OIL and gas fired central heating, electric radiators and wood burning stoves are common forms of heating in a French home.

But there is a national programme to promote the use of solar energy, which may be an option especially in the south of France.

The Agence de l’Environnement et le Maitrise de l’Energie (ADEME) encourages people to switch to solar heating by providing grants and support.

According to the ADEME website the price of a standard (3-5m) panels and tank of 300-400 litres was on average €4,800 in 2002, and a grant would pay between €700 and €950 towards the cost.

But it is also possible to link this support to regional grants so that the figure can be boosted towards 30% to 40% of the total cost.

The site is in French but there are contact details for regional offices of ADEME who you apply to in the first instance.

They will also help in negotiations with local departments and communes and provide details of recognised installers and manufacturers.

Elsewhere on the site you will find details of sustainable development projects that ADEME is involved with.

To visit the website, please click here…

For more articles by Craig McGinty on living in France check out his website, http://www.thisfrenchlife.com