Thierry Repentin, president of the National Housing Agency, calls for a general mobilization in favor of the renovation of housing facilities. Stand.
Make energy renovation accessible to everyone
80% of housing in 2050 already exists. So we have almost 20 million homes to renovate to achieve carbon neutrality. This is a colossal project. Some don’t even talk about the “construction site of the century”. It is also, above all, a huge opportunity for our country. For our fellow citizens, for communities and the revitalization of their territory when performing ZAN, for operators who work with them, for construction companies…
The state is committed, with record budgets dedicated to improving housing, taking into account recent budget efforts. The introduction of France Rénov’, a public service for home renovation, allows all households to access neutral and free advice to succeed in their project. Furthermore, the MaPrimeRénov’ reform outlines the path towards the acceleration of large-scale renovations, the most effective in reducing energy consumption, while allowing households who wish to participate in the process by gesture.
But although the state can do a lot, it cannot succeed alone. It is up to all of us to create the conditions to instill confidence in households and enable them to embark on an ambitious renovation project.
To make their journey easier and easier for them to take action, we all need to work in the same direction and encourage them to want to rebuild their home. Reassure them that renovation is available to everyone. Develop the France Rénov’ reflex, both among households and professionals, to persuade and inspire action.
General mobilization for reconstruction: let’s restore trust!
We must therefore see the emergence of a true French sector of excellence in energy renovation, from production to installation, including consulting and financing. Therefore, I call for a general mobilization for the renovation of residential buildings, of all stakeholders, because it is our common interest.
To the continuous mobilization of the state, which must be committed to giving visibility and stability to all actors in the chain, whether regulatory or budgetary, to enable them to take ownership of this public policy and give it the means to succeed.
The mobilization of local communities, which are very strongly committed to the ecological transition of their territories by promoting the renovation of residential buildings, fighting against the artificialization of land and allowing the rehabilitation of wasteland. Renewal also means preserving the heritage of our old centers and local initiatives to provide territorial responses are flourishing everywhere.
Mobilization of all support professionals, whether from Anah’s historical operators, architects or design offices, to structure and develop this quality support offer for households.
To mobilize craftsmen and construction companies, and more broadly the entire professional sector, who must take advantage of the flexibility offered to them in the coming months in order to succeed in increasing their skills, hire and train more qualified workers and organize to propose a commercial offer for major renovations.
Mobilization of banks, which are necessary so that households can finance their remaining expenses and thus realize their project. All existing financial tools — especially eco-PTZ — must now be offered and distributed in a more sustainable way.
But I insist here: we will do nothing without households. The best help in the world and the best possible support do not erase the truth that experts in the field know very well: home renovations are complicated. We know it is in our interest to do so, but we always have a good reason to postpone it. There is good news, however, as all opinion polls show: the French want to renovate their homes. Therefore, we must take into account their limitations and offer them a path that allows them to realize their desire for renovation. And that means working together to restore their trust! The first step on their journey must therefore be France Rénov’, the public service for the renovation of homes.
Read also: Energy renovation: financial obstacles for half of the owners
Renewal courses adapted to each person’s situation
Engaging in energy renovation work will always take time because every home that needs to be renovated is unique. There is no solution that can be reproduced everywhere. This therefore requires thinking carefully about your project, finding the right craftsmen and ensuring that the work is carried out according to the rules of the art. It is also important to be vigilant against fraud attempts.
Large-scale renovation is an ambitious goal that we must encourage in as many households as possible. For those who cannot immediately embark on a major renovation, there must be other solutions. For them, renovation often starts with the first gesture, that’s the reality… and it’s the gesture that counts! We need to enable them to go further by helping them build their effective recovery journey and supporting them in the long term.
Support to households is therefore crucial for increasing quality renovations. The role of Mon Accompagnateur Rénov’ is therefore decisive in helping the household to choose the right job, to insure its journey against the risk of fraud, to mobilize all the relevant assistance to which it is entitled to reduce its remaining costs.
Many players have also invested in this new market and the dynamics are exceeding our expectations. More than 3,000 Rénov’ Supporters have already been approved throughout the country. And the dynamics of approval is such that the goal of 5,000 renewed supporters, originally set for the end of the year, can be achieved from the 2nd quarter.
Read also: “The owners are not against the energy renovation, but they are not being helped”
Reconstruction is a real opportunity for our country
Since 2020, Anah aid has enabled the reconstruction of more than 2 million homes, generating more than 30 billion euros of work for craftsmen and construction companies. Therefore, it is the main lever of dynamism for our territories, for local employment and for the revitalization of our cities.
This is a dynamic that must now benefit the entire value chain of energy renovation: material producers, distributors, installers, network platforms, workers. We need to promote these high-employer occupations and organize vocational training for our youth to see the 200,000 jobs we need.
Beyond the economic issue, this public policy is deeply social, enabling households, many with modest incomes, to simply live better. Through mass renovation, we enable as many people as possible to live in more comfortable housing, consume less energy and enhance their heritage.
The Minister of Housing, Guillaume Kasbarian, recently proposed a trust pact for renewal that brings together all the players in this ecosystem. bank! It is a relevant and necessary initiative. Anah will be a stakeholder and will do everything possible to encourage this general mobilization in favor of housing reconstruction. The planet needs it. Our country needs it. Our fellow citizens need it.