A woman cools herself with her fan in the living room of her apartment, in which the shutters are closed to limit the sun's heat, in Perpignan, June 13, 2022. — A woman cools herself with her fan in the living room of her apartment, in which the shutters are closed to limit the sun’s heat, in Perpignan, June 13, 2022.

This summer, your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to do without air conditioning! A/C is energy-intensive, representing 10% of the world’s electricity consumption according to the International Energy Agency. It is also polluting, contributing to global warming because of leaky units or the improper recycling of refrigerants, which are powerful greenhouse gases. As a source of heat, it is partly responsible for “urban overheating,” as it increases the temperature in the city by 1 to 1.5°C compared to the surrounding countryside – the total difference can reach 8°C in the event of a heat wave.

Indeed, if we do nothing to limit global warming, by the end of the century we could be headed for temperatures of 50°C or even above 55°C. “Heat waves will double or triple in frequency. There is therefore an urgent need to adapt our habits and our urban environments,” said Charlotte Izard, from the Réseau Action Climat.

Here are some solutions to put into practice now in your home or apartment.

Beginner level: Control over your air

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