France is accelerating its push to reduce reliance on gas and oil, with heat pumps at the heart of the plan to cut reliance on imported energy.

The government says cleaner heating will help lower emissions, reduce energy bills, and make the country less exposed when global oil and gas markets are shaky, with tensions in the Middle East adding to uncertainty.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced that the government is preparing for a major shift in home heating, touting heat pumps as the solution.

"From the end of 2026, it will no longer be possible to install gas boilers in new buildings.

"At the same time, all public subsidies for individuals will support the installation of heat pumps to replace gas and oil-fired boilers," he said.

But while the policy looks clear on paper, the picture for households is much more complicated.

For many people, making the switch to a heat pump still comes down to everyday questions… how much will it cost, is there someone who can actually install it correctly, and will it work properly in freezing conditions?

Ben, a plumber from Paris, told CGTN that trust is a big issue for people contemplating the switch.

"The price of a heat pump is complicated, and it's about finding a contractor who does a good job, too.

"People have a hard time trusting them.

"Government subsidies have led a lot of people to get heat pumps for one euro, and the problem with that is that the technicians who came to install them didn't have the skills to do the job."

That's the gap France still needs to close.

The ambition is there, but for households, the switch has to feel affordable, reliable, and worth making.

And while some users told CGTN the benefits are real, they say the experience hasn't always been smooth.

Sarah Rubenstein, who had a heat pump in her last apartment in the French capital, said, "I thought the performance was a little wonky."

"It wasn't always kicking in when it was supposed to.

"The bills did go down, which was nice, but it seemed like the technology or the infrastructure wasn't quite up to speed yet.

"It was a little wonky, but I think that the newer generation ones are supposed to be better."

And while the French government's core argument is that heat pumps are central to energy security and climate goals… for households, it's about whether they can trust it and afford it.