How we’re helping Hosts in France lower energy costs

With energy prices rising and increased regulatory pressure to reduce home energy consumption, many Hosts in France are looking for ways to lower their utility bills and shrink their carbon footprint.

To help you do both, we’re partnering with Effy to provide resources for making your place more energy-efficient, including personalized recommendations, certified craftspeople, and financial assistance.

You can save up to 2,200 euros on energy-efficient renovations quoted by Effy before December 18, 2022. Airbnb has set aside 1 million euros in grant funding to help Hosts pay for renovations.*

You can get started by signing up with Effy, which will help you understand your home’s energy performance and suggest renovations to improve its DPE rating. As a Host, you may already have a DPE (energy performance diagnosis) for your property that rates its energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from heating, hot water, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems on a scale of A to G, with G being the least efficient.

One out of every six homes in France has an F or G rating, so if your property falls into either of these categories, you’re not alone. Making a few updates for efficiency can significantly reduce how much energy you and your guests consume.

For example, the experts at Effy note that:

• Adding thermal insulation allows up to 65% savings on your energy bill.
• Replacing an old gas or oil boiler with an air-water heat pump can help you save up to 1,000 euros per year on your energy bill.
• Installing solar panels enables up to 40% savings on your energy bill.

Improvements like these allow you to continue providing a comfortable space for guests and can help you lower your energy bills while lowering carbon emissions.

“I did some renovation work in my house a few years ago and have really seen the difference in my energy consumption,” says Joëlle, a Superhost in Lille, France. “Given the current and future context, it’s an investment I don’t regret.”

To help you cover the costs of improving your place’s energy efficiency, we’re offering individual grants of 1,000 to 2,200 euros to make renovations. The Airbnb grant funds are available to most Hosts with active listings who’ve welcomed guests on at least two occasions between October 3, 2021, and October 2, 2022.*

After you sign up with Effy, you’ll be contacted by an expert who’ll assess your situation and provide you with free, personalized recommendations for energy-efficient updates. This will be followed by an on-site visit to confirm your specific needs.

You’ll receive a cost estimate, and, if you choose to proceed with renovations, Effy will match you with certified craftspeople, coordinate the work that you’d like done, and assist with government grant applications. Any grant amount awarded by Airbnb will be deducted from your final invoice after the work is completed

Energy-efficient upgrades can be expensive. Beyond the support available exclusively to Hosts, you may be eligible for financial aid from the French government, local authorities, energy suppliers, or other organizations. Effy pursues and collects all of these grants on your behalf, so you pay only the final discounted price.

MaPrime Rénov’

MaPrimeRénov’, established in January 2020, is funded by the government housing agency.

It’s available to help pay for an energy audit, as well as improvements such as replacing a heating system, adding or updating insulation, removing an oil tank, and installing solar panels.

Based on your income, you could qualify for MaPrimeRénov’ assistance to help cover up to 90% of your renovation costs if:

• You own or lease a home that’s at least 15 years old when the work begins, with some exceptions.
• Your property is located in a metropolitan area of France or one of its territories.
• You have the work performed by a RGE-certified provider, such as Effy and its partners.

The property must also be your primary residence. If you typically offer guests your entire place when you’re away, or host private or shared space in your home, MaPrimeRénov’ may be the right solution for you.

Energy-efficiency certificates

The French government requires energy providers to help others, including individuals, hit certain savings quotas by offering advice and financial assistance. The program, known as Certificats d’économie d’énergie, or CEE for short, is open to everyone, regardless of income.

As a Host, you can apply for an energy-efficiency certificate whether you lease or own the property, and whether the space is your primary residence or a second home. The types of renovations covered by CEE can vary from year to year, but it currently helps pay for things like replacing windows, insulating walls and roofs, and installing energy-efficient or renewable systems for heating and cooling.

You could qualify for CEE if:

• You own or lease a home that’s at least two years old when the work begins.
• You have the work performed by a RGE-certified provider, such as Effy and its partners.

The amount provided depends on the volume of energy saved and is calculated by taking into account various criteria (type of work, location, apartment or house, household income, etc.)

*Read the complete eligibility rules on our Terms and Conditions page for this special offer.

Information contained in this article may have changed since publication.