Public Policy

The building sector is the second largest carbon emitter in France, accounting for about one-third of national emissions.

We were commissioned to identify and assess a range of measures to accelerate decarbonisation in the residential and tertiary building sector. 

Building carbon emissions 

The Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) has modelled several pathways as part of their Transition(s) 2050 scenarios. 

Energy consumption in residential and tertiary (commercial and service) buildings is responsible for 18% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (11% from residential buildings and 7% from tertiary buildings). Construction itself accounts for around 11% of national GHG emissions. 

Planning a lasting legacy 

We were asked by ADEME to provide a report, in collaboration with Greenflex, that considers a national approach to decarbonisation. Our analysis would support the necessary transformations through a set of public policy measures that could be implemented to encourage, and in some cases mandate, change. 

The report proposes 79 measures covering all areas of consumption and production, including land use planning and development. Eighteen measures were identified to facilitate the transition, among which: 

• Strengthen environmental regulations for new buildings 
• Accelerate the replacement of water heating and space heating equipment in the residential and tertiary sectors 
• Implement a ban with associated penalties for public venues on the use of air conditioning when the indoor temperature is below 27°C during daytime