Official tool identifies heating solutions for your French home

Homeowners in France can use a new free online tool to see which renewable heating systems could be suitable for their home or apartment. 

The simulator allows users to explore alternatives to fossil fuel heating, including heat pumps, geothermal energy, wood-fired boilers and connections to district heating networks.

How does the simulator work?

Users must first enter their home address and provide information about the heating system, including whether the building has individual or communal heating and what type of radiators it uses. 

The tool then gives recommendations based on the building’s location and characteristics. 

The results can also be refined by adding details such as the average living area, the number of residents, the building’s energy efficiency rating and whether it has outdoor space.

It is important to insert these parameters for the most accurate result.

The results can include estimated annual heating costs per home, potential savings compared with gas heating, installation costs and the technical requirements of each option.

For example, The Connexion ran a test using an address in Sailhan, in Hautes-Pyrénées, which identified four potential heating solutions: a geothermal heat pump, a communal air-to-water heat pump, a wood-fired boiler and a hybrid system combining a heat pump with a gas boiler.

The simulator estimated annual costs of €2,610 to €3,180 per home for the geothermal heat pump, with potential savings of 25% compared with gas heating.

It also showed which technical requirements were favourable and which needed further checks, such as the availability of space for drilling equipment and the feasibility of installing the system.

However, recommendations are meant to be a starting point, not a definitive assessment of whether a system can be installed.

What if no alternative heating system is recommended?

The simulator may not identify a suitable alternative for every property. In another test run by The Connexion using an apartment building in Nice with individual electric heating and electric radiators, it did not recommend an alternative heating system.

Instead, it suggested other ways to reduce energy consumption and bills, including improving insulation, upgrading ventilation, maintaining existing heating equipment and reducing hot water consumption.

It also pointed users towards potential financial assistance for eligible renovation work, including MaPrimeRénov’, energy-saving certificates (CEE) and the zero-interest eco-loan (éco-PTZ)

Homeowners can also request free advice from a public service adviser to help identify the most suitable solution for their circumstances. One was listed under each result depending on the home’s location.

The simulator is available through the France Chaleur Urbaine website.