LE FIGARO. - What is the system of certificates for energy savings, and how can it mitigate the strainers thermal?

Hugues jean-paul SARTRE. - The device of Certificates of energy savings (CEE) exists in France since 2006. It imposes on sellers of energy to fund the operations of energy savings. It is through this mechanism that the France meets the european objectives on energy efficiency. In 2019, it will be almost 4 billion euros of financing in the form of premiums that will be paid to households, to communities, to the trustees of the condominium, to industries that want to perform work in energy savings. It is thanks to these funds from sellers of gas, electricity and fuel of the large distribution of programs are offered such as insulation, free attic, the replacement of your old boilers fuel oil for a boiler pellet wood or gas... and, whether you are a tenant or owner.

How the system has it evolved?

in The early stages of the scheme, the financial stakes were much lower. As and to the extent of its good results, it has been steadily going up in power. The goals were higher and higher to finance numerous renovation projects of the French. This mechanism does not cost almost nothing to the State since these are grants to private sellers of energy. In addition, some companies energy efficiency as a GEO PLC, have developed a strong expertise. We are now able to offer work keys-in-hand and funded at 100% for individuals!

And the drift of the device...

in the Face of this success, the sums are estimated in billions. The device has attracted unscrupulous businesses in 2016 and 2017: these companies have used the system to finance the work wrong-doings. In some cases, this work never took place even though the work was supposedly carried out by companies having obtained the label EGR. By the way, this private funding is combined with state aid and until other regional aid. Impossible to navigate. The bill energy-climate currently being reviewed by the deputies to the national Assembly is a good opportunity to remedy that. The text includes a new emphasis of the controls on the device.

That offers GEO PLC to improve it?

Create the trust! We do not doubt the difficulty to convince a household to pass the act in terms of energy savings. Nobody wakes up with the bright idea of doing a renovation overall energy of its housing. So when a household agrees to isolate their housing or change his boiler, it is necessary to provide strong guarantees faces to questions he poses himself: "Is this the work will be carried out? Is what I'm going to touch the aid promised? Is this estimate to 0 euro is a scam? The craftsman is there to trust?".

Who should provide these answers?

These answers can not be made only by the State. The State is neutral and can not recommend one actor rather than another. This is the reason for which the public service of energy saving will not work alone. Households must find their answers from private or public actors who have made commitments to quality and transparency on their partner artisans and the amounts of aid paid, of which the State will be provided in advance of the skills, processes, financial guarantees and the quality of its partners, and that it will monitor regularly with the ability to take away their accreditation. In 2003, the State created the Authority of financial markets, acting as a regulator in charge of the well functioning of these markets. The time is ripe to give the industry the energy renovation of its own authority. Authority capable of issuing an authorisation and withdraw it to construction companies. An authority which would process of constitution of files of financing in ensuring the consent of the households. An authority that has the power to control the building. The State wants to see progress in the renovation market energy, it must take measures to emerge from the operators of the energy transition.