Participate in the consultation on the EU Electrification Action Plan and the Heating and Cooling Strategy

As the European Union aims to achieve an ambitious carbon neutrality, two major initiatives emerge as essential levers: the Action Plan for Electrification and the Heating and Cooling Strategy. These plans continue the energy transition, aiming to modernize our energy systems for greater efficiency and sustainability. In 2025, the public consultation offers a crucial opportunity for citizens and professionals to express themselves through a participatory approach open until November. It is a rare opportunity to influence the policies that will shape energy consumption in households, businesses, and infrastructures in the coming years.

Understanding the Action Plan for Electrification: a pivot for the EU’s energy transition

The Action Plan for Electrification represents a fundamental step towards a less fossil fuel-dependent energy system. Despite progress in producing decarbonized electricity, electricity currently accounts for only about 25% of final energy consumption in the European Union. This proportion remains insufficient to meet the climate objectives set by the EU.

The plan aims to intensify the use of clean electricity, particularly in sectors such as transport, industry, and buildings. As a heating and plumbing professional, this shift is at the heart of field jobs, where thermal systems are evolving towards cleaner electric solutions such as heat pumps or reversible air conditioning.

This increased electrification must be accompanied by particular attention to energy efficiency and the stability of the electrical grid, thus preserving service quality for consumers. The Action Plan seeks to remove the barriers that are currently hindering this evolution, including:

• The high initial cost of efficient electrical equipment
• The need for suitable infrastructures to absorb growing demands
• The need for clear and facilitating regulations for installers and users

Finally, it is important to emphasize the need for continuous support for investments in local renewable energy to ensure a reliable and sustainable supply. This framework must encourage both individuals and professionals to adopt economically viable electrification solutions.

Application Areas	Plan Objectives	Expected Benefits
Transport	Increase the number of electric vehicles and associated infrastructures	Reduction of CO2 emissions, improvement of air quality
Industry	Replace fossil processes with electric solutions	Energy optimization, increased competitiveness
Buildings	Development of electrical equipment for heating and cooling	Optimized comfort and reduced energy bills

To participate in this consultation opened by the European Commission before November 20, 2025, each stakeholder can submit their opinion through official platforms, an important gesture to make the voices of field professionals, such as installers and users, heard. This collaboration is essential for building a strategy adapted to on-the-ground realities.

European Strategy for Heating and Cooling: towards better energy efficiency

Within the European Union, heating and cooling account for nearly 50% of total energy consumption, a heavy share still largely provided by fossil fuels, particularly gas. This dependence presents significant challenges in terms of both cost and environmental sustainability. The new Heating and Cooling Strategy aims to transform this key sector through several levers:

• Intensification of the integration of renewable energy into heating and cooling systems
• Improvement of energy efficiency of buildings and infrastructures
• Utilization of waste heat from industrial and urban processes

In practice, these measures must translate into enhanced support for technologies such as electric heat pumps, geothermal energy, and urban heat networks. Paul Leclerc reminds that these solutions often combine with well-thought-out installations, integrating quality plumbing, controlled sealing, and effective thermal insulation to optimize the entire heating system.

The gradual replacement of gas boilers with decarbonized systems and the improvement of energy infrastructure planning are strong axes of this strategy. Specific financial aids from public authorities also support this transition in social and private housing.

Strategic Axes	Proposed Action	Expected Impacts
Energy Planning	Optimize heating and cooling infrastructures	Reduction of energy losses, better territorial coherence
Deployment of clean technologies	Promote heat pumps, geothermal energy, and heat networks	Decrease in carbon emissions, wider access to clean energy
Utilization of waste heat	Exploiting surplus industrial heat	Improvement of overall energy efficiency

The public consultation thus allows for gathering feedback from professionals on encountered barriers, such as regulatory or technical aspects, but also highlights best practices. It is also a moment to look forward to practical improvements in daily life, whether in a residence, a public building, or an industry.

Economic issues and support for the transition through dedicated financial aids for sustainable heating

One of the major challenges of the energy transition lies in financing renovations and new installations favoring cleaner consumption. The initial costs can seem a barrier, especially in the current context where economic accessibility remains a priority for many households and businesses. That is why the European Commission, in collaboration with member states, is implementing various aids to facilitate the adoption of sustainable solutions.

These financial aids take several forms, including:

• Direct grants for the installation of equipment such as heat pumps, high-efficiency boilers, or solar thermal systems;
• Tax credits and preferred-rate loans for energy renovation of buildings;
• Personalized support for energy assessment and optimization of existing installations.

Paul Leclerc encourages consulting the official orientations regularly updated, notably regarding the Coup de Pouce heating electric bonus and the conditions related to the Energy Performance Diagnostic (EPD). These mechanisms facilitate access to energy renovation while ensuring a service compliant with quality and safety standards.

Type of Aid	Conditions	Target Audience	Approximate Amount
Grants for heat pump installation	Compliance with energy efficiency criteria	Households and professionals	Up to €4000
Tax credit for energy renovation	Works carried out by RGE certified professionals	Owner-occupants	Variable depending on works
Special housing bonuses for social housing	Dedicated national programs	HLM housing	Based on available funding

The effectiveness of the aids also depends on clear information and tailored support. It is in this sense that the ongoing consultation allows for recommendations to optimize these devices, facilitate their access, and energize networks of qualified installers on the ground.

Forward-looking perspectives and environmental impact of the new European energy policy

The deployment of European strategies for electrification and heating-cooling fits into a long-term vision consolidating sustainability and energy security. By driving a shift towards more environmentally friendly uses, the EU seeks to drastically reduce its carbon footprint, improve quality of life, and enhance its energy autonomy.

Among the perspectives, it is essential to consider:

• The increasing integration of renewable energy into the national and local energy mix;
• The role of digitalization and intelligent management of electrical and thermal networks;
• The development of new technical standards supporting the quality, reliability, and durability of installations.

A specific challenge lies in the intelligent management of electrical loads, which will help avoid overconsumption and promote network flexibility. This involves promoting the installation of connected systems capable of automatically adjusting their operation according to the demand and supply of renewable energy.

The transition is not only technical. It is also a change in mindsets, consumption habits, and cooperation between public actors, craftsmen, industries, and end users. An experienced plumber like Paul Leclerc understands the importance of this human and technical support to ensure successful implementation.

Area for Improvement	Key Technologies	Expected Results
Renewable energies	Solar panels, wind turbines, biomass	Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
Smart networks	Smart grids, communicating meters	Better management of consumption and reduction of peaks
Standards and certifications	RGE, quality certifications	Reliable, durable installations that comply with requirements

Participating in the public consultation helps shape this energy future. It is a unique opportunity to share concrete experiences from the ground, challenges encountered, and needs for improvement for a smoother and more effective implementation.

How citizens and professionals can concretely contribute to this public European consultation

The consultation open until November 20, 2025, aims to gather as much feedback as possible to guide European decisions. It is aimed at both citizens and professionals and organizations involved in energy, construction, or industry.

Different modalities are proposed for participation:

• Responding to online questionnaires on official platforms;
• Submitting written contributions providing analyses, proposals, or feedback;
• Participating in thematic workshops and webinars organized as part of the consultation;
• Using social media and forums to raise awareness and discuss the issues.

Access to these consultations is done through links such as that of the French public consultation on the multi-annual energy programming or the page dedicated to the European Action Plan.

For a heating or plumbing professional, the consultation phase represents an opportunity to assert on-the-ground expertise and propose concrete solutions for better energy efficiency, more adoption of sustainable technologies, and an energy transition respectful of all.

Modality	Description	Target Audience
Online questionnaires	Structured forms for gathering precise opinions	Citizens, professionals
Written contributions	Detailed documents for in-depth analyses	Experts, organizations
Workshops and webinars	Interactive exchanges allowing direct dialogue	Professionals, decision-makers
Social platforms	Discussions and awareness through social media	General public, professional networks

By actively participating, each contributes to a strategy that is better suited, enhancing energy competitiveness and ensuring a sustainable heating and cooling system for future generations.