2020 Energy Certification in France Explained

The objectives of the 2020 Energy Certification in France

RT 2020 aims to significantly reduce energy consumption by imposing strict standards on insulation, ventilation, and heating and cooling equipment, thus making buildings more efficient. By encouraging renewable energy sources, RT 2020 contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.

It focuses on improving the thermal comfort of occupants, in particular by limiting summer overheating through better bioclimatic design. The regulation also promotes innovation and the use of sustainable construction materials, reducing the overall environmental impact of buildings. Finally, RT 2020 considers future climate changes by encouraging construction capable of withstanding extreme weather events.

What is RT 2020?

The 2020 Thermal Regulation is a new standard aimed at building positive energy housing or buildings (= which produce more energy than they consume) and passive houses (= which use very little energy and recycle the energy they produce).

What positive energy buildings must have:

• Heating consumption must be less than 12 kWh/m²/year.
• Total energy consumption is less than 100 kWh/m² (with hot water, lights, etc.).
• The ability to produce energy so that the energy balance is positive for the 5 utilities: heating, lighting, hot water, air conditioning, auxiliaries) using photovoltaic panels for example.

LET’S SUMMARIZE THE 2020 THERMAL REGULATIONS

In 2024, RT 2020 will be in force and mandatory for all new buildings.

The buildings are called BEPOS = Positive Energy Buildings and must produce more or equal to the energy they consume.

RT 2020 and insulation

To produce more energy, it is necessary to exploit the free energy sources of the home to the maximum and reduce its energy consumption. Better insulation and a better choice of materials can reduce energy consumption in heating, for example.

It is possible today to insulate the house with several elements to accumulate heat or produce energy. Some examples:

• New means of insulation, such as wall bricks or floors, such as insulated slabs, improve the thermal performance of the housing.
• With heated and cooled insulating glazing.
• With the shutters that move according to the position of the sun

RT 2020 and passive house

RT 2020 requires the construction of passive houses, which produce as much energy as they consume, representing an overinvestment of 5% to 10% compared to a conventional house. It is necessary to renew energy and, therefore, use renewable energies, such as photovoltaic panels, for self-consumption for example.

RT 2020 and positive house

RT 2020 also refers to positive houses that consume even less energy than they produce, or otherwise called BEPOS. Thanks to equipment allowing the restitution of heat/coolness.

RT 2012 and RT 2020: what are the differences?

Among the main differences between RT 2012 and RT 2020, we will note the energy expenditure limits. While RT 2012 corresponded to a ceiling of 50 kWh/m²/year, namely the average value of the BBC label (low-energy building), RT 2020 requires that energy production be higher than consumption, with a ceiling of 12 kWh/m²/year.

In addition, there is a major objective for RT 2020, which is to consume even less energy. That is to say, all buildings built after 2020 will be much more aware of becoming positive energy buildings (BEPOS) to consume and produce the same amount of energy or even produce more.

The differences between RT 2012 and RE 2020

The main points of differentiation between RT2012 and RT2020:

1. RT2012 is BBC while RT 2020 will be BEPOS

Technically, the  2012 thermal regulations apply to Low Energy Buildings (BBC in French), while the  2020 thermal regulations (RT2020)  correspond to Positive Energy Buildings ( BEPOS in French ). This is why new constructions must use positive energy, i.e., the energy generated will be greater than the energy consumed. On the other hand, the BBC standard sets the consumption limit at 50 kWh/m² per year.

2. New uses will be taken into account by RT 2020

Currently, the  RE 2012 thermal regulation considers five distinctive uses: cooling, heating, production of domestic hot water, lighting and auxiliaries (fans, pumps, etc.). RT2020  will impose new uses such as household appliances, electronic devices (computers, television, refrigerators) and the carbon effects of construction.

This RT 2020 building usage consumption concept is inspired by our European neighbours and their labels (notably the German Passivhaus label and its PHPP calculation engine).

RT 2020 in 2024:

1. Implementation of renewable energies

RT 2020 encourages the use of a maximum of renewable energies. For RT 2020, you need to build positive houses. If you want to build new buildings, you will have to think about systems using renewable energies.

Renewable energies that you can use to become a positive energy home:

– To produce electricity:

Photovoltaic panels, energy self-consumption, aerovoltaics (a mixture of photovoltaic solar panels which produce electricity and thermal solar panels to heat the home) and wind turbines.

-To heat the house:

Heat pump, geothermal, wood heating, solar heating and thermodynamic heating (which can heat the house and heat the water in the house).

– For domestic hot water:

Thermodynamic heating and solar water heater.

– To improve home comfort:

Insulation, mechanical ventilation, Canadian well and property energy rating.

– For water:

Rainwater harvesting and water treatment, and water softener.

The cost of RT 2020

The RT 2020 will, of course, be more expensive than an RT 2012 construction. The investment of a BEPOS is more substantial, in particular, because of the installation of renewable energies, but in the long term, it will reduce your energy bill.