Coucou les amis,
November is here, and suddenly il fait froid. The mornings are misty, the evenings are chilly, and I have already started reaching for my pull bien chaud and my favourite blanket.
Here in France, there is a big focus each winter on la sobriété énergétique. The idea is that little habits can make a big difference. People talk about how to stay warm without turning up le chauffage too high, and how to faire des économies d’énergie in small, everyday ways.
The French Environment and Energy Agency (ADEME) has a helpful guide full of simple, practical ideas to keep homes warm and bills low.
You can find it here:
Sobriété énergétique : les gestes essentiels de l’hiver
Here are a few favourites you can try wherever you live, along with some cosy French words to add to your winter vocabulary.
Switch off and slow down
You will often hear reminders in French homes to éteindre la lumière en quittant une pièce. Turning off the light when you leave the room is one of the easiest habits to build.
The same goes for appliances left en veille. It is tempting to leave everything on standby, but switching things off fully is one of the quickest energy saving tips for winter you can adopt.
Keep the warmth in
One of the simplest energy-saving tips for winter is to stop the heat from escaping in the first place.
In French homes, you will often see les volets and les rideaux closed as soon as it gets dark. A simple boudin de porte under the door can make a surprising difference too.
And if you have des radiateurs, it helps to let the chaleur se diffuser. In other words, do not cover them with clothes or block them with furniture. Give the warm air space to move around the room.
Turn things down a touch
The French often talk about baisser le chauffage d’un degré. Lowering the temperature by just one degree can reduce heating use noticeably over the winter.
It can be a good excuse to pull on an extra pull bien chaud or to enjoy une boisson chaude réconfortante instead of turning the thermostat up. A small change for your comfort, a big change for your bills.
Save hot water
Hot water is another area where small changes help. A shorter douche rapide instead of a bath can reduce your energy use without feeling too restrictive.
The message that comes up again and again in French resources is simple: chaque geste compte. Every small action counts.
Cook with care
In many French kitchens, comfort and care go hand in hand. Covering les casseroles while they simmer keeps the heat in and shortens cooking time.
There is another tip I love from the French guidance. Couper les plaques électriques un peu avant la fin de la cuisson and let the remaining heat finish your dish. It feels very satisfying to know that dinner is cooking gently while you are already saving energy.
Small changes like these can make life at home feel plus douillet and plus économe at the same time.
So this November, why not try a few gestes pour économiser l’énergie à la française. Put on your cosiest jumper, light a candle, and see how many new French words you can use while making your home a little warmer and a little greener.
And if you would like to keep the festive spirit going while learning more French, Judith and I will be running this year’s 12-Day French Christmas Countdown starting on 3 December.
Each day you will unwrap a short, joyful email filled with French language, culture, and Christmas cheer to brighten up your winter French practice.
Find all the details below.
Stay warm, stay curious, and remember: chaque geste compte.
À très bientôt,
Frannie x
A quick recap of the key French expressions from this post.
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il fait froid = it’s cold
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un pull bien chaud = a warm jumper
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le chauffage = the heating
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faire des économies d’énergie = to save energy
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la sobriété énergétique = energy efficiency
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les volets = shutters
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les rideaux = curtains
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un boudin de porte = draught stopper
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un radiateur = radiator
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la chaleur se diffuse = the heat spreads through the room
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baisser le chauffage d’un degré = to turn the heating down by one degree
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une boisson chaude réconfortante = a comforting hot drink
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une douche rapide = a quick shower
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chaque geste compte = every small action counts
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éteindre la lumière en quittant une pièce = to turn off the light when leaving a room
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en veille = on standby
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les casseroles = saucepans
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couper les plaques électriques un peu avant la fin de la cuisson = to turn off the electric hob just before the end of cooking
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plus douillet = cosier
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plus économe = more economical
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des gestes pour économiser l’énergie = steps to save energy
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à la française = in the French way
Pssst!
Something festive is coming!
The 12-Day French Christmas Countdown starts on 3 December — twelve days of fun, practical French to get you in the holiday spirit. Expect pronunciation tips, vocabulary, mini challenges, and plenty of festive cheer! It’s perfect for all levels and designed to help you sound more French this Christmas.
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