Build your house in 2025, is done under the aegis of a new regulation very ambitious. Indeed, the so-called environmental regulations RE2020 has become even more demanding in 2025 in order to limit carbon emissions and energy consumption of buildings in France as much as possible. Particularly comfortable, the houses built today are therefore increasingly ecological and efficient.
What is environmental regulation?
No more question of building thermal colanders ruinous on a daily basis due to the cost of energy required for heating, air conditioning, or lighting. The environmental and thermal regulations governing new construction in France guarantee compliance with a high level of comfort while controlling energy consumption.
From thermal regulation to environmental regulation
The first thermal regulations were introduced in 1974, in the context of the oil shocks. Its objective was to encourage the construction of more efficient, better insulated buildings that limit their energy consumption. With technical progress and improved knowledge, these regulations have continued to be strengthened to offer today very efficient houses that drastically reduce their energy needs (heating, cooling, hot water, lighting, etc.). Since 2022, construction must comply with environmental regulations 2020 or RE2020. In addition to thermal performance, these regulations also impose standards in terms ofcarbon emissions over the entire lifespan of the building.
Learn more about RE2020 by reading our article “ New RE2020 house in the Southwest: what are the consequences for my project?"
What is RE2025?
Talk about RE2025 is an abuse of language. The construction of new house is still governed by RE2020 today. However, this regulation had planned, from the outset, a gradual increase in power, in order to give construction players time to adapt to the new requirements. 2025 is therefore the second stage of RE2020, as shown in the RE2020 guide from the Ministry of Ecological Transition. It strengthens requirements, particularly in terms of carbon footprint and bioclimatic design.
New home regulations: what will change in 2025
Regarding the construction of individual houses, the main change brought about by this evolution of the regulations is the reduction of carbon emissions emitted by construction materials from their manufacture to their end of life.
Stricter carbon thresholds
the indicator IC Construction, which measures the carbon emissions emitted by all materials used in construction (from their manufacture to their destruction), is thus lowered by approximately 15%. The objective of this measure seems clear: to encourage professionals to favor materials with low greenhouse gas emissions. This could be: biobased materials such as wood or hemp for example, or geo-sourced such as raw earth for example, or materials from reuse or recycling.
Achieving the high level of performance required by RE2020
Having already achieved excellent energy performance thanks to RE2020, individual houses will not experience any further regulatory changes in 2025.
Houses built today must therefore guarantee:
- Using the most carbon-free energy possible. No more fossil fuels, especially gas heating in new homes.
- A new house that is cool in summer and limits the need for air conditioning.
- A good performance bioclimatic (Bbio) . The Bbio coefficient, which measures heating, lighting and cooling requirements, must ensure that the new house is perfectly designed, with optimized orientation, efficient insulation, well-positioned windows, protection against summer overheating, in order to limit energy needs.
Explore the subject in more depth with the article: “RE2020 house: what changes for construction"
What are the implications for future owners?
Building your home in 2025 means investing in a healthier, more comfortable, and future-proof home. But it also requires good support. Technical choices are becoming more complex, and requirements are more stringent. Hence the importance of working with an experienced builder who understands the intricacies of regulations and knows how to integrate these constraints from the design phase.
What materials should you use to build your house in compliance with RE2025?
Regulations are moving towards the use of materials with a low carbon footprint such as wood, cellulose wadding, etc.
Timber construction is therefore strongly encouraged, especially since this highly insulated construction system facilitates the design of high-performance houses.
Should you build your house out of wood?
Choosing a timber-framed house or a mixed timber-brick house can be a wise choice. Indeed, the carbon impact of a new house comes largely from the structural work (foundations, structure, etc.). With thresholds set to fall further in 2028, wood as a structural material for individual houses could become, in individual house, almost unavoidable.
Making this change today means anticipating future regulations.
To go further, consult the article “10 reasons to build a low-carbon wooden house"
Should we integrate renewable energies?
Regulations strongly encourage the use of renewable energies for the production of heating and domestic hot water. With the creation of a maximum threshold for greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption, heating exclusively with gas or other fossil fuels is now excluded from new homes. In fact, the heat pump is becoming a must-have for new homes.
Complete this article by reading “Why use renewable energies in new construction?"
Does a RE2020 house cost more?
The implementation of the RE2020 increased the cost of buying a single-family home, but builders have sought solutions to limit the price increase. In the long term, energy savings and the valuation of the property largely compensate for this difference.
Go further with the article “Price of a wooden house: cheaper in the medium term"
The key role of the manufacturer
Wooden House Builder like traditional masonry houses Maisons Sic has long been committed to energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. Thanks to technical expertise, partnerships with responsible material suppliers, and energy simulation tools, the builder designs homes that meet standards… and often exceed them. Today, the builder offers innovative solutions such as wood and brick house which combines the advantages of both construction techniques depending on the client's project.
Discover this type of construction in the article “ Wood and brick house: the contemporary asset »
Building today means anticipating tomorrow's regulations
Construction standards are constantly evolving. While the construction Ic (carbon emissions from materials) has already been reduced by 15% between 2022 and 2025, regulations plan to lower these thresholds by more than 2031% by 20. Thus, building a house compliant with RE2020 Version 2025 means ensuring a sustainable, valued, and economical product over the long term. It also means making a concrete gesture for the planet, without sacrificing comfort or aesthetics.
