What solutions are there for a more energy-efficient construction industry?

The building sector is undoubtedly one of the largest consumers of energy (30% for residential buildings) and one of the largest producers of greenhouse gases in France (25% of emissions). While the situation is dire, the building sector is a key pillar of the energy transition strategy. There is now a consensus on the difficulty of achieving the 38% reduction in energy consumption mandated by the Grenelle 1 Act. Nevertheless, there are numerous technical, organizational, and financial measures available to reduce energy consumption and emissions.

The General Commission for Sustainable Development provides an overview of these measures and the objectives to be achieved in its recently published report: “Thermal Renovation of Housing: What Are the Challenges and Solutions?”

The articles in this journal provide an overview of the current situation, along with recommendations for action, organized into three parts:

• Background and Challenges
• Public Policies and Their Evaluation
• The necessary technical, organizational, and market changes

Alain Grandjean and Esther Finidori of Carbone 4 contributed to this issue with an article on the key role of housing in the energy transition. Through an analysis of the four pathways outlined in the National Debate on the Energy Transition, they highlight the need for an ambitious policy in the residential sector and the urgency of taking concrete action: extensive building renovations, improving the efficiency of equipment, and optimizing specific electricity consumption. The national low-carbon strategy outlined in the draft Energy Transition Act should make it possible to establish the GHG emission reduction targets to be achieved by this sector.

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