-
Phone at the wheel: drivers now face licence suspension anywhere in France
The measure was previously introduced by individual prefectures
-
Why one in three people in France admit to dumping rubbish illegally
But 98% tell poll they dispose of it correctly
-
France grants long-awaited protection to two threatened birds
Breaking the rules can be punished by up to three years in prison and a €150,000 fine
Cut French energy bills or face penalty on house sale
Ministers are looking at copying the anti-pollution bonus-malus system for buying cars and re-targeting it at house-owners to encourage them to improve home insulation and energy efficiency.
With the diagnostic de performance énergétique (DPE) being part of the obligatory documents to be produced for a property sale or rental for the last 20 years, Ecology Minister Nicolas Hulot said he is looking at a system based on this.
It would see energy efficient homes (DPE-rated A or B) being given a bonus while those that are badly-insulated (rated E, F or G) would be hit with a penalty on resale.
A decision is due this year as Mr Hulot is set to become the first ecology minister to hit the target of renovating 500,000 homes a year.
The 2015 energy transition law imposed a condition of renovating all homes with an F or G rating in their DPE by 2025.
However, proposals on how it would work have disturbed some in the building industry who fear it could penalise poorer or more rural areas where renovation is expensive.
