RE2020: New Buildings Affected as of May 1, 2026

Learn about the RE2020 requirements, the regulation replacing RT2012 to decarbonize buildings. Discover its energy performance objectives, summer comfort, and the application schedule, which will be extended to new building types from May 1, 2026.

Marion Deiana
Consultante HSE
Publication : 
11.02.2026
Table of Contents
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🔎 Key takeaways

  • RE2020 replaces RT2012 and imposes stricter requirements for energy performance, carbon footprint reduction, and summer comfort.
  • Its scope expands from May 1, 2026, with the inclusion of new building types (hotels, shops, industrial buildings, healthcare facilities, restaurants, etc.).‍
  • Evolving environmental performance thresholds (2028, 2031) are set according to building category and location, with the introduction of a new indicator “Cep,r” for certain building types.‍
  • Compliance is verified using a regulatory calculation method, with the possibility of adaptation based on project specificities, and labels allow for exceeding minimum requirements

Please note: This article concerns French legislation. The requirements described may not apply in other countries.

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The RE2020 environmental regulation replaces RT2012 and introduces new requirements to reduce the carbon footprint and improve the energy performance of buildings.

It sets energy and environmental performance requirements for new constructions.

Gradually came into effect from the 1st January 2022, it applies to new building constructions according to a staggered schedule, now extended to new building types from May 1, 2026.

What are the objectives of RE2020?

  • significantly reduce building carbon emissions;
  • prioritize energy efficiency as well as energy decarbonization ;
  • ensure comfort during heatwaves.

To this end, it is more stringent than RT2012.

Which constructions are affected?

Initially, RE 2020 applied to the construction of residential buildings, offices, or primary or secondary education facilities.

In this context, it has been applicable since:

  • January 1, 2022, to residential buildings,
  • July 1, 2022, to office buildings, or primary or secondary education facilities;
  • January 1, 2023, to extensions of these constructions;
  • 1er July 2023, to temporary constructions of these buildings exempt from any formality under the urban planning code and to constructions of these same buildings erected for a period not exceeding two years.

Since the publication of Decree No. 2026-16 of January 15, 2026, the scope of application of RE2020 has been extended. Thus, as of May 1, 2026, this regulation also applies to the construction of buildings or parts of buildings for which a building permit application or a prior declaration has been filed, for the following typologies:

  • industrial and craft buildings;
  • media libraries and libraries;
  • atypical educational buildings;
  • university teaching and research buildings;
  • hotels;
  • early childhood care facilities;
  • restaurants;
  • shops;
  • changing rooms only;
  • healthcare facilities with accommodation;
  • healthcare facilities;
  • airport terminals;
  • sports facilities.

Until April 30, 2026, these constructions remain subject to the requirements of RT2012.

However, the following remain excluded from the scope of RE2020:

  • the construction of buildings or parts of buildings which, due to specific constraints related to their use, must guarantee particular conditions of temperature, humidity, or air quality and therefore require specific rules;
  • the temporary construction of buildings or parts of buildings erected for a period not exceeding two years;
  • the construction or extension of buildings with a surface area of less than 50 m², which remains subject to the requirements of RT2012;
  • the extension of buildings with a cumulative surface area of less than 150 m² and representing less than 30% of the existing premises' surface area, which remains subject to the requirements of RT2012.

What are the energy and environmental performance requirements?

The construction of any affected building or part of a building must achieve minimum results in the following areas:

▶ Based on an assessment of 6 indicators meeting minimum requirements

Category Indicator [Unit] Name Description / Assessment
Energy
 Bbio
[points]		 Bioclimatic needs Assessment of heating, cooling (whether or not the building is air-conditioned), and lighting needs.
Cep
[kWhep/(m²·yr)]		 Total primary energy consumption Assessment of renewable and non-renewable energy consumption across the 5 RT 2012 uses: heating, cooling, domestic hot water, lighting, ventilation, and auxiliary equipment, plus:
  • 1. lighting and/or ventilation of parking areas
  • 2. lighting of common areas in multi-unit buildings
  • 3. electricity for elevators and/or escalators
Cep,nr
[kWhep/(m²·yr)]		 Non-renewable primary energy consumption Assessment of non-renewable primary energy consumption.
Carbon
 Ic energy
[kg CO₂ eq./m²]		 Climate change impact associated with primary energy consumption Introduction of the life cycle assessment method to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumed during the building's operation, i.e. over 50 years.
Ic construction
[kg CO₂ eq./m²]		 Climate change impact associated with "components" + "construction site" Broader application of the life cycle assessment method to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from construction products and equipment and their installation: the impact of the "Components" and "Construction Site" contributions.
Summer comfort
 DH
[°C·h]		 Discomfort degree-hours: level of discomfort perceived by occupants over the entire warm season Assessment of the gap between the building temperature and the comfort temperature (a temperature adjusted based on preceding days' temperatures, varying between 26 and 28°C).

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Source: Guide to the Environmental Regulation for New Buildings (RE2020) from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Cerema

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Minimum requirements are set by building category and geographical location.
As a result, some of the minimum requirements will gradually evolve in 2028 and 2031 to strengthen the RE2020's demands.

A decree defines, for the construction of buildings and parts of buildings for residential, office, and primary or secondary education use, and the construction of associated parking lots, the minimum technical characteristics of certain sets of building components contributing to energy and environmental performance, sanitary quality, or thermal comfort.

For the new building typologies introduced by the decree of January 15, 2026, the calculation of the building's renewable primary energy consumption is also added, for informational purposes, via a new indicator called "Cep,r", expressed in kWh/m²/year. This calculation concerns heating, cooling, domestic hot water production, lighting, internal occupant mobility within the building, heating, cooling, domestic hot water, and ventilation auxiliaries for buildings that, in normal use, are heated to a temperature above 12°C or cooled to a temperature below 30°C, and for associated parking lots.

How is the achievement of these minimum requirements verified?

For the construction of buildings and parts of buildings for residential, office, and primary or secondary education use, and the construction of associated parking lots, a calculation method allows for the verification of the achievement of minimum requirements and minimum technical characteristics.

However, the project owner may propose an adaptation of this method if it is not applicable due to the specificities of the project, a system, or the creation or significant modification of a heating or cooling network.

Even more ambitious constructions than RE2020?

‍Labels have been defined based on RE2020 indicators and include strengthened requirements.

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