Article published on LaCroix.com – August 13, 2025
With temperatures reaching record highs in some regions of France, the temptation to install air conditioning is strong. But AC isn’t without consequences, as it contributes, among other things, to the warming of urban areas. La Croix reviewed alternative solutions.
How to cool homes without air conditioning
Don’t Overuse Air Conditioning
41.6 °C in Bordeaux, 41.4 °C in Bergerac, and 41 °C in Toulouse. Temperatures peaked on Monday, August 11, with another surge expected on Tuesday, August 12, reaching 42 °C in Ardèche. During this summer of 2025, parts of France are sweltering. The situation has reignited debates about air conditioning. Should the French equip themselves on a large scale? What was a minor question a few years ago became controversial at the beginning of July, when Marine Le Pen called for a “major AC plan.”
While air conditioning has undeniable health benefits and is sometimes indispensable, experts stop short of recommending its widespread use. For good reason: it contributes to the urban heat island effect in already overheated cities. Refrigerant emissions during production and disposal add to greenhouse gases. Moreover, air conditioning is electricity-intensive, accounting for around 7% of global consumption. In France, the grid is expected to cope by 2035, according to RTE. Still, using AC can cause electricity bills to skyrocket, a double burden for households facing energy poverty who are trapped in their “thermal boilers.”
All these reasons suggest that air conditioning should not be overused. Some may call this a utopian stance. Yet, alternatives do exist. Here’s an overview.
Alban de Montigny and Camille Richir
Ceiling fans make a comeback
Another alternative to air conditioning is the use of **ceiling fans**. More effective than small standing fans, they can help maintain indoor temperatures “up to 32 °C,” estimates Alain Bornarel, echoing several experts we interviewed. Sometimes suffering from an outdated image, they remain relatively uncommon, lament members of the French Association of Ceiling Fan Professionals. “In metropolitan France, sales are slightly accelerating, and ceiling fans are being integrated into large projects such as train stations or universities,” notes Patrice Wolff, CEO of Turbobrise and treasurer of the association. “But according to our estimates, only 2.5% of homes are equipped. That’s 35% in the overseas departments and 60% in the United States.”
Yet, like shutters, they are recommended at the top of the list of alternatives to air conditioning by Ademe. “If correctly installed, sized, and chosen, they can reduce the perceived temperature by up to 4 °C,” explains Hakim Hamadou. According to a study by researchers at the University of Berkeley, combining ceiling fans with air conditioning can reduce AC electricity consumption by 30%. At the end of 2024, their VAT was lowered to 5.5% if installed as part of a renovation. They are also eligible for public funding through MaPrimeRénov’, provided they are installed as part of a comprehensive home renovation.
Read the article on LaCroix
You can find the article on LaCroix’s website: https://www.la-croix.com/planete/canicule-comment-rafraichir-les-logements-sans-climatisation-20250812