There are very clear correlations between structural elements (type of dwelling, date of construction, size, neighbourhood And these correlations are even more remarkable as they are relatively independent of socio-demographic characteristics of households. Therefore it’s important for policies to focus on structural elements of energy consumption, i.e. on the housing stock itself. Implementation of thermal regulations for new construction and most recently regulation on refurbishment of existing stock are all measures which can have a great impact.

On the other hand, the correlation between ecological sensitivity and energy consumption is less straightforward. Sustainable consumption practices, including making insulation work or make the choice of equipment, are based on the ability to make the choice of high-end technology. Environmental awareness plays a major role in the process of gradual replacement of equipments, leading to choosing for instance low consumption lights or class A equipments. However, the ecological sensitivity does not play any of the general rate of equipment in the sense of a decrease in the number of energy-using appliances (rather the opposite. As ecological sensitivity is linked with high level education and income, it is rather correlated to a high rate of equipments).

> the report is available for download at www.credoc.fr/