Why a one stop shop?
In order to meet the targets that Toulouse Métropole has set for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions in its Sustainable Energy Action Plan and its Climate-Air-Territorial Energy Plan (PCAET), the Métropole needs to make the buildings in its territory more energy efficient. Many grants and services are provided by the local, regional and national governments for people who want to make their homes more energy efficient. However, as these are all operated by different bodies, it can be difficult for people in Toulouse Métropole to get a good overview of what is available and appropriate for their homes.
To make the system more efficient and ensure that people can easily access grants, services and information, Toulouse Métropole collaborated with the other levels of government to create a single point of contact through which energy advisors with an overview of all of these options could empower local people to avail of all the supports available to them. This contact point, created through the I-Heros project, funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme, is called ‘Maison de L’Energie’ – the House of Energy.
Rather than going to several different websites and offices people find it much easier to learn about the options for renovating their homes at a single point of contact. Being able to show interested people the full suite of options and assistance available also provides an opportunity for the city to encourage people to be more ambitious in their renovation plans.
How it works
When people reach out to Maison de L’Energie, they are put in contact with a home renovation advisor. This advisor guides the resident through an initial diagnosis of their project. The diagnosis involves learning about the resident’s situation and advising them about the most efficient renovations to pursue. The advisor helps the resident estimate the cost of the project and provides information about all of the subsidies which they are available to them.
Advisors often find that residents have relatively minor renovations in mind at first, and they use the information about subsidies and potential savings to encourage people to choose a more comprehensive renovation plan. For many people, it can be difficult to find the initial finance for their project before the grant money is reimbursed afterwards. Advisors at Maison de L’Energie can direct people towards low-interest loans that they can put towards this purpose. Finding good providers, from architects and builders to suppliers can also be challenging for would-be renovators, so their advisor can also provide contacts of trusted professionals.
Support does not end there. Advisors can still follow up with residents and offer them guidance once the project is underway. Once the project is complete, they can offer help with monitoring energy consumption, both to assess the effectiveness of the renovations, and to inspire energy-saving behaviours.
A bouquet of partners
The key to success for the one-stop-shop is the variety of partners that have been brought together through the scheme. These partners each come with their own knowledge base, talents and offers, which are complimentary to the rest, like a well-arranged bunch of flowers.
The national subsidy, ‘Ma Prime Renov’ is available for residents who decide on far-ranging efficiency measures through a ‘deep retrofit.’ The grant from Toulouse Métropole, which is subject to monitoring and performance criteria, can be drawn upon in combination with the national subsidy. Meanwhile, the regional programme, Renov’Occitanie provides finance for preliminary energy audits and support for the initial work. Renov’Occitanie also offers low-interest loans to people hoping to invest in energy-saving measures – a perfect fit for those looking to renovate their homes.
European funding through the I-Heros project has facilitated this collaboration, allowing each partner to amplify their effects. It has also given the partners the opportunity to engage in some capacity-building activities to learn about other long-running one-stop-shops, mainly thanks to the German partner Zebau.
All the partners take a collaborative approach to delivering their services, ensuring that everyone’s voice, outlook and expertise are heard.
Results and next steps
As the I-Heros project is slated to conclude in September 2023, the city is currently working with its partners to search for a business model that will allow the one-stop-shop to continue. In the meantime, a planned evolution of the programme will see the Maison de L’Energie begin to engage not just with individual households, but with groups of households in buildings of a similar design. As such homes are likely to suffer from similar issues and benefit from similar energy efficiency measures, targeting them at once can achieve more with fewer
resources. Such interventions will include group meetings in certain blocks, as well as direct contact with condominiums and residents’ associations.
The city will also collaborate with the gas and electricity network operators to monitor consumption before and after renovations on a neighbourhood scale. To handle the higher workload, the Maison de L’Energie will take on four new full-time advisors, bringing the total number up to 14.
Toulouse Métropole also wants to collaborate more closely with renovation professionals, for example by designing a a commitment charter that could be signed, on a voluntary basis, by providers who meet certain quality criteria, making it easier for residents to distinguish reliable professionals.
Toulouse Métropole, France
Covenant Signatory since 2013
Population: 806,503
Area covered: Local (460 km2)
Key figures
2019: Start of the campaign
- 5 campaigns implemented by 2022 (urban districts of Munzingen, Tiengen, pfingen, Waldsee and Waltershofen)
- 486 consultations performed
- Expected results: -1,250 tonnes of GHG emissions per year, equivalent to 450,000 litres of heating oil OR 450,000 m³ of natural gas per year
GHG emissions ambitions:
- Net Zero Carbon by 2030
Useful links
Financing the project
- €1.5 million in EU Horizon funding
- Additional contributions from national, regional and local level, including around €1.2million from
the Occitanie Regional Council for 2021-2023.
Contact
Isabelle Durou: isabelle.durou@toulouse-metropole.fr
Claire Triffault: Claire.Triffault@toulouse-metropole.fr