Artisans et Bois n°82
RGE: An Expected Opening,
Effectiveness Yet to Be Proven
The announcement had been eagerly awaited. With the upcoming implementation of simplified access to the RGE label through the validation of prior experience (VAE), the government is initiating a significant evolution of a system often considered too complex by craftsmen. Long advocated by the Capeb, this reform aims to remove the barriers created by an access system regarded as overly rigid and disconnected from the reality 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 the RGE certification. This figure is clearly insufficient and highlights the difficulties involved in accessing the scheme. For many woodworking and construction professionals, the qualification process still means cumbersome procedures, high costs, and recognition that is sometimes limited.
The reform introduces a welcome change with a clear objective: shifting from a selection-based system to one focused on recognition by allowing companies to obtain certification based on compliant audited worksites; by easing requirements for the smallest businesses; and by maintaining procedures intended to facilitate access to the energy renovation market, such as worksite attestations. On paper, the reform is moving in the right direction by bringing the system closer to the realities of craftsmen’s day-to-day practices. 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 necessary, but not if it merely shifts complexity elsewhere.
Ultimately, this reform raises a broader question: what role do we want craftsmen to play in the energy transition? Behind the standards and labels, they are the ones actually carrying out the work. Faced with the climate emergency and the scale of the renovation challenge, 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 simply become one more reform among many.
ADELE CAZIER