Residents of Colmar face heating issues during winter, relying on basic temporary solutions.

• Temperatures are dropping in Colmar, in the Grand Est region.
• Residents use basic heating solutions like a construction heater mounted on a gas bottle, provided by a neighbor.
• The heating disjoints when it gets too cold, despite previously investing in modern equipment.

Homeowners experience frequent malfunctions with their new, supposedly eco-friendly heating systems.

• René and Emmanuel Charon, who aimed for an ecological heating method, face issues with their newly equipped heat pump.
• The heat pump, often malfunctioning, was improperly installed and not up to standards.

Sales companies exploit environmental and state logos to sell heating systems with the false promise of substantial public subsidies.

• A heating company used promotional material with environmental pledges and state logos to sell a heat pump.
• The homeowners were initially promised a state reimbursement check and later a total of 10,000 euros in public subsidies, which they never received.

The government's ambition to renovate homes for energy efficiency is questioned for its practicality and utility.

• President Macron promises to renovate at least 700,000 homes per year to combat energy poverty.
• The building sector, responsible for nearly half of energy consumption, must transition to low-energy consumption by 2050.
• Public authorities increase aid for individuals, yet the complexity of the system and risk of abuse persist.

An undercover investigation reveals how companies use misleading tactics to promote energy renovations.

• An investigation is conducted to test the simplicity and efficacy of government-promoted renovations.
• The investigators pose as a couple seeking to reduce heating bills and choose a poorly insulated Normandy house for the experiment.

Sales representatives, posing as state agents, offer expensive heat pumps and misleading financing options.

• Sales reps falsely present themselves as agents of the state or endorsed by the state, offering heat pumps and claiming to provide state-funded aids.
• The couple discovers excessive costs and deceptive credit terms that were not previously disclosed.

Individuals share their stories of falling victim to deceptive sales techniques and ending up with substantial debts.

• Clients of a heating company share their story of being misled into incurring a large debt due to deceptive sales practices.
• They were offered a heat pump with supposed state aid but ended up with a high-interest loan and no public subsidies.

An inside look at a teleprospecting platform that employs dubious methods to sell energy renovations.

• An investigation into a teleprospecting platform used for selling heat pumps reveals training focused on deceptive sales tactics.
• The company's employees are trained to mislead potential customers about the nature of the business and the availability of public funds.

When confronted, the company's representatives deny malpractice and refuse to address evidence of deceptive practices.

• Upon confrontation, the company's representatives deny any wrongdoing and refuse to engage in an interview about their practices.
• Despite evidence of questionable sales methods, the company insists on its integrity in the energy renovation market.

An ex-employee reveals how his former company exploited public funding for energy renovations through fraudulent practices.

• A former employee exposes how his company exploited the 'Ma Prime Rénov' platform to create false accounts and claim subsidies for energy audits.
• The company would use this scheme to siphon off thousands of euros in public funds daily.

Homeowners face significant challenges in accessing and correcting their 'Ma Prime Rénov' subsidy applications.

• A couple struggles to access the full amount of subsidies they are entitled to due to platform errors and inability to correct their application.
• The platform's technical issues and lack of flexibility in modifying applications result in the couple not receiving the aid they need for their renovations.

Expert opinions and reports criticize the inefficiency of the government's policy in achieving meaningful energy renovations.

• Reports from France Stratégie and the Senate highlight the failure to meet renovation targets and the inefficiency of the current policy.
• Experts question the government's prioritization of symbolic over effective measures and warn of the consequences for climate goals and energy poverty.