Please consider sharing this among your Francophone contacts: these architectural and passive solar design principles reduce the energy costs of a home enough to nearly eliminate heating and cooling costs, even here in Quebec. People should know, and insist that their developers know, too.
Article en français: http://www.mamunicipaliteefficace.ca/76-efficacite-energetique-ges-l-architecture-bioclimatique.html
Here is an English link: http://www.ecohome.net/guide/passive-solar-home-design