2023-10-16 05:00:17
Huge energy savings for the year 2022-2023
The first Thermostat Plan was launched a year ago. The government then unveiled an energy sobriety plan, a first step towards a greener France. But it was above all a response to the high risk of an electrical blackout, linked to the shutdown of the French nuclear fleet.
The result ? According to Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister of Energy Transition, a significant drop of 12% in electricity and gas consumption. And this over the twelve months from August 2022 to July 2023. “ My goal is for this decline to become structural at the end of 2024, and for us to go further », declared the minister on October 12, 2023.
But this was only the prelude to a much larger strategy. The thermostat plan promises to be the central pillar of a renewed energy policy, with clear objectives and concrete measures. At least on paper…
Thermostat plan: programmable thermostats for everyone?
Every French household is invited to play an active role in this energy transition. To support them, the government has put in place major incentive measures.
Programmable thermostats are at the heart of this strategy. These devices, which allow us to regulate the temperature of our interiors, can reduce energy consumption by up to 15%. And to encourage their adoption, financial aid covering up to 80% of the purchase and installation cost is offered.
Furthermore, according to ADEME (Environment and Energy Management Agency), a well-adjusted thermostat can allow savings of up to 10% on the annual energy bill. And this was also the central point of the first sobriety plan: asking the French to lower the temperature in their homes.
The thermostat plan targets the whole of society
French companies, large and small, are also mobilized. The CAC 40 giants have already made firm commitments, but the government wants to go further. Two key measures have been announced to encourage soft mobility: covering expenses linked to the rental of private bicycles and a tax reduction for companies offering company bicycles to their employees.
The thermostat plan does not stop at the doors of our houses and our offices. It also aims to reduce the energy impact of public and commercial spaces. Thus, stricter regulations concerning nighttime lighting of signs and offices are in preparation.
The objective? Limit lighting to one hour before and after opening hours, thereby reducing light pollution and energy consumption. The government has finally heard the demands of a large part of civil society. And it will add an initiative aimed at reducing the light intensity of public lighting which is also being studied, combining energy efficiency and protection of biodiversity.
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