The announcement had been eagerly awaited. With the upcoming introduction of simplified access to the RGE label through the Validation of Prior Experience (VAE), the government is initiating a significant reform of a scheme often regarded by tradespeople as overly complex. Long advocated by Capeb, this reform aims to remove a barrier created by an access system considered too rigid and disconnected from the realities of small construction businesses. On the ground, the gap is very real: nearly 5 million homes in France remain energy-inefficient, while only 54,000 companies hold RGE certification. This figure is far too low and highlights the difficulties involved in obtaining the label. For many woodworking and construction professionals, certification remains synonymous with burdensome procedures, high costs, and sometimes limited recognition.
The reform introduces a welcome change with a clear objective: shifting from a system of selection to one of recognition by allowing certification to be obtained on the basis of compliant, audited projects; by easing requirements for smaller businesses; and by maintaining procedures intended to facilitate access to the energy renovation market, such as project-based certification. On paper, the reform is moving in the right direction by bringing the scheme closer to the realities of tradespeople. However, while this progress represents a victory for professionals, it is only one step forward. Everything will depend on how it is implemented. Simplification is welcome, but not if complexity is merely shifted elsewhere.
Ultimately, this reform raises a broader question: what role do we want tradespeople to play in the energy transition? Behind the standards and labels, they are the ones carrying out the work. Faced with the climate emergency and the scale of the building stock that requires renovation, the time for minor adjustments has passed. If the promise is fulfilled, the VAE version of the RGE label could mark a turning point. Otherwise, it will be just another reform.