The announcement was expected. With the upcoming implementation of simplified access to the RGE (Recognized Environmental Guarantor) label through the validation of acquired experience (VAE), the government is initiating a significant evolution of a system often considered overly complex by tradespeople. Long championed by the Capeb (Confederation of Craftspeople in the Building Sector), this reform aims to remove a barrier to an access system deemed too rigid, at odds with the realities faced by small construction businesses. On the ground, the gap is very real: nearly 5 million homes remain energy inefficient in France, and only 54,000 companies are RGE-certified! This woefully inadequate figure reveals the difficulties in accessing the program. For many woodworking and construction professionals, certification remains synonymous with cumbersome procedures, high costs, and sometimes limited recognition.
The reform introduces a welcome change with a clear objective: to move from a selection system to a recognition system by allowing certification based on audited, compliant projects; and by easing the requirements for the smallest businesses. And by maintaining procedures designed to facilitate access to the energy renovation market, such as the site certification… On paper, the evolution is a step in the right direction by bringing the system closer to the practices of tradespeople. But, while this progress represents a victory for professionals, it is only one step. Everything will depend on its implementation. Simplification, yes, but without simply shifting the complexity elsewhere.
Ultimately, this reform raises a broader question: what role do we want to give tradespeople in the energy transition? Behind the standards and labels, they are the ones who actually carry out the work. Faced with the climate emergency and the sheer volume of buildings needing renovation, there is no more time for adjustments. If the promise is kept, the RGE (Recognized Environmental Guarantor) certification, in its VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience) version, could mark a turning point. Otherwise, it will just be another reform.
Adèle Cazier