RT 2012 (thermal standard)

The new 2012 Thermal Regulations (RT 2012) replace the RT 2005, which has been a mandatory standard for all new buildings since 2006.
The main points of the RT 2012 are as follows:
- an energy consumption ceiling limited to 50 kWh/m²/year (BBC standard) for new buildings, and this for 5 uses: heating, water, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting. The average energy consumption with the RT 2005 is 80 to 250 kWh/m²/year;
- more stringentCO2 emission standards;
- a target of improving the energy performance of new buildings by 50% or more by 2020, compared to current performance.
The RT 2012 energy target, defined in the Grenelle 1 law, is based on the consumption level required by the BBC Effinergie® label for housing.

The RT 2012 thermal regulations have been mandatory since 1 January 2011 in the tertiary and industrial sectors, and will be mandatory from 2013 in the residential sector.

The application of the RT 2012 requirements will have a number of consequences, including
- a strong increase in the number of energy-efficient houses, such as bioclimatic and passive houses, which significantly reduce the need for heating and cooling
- an additional cost compared to the RT 2005, in the order of 10 to 15% in the individual house (source: Fédération Française du Bâtiment).