Do you find it hard to keep warm in winter or cool in summer? Are your energy bills soaring and putting you in difficulty? Fuel poverty affects more than a quarter of all students, and can have an impact on your comfort, budget, physical and mental health , academic success and social ties... There is help available to students, and solutions you can implement to reduce the energy costs of your accommodation.
What help can you call on if you run into difficulties?
Let us help you
If you are in a situation of fuel poverty or substandard housing, you can seek advice from
iCampus reception à
Grenoble and
Valency or make an appointment with the social services department.
You can also contact us directly
industry professionals who will provide you with free, personalized services (a socio-technical diagnosis of your home, advice on energy management and the installation of small energy-saving equipment, guidance on your rights and financial aid).
Departmental housing information agency (ADIL) offers free support, accessible to all, particularly on energy-related housing issues. Their services are available at
Grenoble and
Valency.
Free ADIL consultations are held once a month at MUSE for students in the Grenoble area.
Mobilizing financial aid
There are
housing assistance schemes designed to ease your financial burden and help you combat fuel poverty.
If you would like more information on how to apply for these grants, please contact the iCampus offices at
Grenoble and
Valency or make an appointment with
Crous social services.
Prevention: choosing the right home
A wide panorama of
housing types exist. You can opt for social housing, which is often better insulated, or shared accommodation (classic, solidarity, intergenerational) to share costs.
What questions should I ask when I visit?
- If possible, opt for recent construction (after 2000).
- Avoid high energy performance ratings (DPE) (F or G). The closer the DPE is to the letter A, the lower your energy bills will be. Please note: from 2025, all G-rated properties will be banned from rental, followed by F-rated properties in 2028.
- Ask for energy bills from previous tenants to give you an idea of the bills you'll have to pay.
- Windows facing south or west will be more pleasant and energy-efficient in winter.
- Check for the presence of shutters, curtains and double-glazing, essential for insulation from the cold and heat!
- Check for controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) and don't hesitate to test it! They purify the air and prevent the accumulation of humidity and pollutants. If you see yellow or black streaks, you may be dealing with mold... Ask the agency or landlord about this.
- Check that the radiators are working in every room. Even after the inventory of fixtures has been signed, as the tenant you have the right to modify it if there are any problems with the heating system!
Become a player for a controlled and adapted use
Improve your home's insulation
Want to put your manual talents to good use to improve the comfort of your home? Take part in
JeuDIY workshops in Grenoble, free practical workshops for students. Workshops on making dry hot water bottles, door curtains and insulating curtains are on offer, to help you improve the thermal comfort of your home.
Adopting good practices
Get inspired by
tips from the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) to reduce your water and electricity bills.
If you live in the Grenoble area,
sign up for the Métroénergies platform. Once you've created an account and connected your meters (5 minutes), you'll have access to a personalized analysis of your consumption, a comparison with that of similar households, and above all personalized advice on how to take control of your energy costs.
Joining the fight against fuel poverty
Would you like to take action on fuel poverty? Raising awareness of good energy practices, organizing special events for students, developing tools or objects to improve student accommodation... Whether you're part of a student association or not, we can provide you with technical and financial support to bring your project to fruition.
Contact:
Student Life Department
Student Involvement and Initiatives
engagement-initiatives@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr
