As a heatwave sweeps across parts of France, and several deaths are unfortunately reported, here are some simple tasks to cool down your home.
For the past 48 hours, a veritable “heat dome” has descended upon France. Throughout the country, Météo France has recorded record temperatures, and it’s not over yet. This situation is exceptional due to its early arrival at this time of year. Temperatures are barely tolerable for 55% of the French population, due to ” poorly insulated , poorly ventilated housing lacking sun protection and outdoor spaces,” lamented the Housing Foundation (formerly the Abbé Pierre Foundation) in a study published last summer.
On June 26th, the Housing Foundation presented new figures on ” summer energy poverty.” This “emergency” situation led the Foundation to collaborate with members of parliament from across the political spectrum (Ensemble pour la République, Ecologists, Socialists, La France Insoumise) on a bill aimed at accelerating the renovation of “heat pump” , a term used to describe poorly insulated dwellings rated E, F, and G on the Energy Performance Certificate ( EPC ). The bill will be submitted to the National Assembly on June 25th.
Heatwave: This seemingly good idea to cool your home could one day cost you dearly
LED lighting and ceiling fans
While the Housing Foundation last year likened unheated apartments to “the absolute minimum of public action,” Housing Minister Valérie Létard wants to update the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to better incorporate the concept of summer comfort. The ministry is expected to formulate proposals in this regard this summer. In the meantime, you may regret having postponed installing air conditioning in your apartment again due to the cost. But you’re forgetting that “there are a few simple tips and tricks that have allowed us to achieve a difference of 7 to 10 degrees Celsius between the outside temperature and the temperature inside a home during the summer,” emphasizes the home renovation startup Little Worker.
Start with the basics: limit heat emissions , especially the significant amount coming from . For example, avoid running the washing machine and dishwasher in the blazing sun at 3 p.m.! And opt for LED (light-emitting diode) lighting, which gives off less heat than traditional light bulbs. Think the your in-laws have installed in their living room are outdated? Think again. “Thanks to its blades, the circulates cool air and quickly cools the room, down to -6 degrees Celsius ,” assures Little Worker, praising it as an “ecological, quiet, and aesthetically pleasing solution ,” whether you like it or not.
Heatwave: This forgotten solution cools your home at a lower cost
