option, especially in areas where gas is not available. Please note that the cost of electricity can be higher than that of gas, so it is important to optimize the insulation of the house to reduce the amount of heating required.

In sunny areas, solar heating is a viable option. Solar heating systems use the sun's energy to heat water or air which is then used to heat the house.

Biomass heating systems use organic materials like wood or pellets to produce heat. They can be a more sustainable option, in

especially in areas where these materials are abundant. Unfortunately, they are often a back-up solution.

Geothermal heating uses heat from the earth to heat your home. These systems are expensive to install, but very efficient and can provide long-term heating at low cost.

How to find the right solution for your home?

To find the right heating solution for your home, you must take into account several factors:

The characteristics of the habitat: The size of the house, its age, its insulation and the region in which it is located can all influence the most suitable type of heating. Larger homes require more powerful heating systems, while poorly insulated homes can benefit from improved insulation to reduce heating needs.

Availability of energy resources: The availability of gas, electricity, fuel or other energy sources in your area may influence your choice. For example, in some rural areas, natural gas may not be available, making gas heating unviable.

The cost of installation and operation: The cost of installing the heating system and ongoing operating costs (such as the cost of fuel or electricity) can vary considerably. Electric heating systems may cost less to install than gas or oil systems, but may cost more to operate.

Your personal preferences and environmental considerations: You may have preferences for a particular type of heater. Some like the warmth of wood burning, while others prefer the comfort of central heating. Environmental considerations can also play a role, especially if you want to reduce your carbon footprint.

How does technology make it possible to offer new sources of innovative energy?

In the context of the energy transition, technological advances now offer high-performance alternatives for sustainable and environmentally friendly heating. From the heat pump, capturing energy from the air or the ground, to solar heating, exploiting the inexhaustible energy of the sun, we have at our disposal solutions with high energy efficiency.

State-of-the-art technologies also allow the storage of thermal energy for deferred use, thus optimizing consumption. At the same time, the development of insulation materials contributes to limiting heat loss, increasing the efficiency of these systems.

And of course the integration of information technologies in our homes and energy networks, with Smart Grids and Smart Homes, offers intelligent and optimized energy management.

These solutions certainly require initial investments, but their long-term economic benefits and low environmental impact are undeniable. It's time to rethink our heating systems for a more sustainable future.

It is with this in mind that hestiia has designed myEko, the innovative heating system. Beyond integrating innovative and intelligent technologies such as remote control by voice, and programming by mobile application, the main technology used for our myEko heating solution is the use of waste heat. An energy and economic revolution for heating solutions.

Indeed, myEko uses waste heat, also known as waste heat or residual heat. It is a form of thermal energy produced undesirably during various industrial or power generation processes. For example, when a factory manufactures a product, it needs energy, such as gas, electricity, etc. During this creative process, there is heat that is generated, but not used productively.

It is usually released into the environment. Today, waste heat is mainly found in data centers used for companies that need computing in fields as varied as artificial intelligence, 3D renderings of animated films or blockchain.

There the tech must consume a lot of energy, hestiia reuses this energy to heat the buildings. We designed myEko to be an innovative heating system that fully recycles the energy generated by computer power in order to convert it into heat to heat a home or offices. Thus, the device intelligently uses the energy generated by computing activities to produce heat, consequently helping to reduce overall energy consumption and finance heating bills. In addition, myEko incorporates a window opening detection system, which avoids wasting the energy produced.

Benefits of recovering and utilizing waste heat include:

1. Energy efficiency: Waste heat recovery can significantly increase the overall energy efficiency of a process, allowing the use of energy that would otherwise have been wasted.
2. Cost reduction: By using waste heat to supply energy to other processes, it is possible to reduce energy costs.
3. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions: by using waste heat rather than producing energy from fossil sources, it is possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Energy resilience: Waste heat recovery can help increase energy resilience, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and diversifying energy sources.

Tribune by Alexandre Vinot, heating market expert and engineer behind the myEko (hestiia) project (LinkedIn).