Property energy audits - which are more in-depth than an energy performance test (DPE) - are increasingly mandatory in more situations in France and cost on average €750, a new study has found.
What is an energy audit?
Energy audits (audit énergétique) are similar to the diagnostic de performance énergétique (DPE), in that they test the energy and environmental performance of a building. However, an energy audit is more comprehensive and goes further.
It also details scenarios that will improve the property’s energy performance of the home.
When is an energy audit required?
Since April 2023 an energy audit has been mandatory for a sale of a property rated F and G on the DPE scale. This is set to also include E-rated properties from January 2025.
An audit is also required if property owners wish to benefit from the MaPrimeRenov'accompagné scheme, the main public financial support available for property environment energy renovation.
This scheme aims to help homeowners finance significant upgrades to their home, which must improve the DPE rating by at least two letters (e.g. from D to B).
A new study by audit comparator Kiwidiag (which puts individuals in touch with professional auditors and diagnosticians) shows that the average cost nationwide is €754.12 for a detached house with a surface area of between 90 and 120m2.
However, the cost can vary significantly by department. The study looked at 1,094 prices for energy audits offered by certified professionals throughout France, and found:
Among the lowest cost:
Nord: €548
Lozère: €543
Alpes-de-Hautes-Provence: €533
Yvelines : €527
Aisne: €513.
Among the highest cost:
Creuse: €1,270
Indre: €1,219
Haute-Savoie: €1,108
Calvados: €1,009
Lot-et-Garonne: €1,006.
Energy audit average prices by departmentMap: Kiwidiag / Que-Choisir
Why is there such variation in price?
The main reason for these differences is due to the number of professionals available in the department who are certified to carry out these audits, said Jeremy Pensieri, co-founder of Kiwidiag and author of the study.
”Departments where there are few of these (12 in Creuse, for example) often have an above-average price. Conversely, in the Île-de-France region, for example, where there are more certified auditors (99 in Yvelines), the audit costs less on average,” he said.
The effect is even more marked for energy audits (as opposed to DPEs), as there are even fewer professionals nationwide authorised to carry these out.
“They are architects who have undergone dedicated training, or technical design and property diagnosticians,” said Mr Pensieri. “[They] must pass specific certifications.”
The French energy transition agency ADEME lists a directory of these professionals and explains how to check their certifications.
However, some departments do not follow this ‘fewer professionals equals higher prices’ rule.
For example Calvados, one of the highest-priced departments, has a relatively-high number of certified professionals (54). In contrast, Lozère has just 12 professionals, but the average price is still relatively low, at €543.
Will prices rise?
The study also found that prices for these audits have risen considerably, including by 15% in the past year.
Diagnosticians have said this is due to new regulations that came into force in July. As a result, “training is more advanced, checks have been stepped up, and certification is renewed more regularly,” said Yannick Ainouche, president of CDI-Fnaim, a professional federation of diagnosticians.
Prices are expected to rise again in January 2025 as energy audits are required for properties classified as E (as well as F and G).
