Hauts-de-France Pass Renovation

Local/regional project

Hauts-de-France Pass Renovation is a technical and financial instrument implemented in 12 territories or communities of the region and designed by the regional Public Service for Energy Efficiency (PSEE). Founded on an innovative economic model, the PSEE advances the amount allocated to renovation works. Beneficiaries repay this advance in whole or in part through financial savings generated on their energy bill. The PSEE focuses on a virtuous, self-regulated economic model to help significantly reduce energy consumption in residential buildings and bring about local economic expansion. Different support is provided to owners, craftsmen, local authorities and innovators. The project supports owners, landlords, individuals or collective housing by providing turnkey technical support coupled with an all-inclusive financial solution. The mechanism encompasses all the phases of the renovation project from information and advice to maintenance, including the identification of financial solutions. Hauts-de-France Pass Rénovation grants owners an advance on works of an average of 43,000 euros. Once the renovation is completed, the owner repays the remaining amount thanks to a monthly payment that is less or equal to the post renovation energy savings. By acting on demand and guaranteeing payment of works, the initiative contributes to the emergence of a sustainable local market for dwelling energy renewal and the creation of job opportunities. Moreover, local authorities have access to an additional tool to serve the success of their initiatives and policies in terms of energy transition and home improvement. The different partners and third parties will be able to notify and detect potential beneficiaries, deploy support and mobilise local businesses. For players in innovation, the PSEE has potential for experimenting and new openings thanks to the data analysis system that is included and that offers the chance to monitor the consumption of the dwelling and its owners. The initiative is a great example of an innovative financing scheme covering a whole region, stakeholder engagement, involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises and personalised solutions. One of its strengths lies in the intermediary role of the regional authority between property owners and building companies with long-term funding, the incentive to opt for deep renovation and the integrated nature of the service contributes to its success. Since 2014, the project has invested about 67 million euros, refurbished over 800 single family houses and 2,200 apartments in condominiums and renovated about 600 households. The living conditions of the beneficiaries have improved by 26%, about 50% of energy is saved and 63% of houses have improved by at least 2 energy classes. A challenge faced is that 50% of the service costs were planned to be covered by energy saving certificate schemes (ESCs) and in some cases the project leaders faced difficulties in collecting the ESCs for all the owners concerned. Finally, the programme requires a high budget to be available for the services it offers. The project started in 2014 and is still ongoing. Main beneficiaries: low income people, all owners and co-owners, occupants or lessors of private and public residential buildings. It addressed the topics of: heating and cooling systems, indoor comfort, information and awareness, insulation, quality of dwellings, renewable energy, rural areas, energy efficiency, social support, financing schemes. The partners of the project: Conseil regional Hauts-de-France (local authority).