20
May, 2022

Renovate Your Electrical Installations to Save Energy

In France, about 7 million electrical installations present risks, of which a third are considered dangerous. You should also know that one fire out of 5 is of electrical origin, and 100 people die each year from electrocution, hence the urgency of the upgrade. It should also be noted that electrical installations made before 1974 are not up to standard.

Have Your Installations Diagnosed

For properties used for residential purposes with electrical installations older than 15 years, an electrical diagnosis is mandatory, with a validity period of 3 years for a property for sale and 6 years for a house to rent.

The cost of an electrical diagnosis is from 53,55 € (varying according to the provider and the appointment date). It can be done by a certified professional.

The anomalies identified during the diagnosis are detailed in the report, and the resulting risks are mentioned. The report also offers other recommendations to improve your installation.

How Can the State Help You Renovate Your Installations?

Renovating obsolete electrical installations or bringing them up to standard may be eligible for state aid. The total renovation cost is from 80 € per square meter, excluding taxes. Many financial aids are available to you, including

– assistance from the Agence Nationale de l’Habitat (ANAH), which can finance up to half of your renovation work;

– a home improvement loan, which can cover 80% of the planned expenses, with a modest interest rate of 1% (payment is made in two stages, upon presentation of the estimate and completion of the work upon presentation of the invoices;

– reduction to 10% of the VAT rate.

Obtaining this aid is subject to a certain number of conditions: to be the owner of a dwelling built at least 15 years ago and renovated at least 6 years after the work and classified as a family with modest or very modest resources.

What Work Is Required to Bring Your Electrical Installations up to Standard?

According to the French standard NF C15-100 governing low voltage electrical installations, this is a renovation of the electrical installation. This standard imposes the minimum number of electrical equipment per room, the control of this equipment, and the respect for minimum protection distances (access to circuit breakers, the distance of an installation from a water point, minimum height of a wall socket, sheathing of electrical wires…). It is kept up to date with technological developments and new safety requirements.

In addition to the safety of your home, the upgrading of the electrical installation can have a positive impact on your electricity consumption by avoiding the loss of electrical current (leakage current), which leads to overconsumption. With the electrical renovation, you realize an added value to your house.

You must call on a professional to bring your electrical installations up to standard.

Think About Energy Renovation

You can take advantage of upgrading your installations to initiate energy renovation work: take advantage of new technologies to lower your electricity consumption. Once again, you can benefit from a helping hand from the State for renovations aimed at reducing your energy consumption and, at the same time, improving your comfort:

– insulation and renovation of heating equipment ;

– installation of other energy sources such as solar panels that can save you up to 40% on your electricity bills;

– installing a controlled mechanical ventilation system to avoid heat loss, while benefiting from improved air quality in your home.

10 Ways to Save Electricity at Home - 10 steps

Indeed, the State finances energy renovation work because it is carried out by RGE-labeled companies (recognized as environmental guarantors).

8
Nov, 2020

Environmental Aspects of Ecological Renovation

Summary

What is ecological renovation?

Ecological renovation in practice

Preparing your ecological renovation project

Ecological renovation makes it possible to improve comfort, reduce costs and take environmental issues into account, notably by avoiding the 2,000 kWh of primary energy per square meter of new construction due mainly to the structure’s construction. The ecological renovation preserves and enhances the local heritage and safeguards agricultural land by avoiding urbanization. But how can it be done? Where to start? What are the right questions to ask, the mistakes most often made? Where to find objective information? Read more below!

What is ecological renovation?

The ecological renovation consists of renovating one’s home while considering different and multiple environmental issues, as described below.

Climate change caused by the increased emission of greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases, etc.) has very worrying environmental and social consequences.

The depletion of various resources available on earth today is also worrying. These resources are in limited quantity (primary energy source, raw materials). Their quality is threatened by our lifestyles: arable land whose fertility is compromised by intensive agriculture, water, and air whose quality depends on local pollution.

Human health and biodiversity are also an important issue to which ecological renovation must respond. The objective is to limit local, global, and distant pollution and health risks (oil spills or nuclear accidents, for example).

Energy renovation

For each of these issues, the consumption of non-renewable energy has a significant impact. An ecological renovation, therefore, requires, in particular, an energy renovation, and thus a drastic reduction in power for heating and cooling. Indeed, heating is, by far, an essential item at home.

Ecological renovation in practice

Bioclimatic architecture

Initially, the principles of bioclimatic architecture should be used as much as possible:

  • Think of a compact house (more living space for less surface area giving onto the outside).
  • Plan an opening to the south to benefit from free solar gain in winter.
  • Protect yourself from prevailing winds.
  • Use inertia and solar protection, and above all, optimize insulation.

Eco-materials

An ecological material is above all a material that meets a given need: insulation, water tightness, mechanical strength, water vapor permeability, for example. It must also be free of health risks: beware of toxic chemical compounds in paints.

Finally, an environmentally friendly material must have a reduced impact on the environment. It is preferable to use materials manufactured as close as possible to where they will be used (to avoid transport pollution) and coming from a recycling process (cellulose wadding, recycled textiles, etc.). However, transport pollution is inevitable when the material is of plant origin (wood fiber, hemp, flax) or animal origin (sheep’s wool).

Good to know: often, the original materials (oak frame, a stone wall, for example) have interesting properties and save material, energy, and water for the manufacture of new materials. This is one of the advantages of renovation over new construction.

Preparing your ecological renovation project

The right questions

Above all, it’s about asking the right questions, getting the correct answers, adapted to your home. For example:

  • What are my needs (living space, number of bedrooms)?
  • Does the building have humidity problems?
  • Is the architectural quality to be preserved?
  • What elements need to be changed: the condition of the roof, electricity, heating system?
  • What are the elements to keep?
  • What materials and energy sources can I find nearby?

Two structures can provide you with advice in your ecological renovation project: the EPA’s GreenCheck and the Society for Ecological Restoration. You will also need to involve competent professionals in architecture and energy performance.