Here in France, We just got what We called the “Grenelle 2″ and the RT2012 (Technical Rules for construction 2012) which determined what would be next in France’s laws about the way We will have to build. Basically, it positioned the Low consumption building (“BBC” in in French) as the new norm. It only applies to new buildings. Every new building has to consume a certain maximum amount of energy (electricity). Of course, this is a big step forward. Why? Because We have now to be very careful when We think and build something, during conception and even while managing the building. Also, it will force people to give some work to architects, more and more houses are bought to companies or self-made, which leads to catastrophic constructions. And it will push the innovation and new technologies and standardize current technologies – which is very important. This is very nice, but there is a big problem. First, this will be applied to new buildings only, but We know that old buildings are usually not very advanced concerning that matter – They usually have old systems and are badly built. Moreover, the “BBC” model is not the most advanced now. We are able to build “positive buildings”, which product more energy than they consume. We also can build or create buildings which are “passives”, which consume as much energy as They product. Solar energy, wind energy, … allow us to decrease the quantity of energy that a house needs. But the “grenelle 2″ only chose to focus on a model which is not that advanced anymore.

Politics… Some of them try to act, but not too far, to make as many people as possible happy. But that big step forward is important to politics too. Why? Because lobbies and industries now live and eat because of the “environmental” business. Eco-construction crosses eco-business, for good and evil! Too bad cause We’re missing big opportunities to make things change.