Full throttle on energy renovation at the Élysée. As part of the fight against global warming and the sobriety plan, the old stones of the presidential palace are being modernized. The Presidency of the Republic, in full rehabilitation of its heating system, intends to green the consumption of the hotel of Évreux. For this, a green and detailed plan whose centerpiece is the establishment of geothermal energy on the water table. Keystone nevertheless supported by the installation of a gas boiler. Burner who did not fail to make people talk.
“The gas boiler, it must be removed for the French, but on the other hand to install it at the Élysée to better heat Macron and his family” is offended on Twitter the MEP RN, Jean-Lin Lacapelle. Same story on the side of Florian Philippot or the former deputy Jean-Philippe Poisson. And when it’s not the politicians, citizens massively take over, in particular by sharing this information published by La Lettre A. Cry scandal or chant greenwashing.
The existence of this gas boiler is reported by the Court of Auditors in its annual report entitled “Accounts and management of the services of the Presidency of the Republic”. Analyzing real estate operating and investment expenditure, the Rue Cambon Elders write: “The Presidency has also put an end to the acquisition and consumption of fuel oil from September 2022, following the replacement of an oil boiler by a gas boiler”. All for the tidy sum of 100,000 euros.
The senator of Hautes-Alpes Jean-Michel Arnaud (Union Centriste) in his information report made on behalf of the finance commission “on the eco-responsible actions of the public authorities” gives more information on the extent of the renovation work undertaken at the Élysée. “The institution is leading a project to set up groundwater geothermal energy at a depth of 65 meters for the hot water circuit of the Évreux hotel in order to reduce CO² emissions by 80% and to divide fluid bills by 2 or 3”. And among the other energy renovation works, “the institution plans to replace two oil-fired boilers with gas boilers at the Hôtel d’Évreux, making it possible to reduce the CO² emissions of each boiler by around 30%”.
“The sobriety plan also applies to the Élysée”, explains Emmanuel Macron’s entourage. And to respect it, repairs are essential. However, since July 1, 2022, the installation of an oil-fired boiler is prohibited. So there is no question of replacing the old one with a new, cutting-edge one that consumes less and emits less CO2. “The gas boiler was our only solution” is justified on the side of the executive. Any other system would have required too heavy work, especially the piping. In addition to taking more time, not sure that they would not have been validated by the Oppic. The operator of cultural heritage and real estate projects ensures the conservation of listed buildings, such as the Élysée.
“The criticisms are unjustified”, complains the entourage of the President, “70% of energy costs will be covered by the heat pump which runs on electricity. The gas boiler – the installation of which is prohibited only in new buildings – will make up for the rest”.
However, at the beginning of June, the government seemed in favor of a ban on the installation of any new gas boilers. The Minister of Energy Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher announced to the Senators the launch of a consultation on this subject. The goal ? “Drastically reduce emissions related to fuel oil and gas by accelerating the replacement of gas boilers as fuel oil”