Energy audit in Haut-Rhin (68)
An energy audit makes it possible to assess how a property performs before undertaking major work. In Haut-Rhin (68), this analysis must take account of a wide variety of buildings: terraced workers’ houses in Mulhouse, timber-framed properties in Colmar and the wine-growing towns, village houses or former farmhouses with large internal volumes. The aim is to identify the main sources of heat loss, assess ventilation and existing equipment, then develop coherent renovation scenarios. The audit therefore helps avoid choosing insulation or a heating system without measuring the consequences for the building as a whole.
Tip: have your energy performance certificate (DPE) and energy bills to hand for a more accurate estimate.
Why carry out an energy audit in Haut-Rhin
Mulhouse’s workers’ housing estates often consist of houses built to repeated layouts, with party walls that limit some lateral heat loss. The more sensitive areas may therefore be the roof, gable walls, openings or floors. An audit makes it possible to distinguish between these areas and avoid automatically applying the same programme to every wall. It also takes account of alterations made to the property over time.
In timber-framed buildings, the assessment must go further than simply reviewing energy consumption. Timber frames and old infill materials require an understanding of moisture transfer before insulation is proposed. Rural houses with massive walls raise other questions: thermal inertia, large volumes, extensive roofs and heating systems sometimes sized for a property that has undergone little renovation. In the climate of Haut-Rhin, the audit therefore helps determine the order in which to address the envelope, air renewal and building systems.
What the energy audit includes
Assessment of the building envelope
The energy audit begins with an assessment of the walls, roof, floors, openings and main junctions. Their construction, exposure and condition influence heat loss. This review is particularly useful in older buildings, where several materials and periods of renovation may coexist. It also helps identify constraints that make certain insulation techniques unsuitable.
Assessment of heating and hot water
The heating system is assessed together with its emitters, controls and suitability for the volume of the property. Domestic hot-water production is also taken into account. The aim is not simply to identify the equipment currently installed, but to understand its place in the overall operation of the building. Replacement may be considered within a scenario, but only after assessing work likely to change heating requirements.
Ventilation assessment
The audit examines air renewal, air inlets, extract points and circulation between rooms. This becomes essential when insulation is planned, because reducing air leakage changes the way the property behaves. In older houses, it is also important to avoid creating an imbalance between walls that naturally manage some moisture and a building envelope that has become much more airtight.
Development of work scenarios
The observations are translated into renovation pathways. The scenarios organise the work according to a technical logic: building envelope, ventilation, heating and, where necessary, hot water. They make it possible to compare several ways of improving the property without considering each element separately. The result helps identify which operations determine the following stages and which can be grouped within a wider renovation.
Prioritisation of the work
Not every issue identified necessarily requires simultaneous intervention. The audit helps identify the most important elements and avoid contradictory work. For example, replacing a heating system before major insulation work may mean basing decisions on needs that will subsequently change. Prioritisation therefore provides a framework for the project and helps prepare the different stages.
Typical situations in Haut-Rhin
Terraced workers’ house in Mulhouse
The audit may show that party walls are not the main source of heat loss. The roof, an exposed gable wall, windows or a floor above a cellar may be more significant. The scenario can then target these areas before considering changes to the heating system and its controls.
Timber-framed house in Colmar
The assessment must take account of the timber structure, infill materials and their ability to manage water vapour. External insulation may be unsuitable for the façade or its architecture. The audit can then assess other combinations, such as the loft, floors and certain internal walls that are compatible with the way the building performs.
Village house or former farmhouse
Large volumes and thick walls can conceal very different situations between the roof, heated rooms, outbuildings and floors. An audit makes it possible to distinguish the effect of thermal inertia from actual insulation performance. It then helps organise the work before the heating equipment is resized.
Grants and funding
Depending on the project, the household’s circumstances and the planned work, the measures following an audit may fall within schemes such as MaPrimeRénov’, CEE (energy savings certificates), reduced VAT or éco-PTZ (zero-interest eco-loan). Conditions vary according to the work, and some pathways may impose specific requirements. For certain grants linked to the work, the use of an RGE-certified professional is required. The criteria should be checked before any commitment is made.
To discuss your project and the possible next steps following the assessment, you can contact GRAM Énergie. To check the official conditions for MaPrimeRénov’, the rules of public schemes and the procedures to follow, also consult France Rénov’ before deciding which work to undertake.
How we work
Information gathering
We review the layout of the property, its use, the equipment present and any work already carried out.
Building assessment
We examine walls, roof, floors, openings and constraints specific to the materials found.
System assessment
Heating, hot water and ventilation are assessed in relation to the characteristics of the building envelope.
Development of scenarios
The possible interventions are grouped and ordered to form several coherent technical pathways.
Project prioritisation
We identify the work that determines the following stages in order to support decisions before any commitment is made.
Our other services in Haut-Rhin
After the assessment, the project can progress towards a global energy renovation in Haut-Rhin, the installation of a heat pump, insulation work or the installation of a thermodynamic water heater. You can also view our page dedicated to energy renovation in Haut-Rhin, our overview of Grand Est, as well as our local pages for Mulhouse and Colmar.
Frequently asked questions
Is an audit useful before replacing the heating system?
Yes, particularly when the insulation is still likely to change. The audit makes it possible to assess which improvements to the building envelope may alter the property’s requirements. The future heating system can then be considered on the basis of a renovated property rather than a situation that may change shortly after installation.
Does the audit take timber-framed walls into account?
Yes. Their construction and behaviour in relation to moisture must be included in the assessment. A recommendation that is suitable for a modern wall is not automatically appropriate for an old timber frame with cob or brick infill. The scenarios must therefore be adapted to the actual nature of the walls.
Can a large former farmhouse be audited?
Yes. The assessment must then distinguish heated areas from outbuildings and examine the volumes, roof, floors and existing equipment. Thick walls provide thermal inertia, but the audit is specifically used to determine which elements genuinely limit performance and which should be treated as a priority.
What should you do after an energy audit in Haut-Rhin?
The next step is to review the proposed scenarios, check their compatibility with the building and organise the work in the correct order. The conditions of any available grants should also be checked before making a commitment. The audit therefore becomes a basis for decisions on insulation, ventilation and changes to equipment.
Let’s talk about your project
Tell us about your home and your goals: we help you prioritise the works and identify the grants worth looking into.