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- France proves that less is more in household energy efficiency
London - 11/09/09
11 September 2009 – In France, the building sector is currently the biggest consumer of energy, responsible for 40% of final energy consumption and 20% of CO2 emissions. The measures adopted following the French Government’s Grenelle Environment round-table talks will cut energy consumption in buildings, while maintaining an optimum level of comfort.
The aim of the Grenelle Environment round-table talks (Grenelle de l’Environnement), which were instigated by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, was to define the key points of government policy on ecological and sustainable-development issues.
The Grenelle I planning bill of 3 August 2009, which relates to the implementation of France’s Green New Deal, stipulates that all buildings open to the public and non-residential buildings, from 2010, will need to be designed in line with a “low-consumption building” standard. This standard requires primary energy consumption to be less than 50kWh/m2/year on average and will apply to all new housing from 2012. From 2020, all new buildings will have to comply with the “positive energy” concept, i.e. producing more energy than they consume. Old buildings will need to be renovated, in order to meet a target for average consumption of between 90kWh/m2/year and 150kWh/m2/year.
French companies making building and insulating materials now offer products that are more efficient than those available previously. St Gobain and Lafarge are just two of the French businesses leading the way throughout the world in this sector, while Rockwool (Denmark), DOW (USA) and Knauff (Germany) are present in France, developing environmentally friendly housing concepts.
Two particularly innovative companies stand out in this area: Imerys Group, the leading French producer of solar panels, and Viessman of Germany, the leading producer of solar cells in France. Viessman has made its Faulquemont plant (in Lorraine, in eastern France) the group´s centre of excellence for the manufacture of domestic hot-water tanks and solar cells, exporting 80% of its output.
In order to encourage homeowners to carry out energy-efficiency improvement work, France has introduced a 10-year zero-rate eco-loan in 2009, making it possible to finance up to €30,000 of energy renovation work for private housing. In addition to this system, a “sustainable development” tax credit allows people to deduct from their tax bill a percentage of their spending on equipment and materials to improve energy efficiency in their main residence (between 15% and 50%, depending on the equipment).
The sustainable-development savings account (Livret de Développement Durable – LDD), which is not subject to tax, will make it possible to collect more than €10 billion for financing investment loans, granted by the banks in partnership with the French Environment & Energy Management Agency (ADEME). To be eligible for these loans, buildings must now be compliant with the “low-consumption building” or “very high energy performance” standards. This work will benefit from a discounted VAT rate of 5.5% and will be eligible for funding from regional authorities and France’s National Home Improvement Agency (ANAH).
For David Appia, Chairman and CEO of Invest in France, “International businesses must capitalize on the bold, targeted measures introduced by the French government to improve household energy efficiency in France. These advantages make France a buoyant, leading market in Europe.”
About Invest in France (IFA)
The Invest in France Agency (IFA) promotes and facilitates international investment in France. The IFA network operates worldwide. IFA works in partnership with regional development agencies to offer international investors business opportunities and customized services all over France.
For more information about this press release, please contact Martin Hedges, Director of Communications at the Invest in France Agency in London: mhedges@investinfrance.org
For further information, please go to: www.investinfrance.org
France proves that less is more in household energy efficiency
11 September 2009 – In France, the building sector is currently the biggest consumer of energy, responsible for 40% of final energy consumption and 20% of CO2 emissions. The measures adopted following the French Government’s Grenelle Environment round-table talks will cut energy consumption in buildings, while maintaining an optimum level of comfort. The aim of the Grenelle Environment round-table talks (Grenelle de l’Environnement), which were instigated by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, was to define the key points of government policy on ecological and sustainable-development issues.
The Grenelle I planning bill of 3 August 2009, which relates to the implementation of France’s Green New Deal, stipulates that all buildings open to the public and non-residential buildings, from 2010, will need to be designed in line with a “low-consumption building” standard. This standard requires primary energy consumption to be less than 50kWh/m2/year on average and will apply to all new housing from 2012. From 2020, all new buildings will have to comply with the “positive energy” concept, i.e. producing more energy than they consume. Old buildings will need to be renovated, in order to meet a target for average consumption of between 90kWh/m2/year and 150kWh/m2/year.
French companies making building and insulating materials now offer products that are more efficient than those available previously. St Gobain and Lafarge are just two of the French businesses leading the way throughout the world in this sector, while Rockwool (Denmark), DOW (USA) and Knauff (Germany) are present in France, developing environmentally friendly housing concepts.
Two particularly innovative companies stand out in this area: Imerys Group, the leading French producer of solar panels, and Viessman of Germany, the leading producer of solar cells in France. Viessman has made its Faulquemont plant (in Lorraine, in eastern France) the group´s centre of excellence for the manufacture of domestic hot-water tanks and solar cells, exporting 80% of its output. In order to encourage homeowners to carry out energy-efficiency improvement work, France has introduced a 10-year zero-rate eco-loan in 2009, making it possible to finance up to €30,000 of energy renovation work for private housing. In addition to this system, a “sustainable development” tax credit allows people to deduct from their tax bill a percentage of their spending on equipment and materials to improve energy efficiency in their main residence (between 15% and 50%, depending on the equipment).
The sustainable-development savings account (Livret de Développement Durable – LDD), which is not subject to tax, will make it possible to collect more than €10 billion for financing investment loans, granted by the banks in partnership with the French Environment & Energy Management Agency (ADEME). To be eligible for these loans, buildings must now be compliant with the “low-consumption building” or “very high energy performance” standards. This work will benefit from a discounted VAT rate of 5.5% and will be eligible for funding from regional authorities and France’s National Home Improvement Agency (ANAH).
For David Appia, Chairman and CEO of Invest in France, “International businesses must capitalize on the bold, targeted measures introduced by the French government to improve household energy efficiency in France. These advantages make France a buoyant, leading market in Europe.”
About Invest in France (IFA)
The Invest in France Agency (IFA) promotes and facilitates international investment in France. The IFA network operates worldwide. IFA works in partnership with regional development agencies to offer international investors business opportunities and customized services all over France. For more information about this press release, please contact Martin Hedges, Director of Communications at the Invest in France Agency in London: mhedges@investinfrance.org
For further information, please go to: www.investinfrance.org
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Kate AMBLER – Press Officer
UBIFRANCE Press Office in London
Telephone: 0207-024-3640
Email: kate.ambler@ubifrance.fr
Web site: www.ftpb.co.uk
UBIFRANCE UK #3317