Mandatory energy audits: what the regulations say and how to prepare for them
With increasingly stringent regulations on the energy performance of buildings, energy audits are becoming an important step in making homes more energy-efficient. Whether you're a homeowner, a prospective buyer or a single occupant, an energy audit helps you to understand a property's energy performance and to identify any work that needs to be carried out. This article explores the importance of an energy audit, the properties covered by the obligation, and the key stages in carrying it out.
What is an energy audit?
An energy audit is an in-depth analysis of a building's energy performance, identifying sources of energy loss, assessing current consumption and proposing concrete solutions for improving energy efficiency. Unlike an energy performance diagnosis (DPE), an energy audit goes further by providing prioritized, costed recommendations, facilitating the planning of works.
Why carry out an energy audit?
An energy audit is beneficial for many reasons, combining savings, comfort, and ecology. Here are some of the main benefits:
- Lower energy bills: an energy audit can identify the main sources of energy waste and suggest improvements, which can significantly reduce energy costs.
- Improved indoor comfort: reinforced insulation helps manage variations in temperature and humidity, providing a more pleasant living environment.
- Anticipating new regulations: under new laws, homes rated F or G will have to be renovated to avoid being banned from being rented out. An energy audit can help you meet these obligations and plan the work needed to avoid a ban on renting out the property concerned.
- Property value: energy-efficient properties are more sought-after on the market, and benefit from added value on resale. This influence will increase in the coming years.
Which properties are subject to mandatory energy audits?
The French Climate and Resilience Act is gradually making energy audits mandatory for certain types of property. These include
Obligatory energy audit when selling a property:
- The buildings concerned are :
- A single-family home.
- A single-family home with two dwellings belonging to a single owner.
- An apartment building with more than two dwellings, partially or totally superimposed, not subject to co-ownership status.
- A mixed-use building: a building housing premises for different uses, comprising at least one dwelling, not subject to condominium ownership, and belonging entirely to a single owner.
- It should be noted that these obligations apply only to buildings meeting these precise criteria.
- For all such properties, an energy audit must be provided by the seller to any potential buyer.
- A single-family home.
- Dwellings rated F and G in the DPE: properties rated F or G in the Diagnostic de Performance Énergétique, also known as “passoires thermiques” are subject to an audit obligation when put up for sale. The obligation follows a precise timetable:
some text- From April 1, 2023: for dwellings, detached houses and single-family buildings classified as F and G.
- From2025: for homes classified E.
- From 2034: for D-rated properties.
- From April 1, 2023: for dwellings, detached houses and single-family buildings classified as F and G.
Mandatory energy audits and advice
- Condominiums with collective heating: Condominiums with a collective heating system are also concerned. Buildings with more than 50 lots built before 2001 must undergo an energy audit to assess and improve the energy performance of the entire building.
- Renting out: although an energy audit is not mandatory for renting out, the regulations will progressively prohibit the renting out of G-rated homes from 2025, F-rated from 2028, and E-rated from 2034. This prospect strongly encourages landlords to consider an audit in order to program work and avoid these restrictions.
- Owned condominiums with collective heating: condominiums equipped with a collective heating system are also concerned. Buildings with more than 50 lots built before 2001 must carry out an audit to assess and improve the energy performance of the entire building.
- Renting out: although an energy audit is not mandatory for renting out, the regulations gradually prohibit the rental of G-rated homes from 2025, F from 2028, and E from 2034. This prospect strongly encourages landlords to consider an audit in order to schedule work and avoid these restrictions.
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Stages of an energy audit
The energy audit comprises several stages that enable a complete diagnosis to be made and appropriate solutions to be proposed:
- Data collection: the professional begins by examining energy bills, building characteristics, and heating and hot water production equipment. This information provides an initial assessment of the situation.
- Technical visit: a site visit is carried out to inspect the condition of insulation, waterproofing, heating systems and openings. This step is essential for spotting energy faults and identifying areas for improvement.
- Thermal modeling: in some cases, thermal modeling is carried out to simulate energy requirements based on the building's structure and use.
- Audit report and recommendations: a final report is delivered to the owner. It details weak points and proposes a list of priority actions, with estimated costs and potential savings.
Cost of an energy audit and available grants
The cost of an energy audit varies according to the size and specific features of the building. For an apartment, prices are generally around 1,000 euros, while an audit for a house can exceed 1,000 euros. However, there are a number of grants available to facilitate this process:
An energy audit is eligible for the MaPrimeRénov' grant, provided that it is followed by the implementation of an energy renovation measure, such as heating or insulation improvements, excluding the removal of an oil tank or project management assistance services. This aid, distributed by Anah (Agence nationale de l'habitat), is modulated according to household income, enabling the most modest households to reduce the cost of this approach.
Energy audits for condominiums: a collective approach
Condominiums with collective heating are also concerned by theenergy audit, in a spirit of collective optimization of charges and reduction of environmental impact. Carrying out an audit helps to raise awareness among all co-owners and to share the cost of renovation work fairly. In condominiums, theenergy audit encourages everyone to make responsible renovation choices.
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Renovating after an audit: priority work
The energy audit often identifies several types of work, but not all of them are necessarily necessary or immediately feasible. Priority interventions include:
- Attic and wall insulation: these areas account for up to 30% of heat loss. Thermal insulation is often a crucial first step.
- Changingwindows: installing high-performance double- or triple-glazed windows improves airtightness and reduces heating requirements.
- Changingheating systems: switching to a heat pump or biomass system is often recommended to reduce energy consumption.
Energy audit: enlist the help of an apartment hunter
With mandatoryenergy audits for certain properties, buying an apartment or house is becoming increasingly complex. By calling on the services of an apartment hunter, buyers benefit from support in understanding and anticipating the costs associated with energy renovation. By incorporating these elements into the search specifications, the apartment hunter informs buyers in advance, enabling them to make a real estate purchase that matches their expectations.
After several months of research (in a very targeted neighborhood), I decided to call on Talk to me about Paris to get out of this spiral of visits that were not successful. An investment that proved to be very effective since I made an offer at the end of the 5th visit.
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The agency was able to perfectly identify our needs and found us the apartment that ticked all the boxes in a few days and at first glance when we had been looking for several months. Beyond efficiency: professionalism, expertise, availability and a lot of people.
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