Eco-prêt: 0% loan for renovations

The éco-prêt à taux zéro is an interest-free loan of up to €30,000 to improve your home's energy efficiency. It became available from banks in April 2009.

THE loan is one of the key planks from 2007's Grenelle de l'Environnement at which the French government met with key players in ecology and pledged to become greener.

The loans are intended to help you reduce your energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by taking a good look at what your home needs and paying professionals to supply and install the new equipment and insulating materials.

They are available from high-street banks, will be a good long-term investment due to savings on energy bills and added value to homes.

Ademe - the Agency for the Environment and Energy Management - (www.ademe.fr) whose role is to promote greener living, is playing a key role in promoting the loans and organising advice
about how to get one.

It is said the building sector as a whole consumes 43% of energy produced in France and produces 23% of greenhouse gas emissions.

The government hopes that the loans will help to reduce the polluting effects by 38% by 2020 and will allow for the renovation of about 400,000 buildings a year.

These new loans can be combined with green income tax credits (crédits d’impôt pour le développement durable) until the end of 2010.

The Connexion publishes a comprehensive PDF helpguide, priced €5, on the eco loan scheme. We explain:

- Who can benefit
- What properties are eligible
- When it has to be repaid
- What it covers
- Where to get advice
- The loan options available
- Renovating a septic tank
- Getting a loan when you live in a copropriété
- The procedure to get a loan
- Filling out the forms

You can download the helpguide from this link.