the energy renovation assistance system revised from top to bottom

2023-10-11 20:00:11

We change everything. The government announced, Wednesday October 11, a complete review of the energy renovation aid system, MaPrimeRenov’, implemented in 2020 and whose budget will increase from 2.6 billion euros to 5 billion next year.

There was urgency, as criticism increased over the timetable deemed untenable for carrying out the work, large-scale fraud and repeated dysfunctions. To the point that the system had become as much a machine for creating discontent as for improving housing.

However, some 2 million households have benefited from it, which at first glance may seem like a success. But its effectiveness is considered insufficient to reduce CO2 emissions at the rate now desired by the government.

Priority given to overall renovation

As of January 1, 2024, the system will therefore be refocused on two pillars. The first concerns the overall renovation of housing, in particular thermal strainers, classified F and G. The objective is to reach 200,000 operations from next year, four times more than in 2023, which seems extremely ambitious.

To achieve this, the poorest households will be strongly supported, so that their out-of-pocket costs are as low as possible. The aid will vary as a percentage of the package of work carried out. For the heaviest renovations, allowing several classes to be skipped, the spending ceiling has been set at €70,000 and the subsidy can reach 90% of the amount, or a maximum of €63,000 for the lowest incomes.

Households will be assisted throughout their process by Mon Accompagnateur Renov’, an advisor from the National Housing Agency (Anah) or an approved structure. The objective is both to make the process simpler and to create a safeguard against multiple embezzlements. The government is counting on 2,000 advisors by the end of 2024.

Help with changing heating

The second pillar of MaPrimeRenov’ will only concern the change in heating method, to replace oil and gas boilers with carbon-free systems, such as heat pumps, for which purchase aid will be increased. But it will not be accessible to thermal strainers, for which only the overall renovation will be supported.

The government thus wants to put an end to criticism accusing it of wanting to install heat pumps everywhere, even in poorly insulated homes. This should also significantly reduce insulation work, which will only be financed as part of an overall renovation.