Aid For Energy Renovation: The 2020 Transformations

The CITE (Tax Credit for Energy Transition) has been the subject of much ink since the start of 2020. The reason is simple: this aid for financing certain energy renovation projects has been transformed and has more restrictive conditions. This aid supposed to promote the reduction of energy consumption in France, without income conditions, has been very popular since its creation in 2014. Moreover, the CITE was itself an evolution of the CIDD (Crédit d'Impôt Développement Durable), a aid which delighted the French since 2005. The rupture of this means of financing after 15 years of excellent services, whereas the energy transition is far from being accomplished, makes cringe.

But what exactly is happening for CITE in 2020?

What are the changes in aid for energy renovation in 2020?

On December 28, 2019, the new fiances law for 2020 was voted, which, in its article 15, deeply engages the future of CITE. The government has taken the decision to divide the CITE during 2020, to facilitate its total disappearance in 2021.

The CITE is divided into 2 distinct aids:

1. MaPrimeRénov ', an aid based on the level of resources and managed by the ANAH (National Agency for the Improvement of the Habitat).
2. A transitional CITE reserved for households ineligible for MaprimeRénov ', only for the course of the year 2020. These two aids are therefore not compatible and are intended to avoid too violent an outcry. In fact, as we will see, most French people will still be able to benefit from aid to carry out energy renovation.

MyPrimeRenov '

MaPrimeRénov 'is a financial aid which brings together the former CITE and the Habiter Mieux Agility aid from the ANAH. It is paid directly by the ANAH, on which it depends entirely. On the other hand, we will not be able to accumulate the Habiter Mieux Sérénité aid from the ANAH. This reorganization of aid for energy renovations is marked by the flat-rate amount. The amounts paid to beneficiaries are therefore no longer calculated as a percentage, as was the case for a long time. These are now lump sums, fixed, associated with targeted work. For example, an air-water heat pump will be associated with assistance of € 3,000 for low-income households and € 4,000 for very low-income households. While the utility of these lump sums can be debated,it cannot be denied that it is now easier to compare the quotes of craftsmen by applying these fixed amounts.

Who can benefit ?

In 2020, MaPrimeRénov 'is geared towards modest and very modest households, according to the scales calculated annually by the ANAH. On the other hand, from January 2021, the aid will be open to all households belonging to the tax deciles below 9. We will thus find aid open to the greatest number, because the 9th decile represents an income above 63,250 €. On the other hand, MaPrimeRénov 'is intended only for main residences and owner-occupants. A condition that we can regret, because it will not improve the living situation of tenants with poor energy comfort.

What works are concerned?

There are currently 22 renovation projects that can give rise to this assistance. This mainly involves work related to insulation, heating equipment, production of domestic hot water, certain glass wall work and the removal of fuel oil equipment. If you want to know if your project can come within the scope of this grant, you can visit the dedicated site, or go to the ADIL branch closest to you.

CITE 2020

The CITE 2020 version is also based on fixed prices linked to specific work, for example € 1,500 for a wood stove or € 2,000 for an air-water heat pump. The amounts are still capped at 75% of the total work and at € 2,400 for a single person or € 4,800 for a couple.

Aid open to whom?

If the 2020 conditions of the CITE are much less permissive than those of previous years, this is explained by the creation of the MaPrimeRénov 'aid. The CITE 2020 is therefore aimed at intermediate households, those who cannot benefit from ANAH aid, but who are still below the 9th decile. To find out if you can benefit from it, you will need to calculate your RFR (Reference Fiscal Income) and report it to the indications of the public authorities. Finally, your home must be over 2 years old to benefit from this renovation aid.

What are the eligible works?

Just like for MaPrimeRénov ', there are around twenty grants from the CITE. These are mainly works or bundles of works related to the installation of modern heating means, heat pumps, pellet stoves or efficient insulation. Windows are still concerned, but with a small flat rate: 40 € per equipment (change from single glazing to double glazing).

What are the other elements of this aid?

As was the case in previous years, to obtain this aid, the work must be entrusted to a craftsman certified RGE (Recognized Guarantor of the Environment). Note that this aid can always be combined with the Eco-PTZ, a zero-interest loan available from partner banks and reserved for energy renovation work. Finally, if you want to perform some forecast calculations, please note that ADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency) has set up an aid simulator, called Simul'Aid € s on its site. Thanks to this small online program, it is easy to find your way around the panel of available aids and to optimize the financing of your work.