Heating technology for residential, industrial and commercial buildings

Heating techniques for buildings will evolve with the RE2020, particularly in terms of calculation methods.

The environmental regulation for new building construction (RE2020) came into force on 1 ^er January 2022 for homes, and will gradually replace the 2012 thermal regulation (RT2012). The RE2020 responds to the French Law on Energy Transition for Green Growth (LTECV 2015, JO of August 18) and the French Law on the Evolution of Housing, Development and the Digital Economy (ELAN 2018, promulgated on November 23) through the pursuit of objectives to improve the energy performance of new buildings, reduce their impact on the climate and adapt them to future climatic conditions (reinforcement of summer comfort). Initially, the RE2020 applies to the construction of buildings or parts of buildings for residential use.

For single-family homes and apartment buildings, RE2020 will increase the energy performance of new buildings constructed in compliance with the new regulations.

For office buildings and primary and secondary education buildings, a decree dated April 14, 2022 supplements certain means requirements, as well as certain flat-rate values to be met for the environmental regulation (RE2020), which has been in force since July 1 ^er 2022.

Decree no. 2022-305 of 1 ^er March 2022 specified the result requirements for these buildings in terms of energy performance, carbon emissions and summer comfort. This decree adds elements relating to energy systems that were not included in the RE2020 calculation method set by the decree published on August 15, 2021.

For extensions to housing, offices, and primary and secondary education buildings, the RE2020 applies from 1 ^er January 2023.

For specific tertiary buildings (hotels, shops, gymnasiums, etc.), the ELAN law requires whoever owns a tertiary building to follow an energy savings trajectory up to 2050.

HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) is an all-in-one system installed inside a building or facility to ensure good air quality and circulation, and the comfort of its occupants. Air is circulated inside and exhausted outside the building. Most residential and commercial buildings are equipped with them.

[For more information on the objectives of the new regulations: https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/reglementation-environnementale-re2020. ]