In the context of the energy transition, the construction sector plays a central role in France.
To measure progress and set priorities, the Data and Statistical Studies Department (SDES), under the auspices of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, has published its report « Key Energy Figures – 2024 Edition« .
The data, as of March 31, 2024, provides a comprehensive overview of energy consumption, residential building performance, and CO₂ emissions. This article draws on this official report to shed light on future trends and challenges in the residential sector.
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The Energy Impact of the Building Sector
The residential sector is one of the largest consumers of energy in France, accounting for 30 % of final energy consumption in 2023.
Residences use various energy sources, with electricity and natural gas clearly dominating. Here is a breakdown of this consumption:
- Electricity: 38 %,
- Natural gas: 35 %,
- Petroleum products: 14 %,
- Thermal Renewable Energy and Waste: 13 %.
These figures highlight the growing need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote renewable energy sources to reduce households' carbon footprint.
Energy Performance of Residential Buildings
In 2023, the energy efficiency of housing in France reveals significant contrasts.
The Energy Performance Assessment (DPE) shows that only 6 % for primary residences (approximately 1.8 million homes) are rated A or B, which indicates high energy efficiency.
Conversely, 15.7 1st-3rd-quarter housing (approximately 4.8 million homes) are rated F or G and are considered «energy-inefficient.».
These energy-intensive buildings pose a major challenge for energy-efficiency renovation policies.
These figures underscore the importance of stepping up renovation efforts to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and meet the energy transition goals set by the government.
Progress in Energy-Efficient Renovation
In response to the growing demand for renovation, various assistance programs have been implemented. In 2023, approximately 2.1 million housing units received financial assistance, including Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) and MaPrimeRénov’.
Thanks to this support, the renovations carried out have resulted in estimated energy savings of 7.7 TWh per year, a significant figure in the context of efforts to reduce energy consumption.
Reading : In 2020, 1.1 million homes received assistance for insulating their roofs, walls, and floors through the CEE program. This represents a total conventional energy savings of 2.5 TWh per year.
These results reflect a strong commitment on the part of the government and citizens to undertake renovation projects, not only to lower energy bills but also to help reduce CO₂ emissions.
CO₂ Emissions in the Residential Sector
The residential sector remains a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 18 % of CO₂ emissions related to energy in France.
These emissions come primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels for heating and domestic hot water.
The gradual replacement of these energy sources with renewable energy and electricity, combined with renovation efforts, is a priority for reducing this environmental impact.
The figures underscore the urgency of an energy transition in residential buildings in order to move closer to national emissions reduction targets and adopt a more sustainable approach.
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The report «Key Energy Figures – 2024 Edition» reminds us not only of the complexity of the energy challenges facing the residential sector, but also of the progress made and the potential for improvement. Despite advances in energy-efficient renovations and the savings achieved, a significant portion of housing remains energy-intensive and contributes to CO₂ emissions.
This finding underscores the urgent need to step up efforts to make buildings more energy-efficient and bring them into line with France’s environmental goals.
The SDES data provides essential benchmarks for the future. By relying on these figures, policymakers, professionals, and citizens can move forward with a clear understanding of the impact of renovation initiatives and energy choices.
Every improvement in a building’s energy efficiency thus becomes a concrete step toward a more sustainable housing stock, actively contributing to the national energy transition.