Performing an energy audit: for whom?
The performance of an energy audit concerns all companies. The energy audit makes it possible to measure the energy performance of a company and to plan tangible actions to make energy savings. It is based on the energy bills as well as on the uses of the buildings’ occupants.
Since 2019, individuals are also concerned by the energy audit. Although it is not mandatory, it is a good way to start an energy optimization process. It is also eligible for the CITE tax credit since 2018.
Eligibility for the CITE 2018 tax credit depends on certain conditions. The energy audit must meet specific criteria to authorize the opening of a tax credit:
- The energy audit must be performed without any regulatory obligation ;
- The audited building must be the main residence of the client (he may be a tenant or owner of the property) ;
- The building or home must have been built more than 2 years ago ;
- The energy audit must identify at least 2 different scenarios to enable the client to make energy savings. One of these building works scenarios must develop a prediction of at least 30% energy savings. The other must present optimizations of the energy performance up to the level of the requirements formulated for bringing a house under renovation up to BBC standards ;
- The professional hired to carry out the energy audit must be certified by an independent organism.
Who can perform an energy audit?
The energy audit can be performed internally, if the company has a qualified employee. This employee must nevertheless be recognized by a certified organism such as the ADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency). For companies in all sectors of activity, it is recommended to use an external service provider who has received European certification.
This can be a consultancy firm composed of energy experts. They perform extensive tests in order to accurately assess the energy consumption of a building. The energy audit then makes it possible to identify the most profitable measures to be implemented. If necessary, it can identify areas for improvement without any renovation work, for example, by installing equipment for measuring and analyzing energy data. The audit will then include a set of recommendations on how best to use this equipment.
Which companies are concerned by the mandatory energy audit?
Although performing an energy audit of their buildings is recommended to companies of all types to achieve energy savings and improve their energy efficiency, some fall within the scope of the mandatory energy audit, also known as a regulatory energy audit.
Thus, companies with more than 250 employees or generating a turnover of more than 50 million euros and/or an annual balance sheet of more than 43 million euros must comply with a regulatory energy audit every 4 years.
Among these large companies, some are exempt from an energy audit. These are companies that have set up an energy management system, governed by the ISO 50001 standard. The new law in effect considers that the framework of the iso 500001 standard concentrates a set of positive actions for the improvement of the energy performance of large companies, considered as the most energy-consuming.
In summary, the requirement to perform an energy audit concerns large companies, which are responsible for the highest energy consumption in France. The number of companies concerned is estimated at 5000. The ADEME collects various information on its online platform in order to monitor the compliance with the measure and the impact of the mandatory energy audit on the energy transition desired by the French public authorities.