High-Risk Heat Exposure and Inadequate DPE: The Top 10 Departments Facing Challenges in Heat-Prone Housing Conditions
In the face of rising temperatures and the increasing threat of heat waves, the issue of summer energy poverty and the need for structured responses to this public health challenge has become a pressing concern. According to a report by Hello Watt and the Housing Foundation, more than one in three homes in France is currently rated insufficient for summer comfort, and by 2050, over 80% of French homes could become thermal boilers due to the announced temperature rise.
To combat these challenges, Hello Watt and the Housing Foundation have proposed several concrete solutions to enhance summer comfort, particularly in the departments most at risk. These measures aim to mitigate the impact of extreme summer heat, as identified by recent studies on climate impact on housing.
One of the key recommendations is the improvement of existing cooling systems through developments and upgrades, which can help manage indoor temperatures more effectively during heat waves. Additionally, adopting efficient air conditioning technologies such as portable air conditioners with advanced designs, like the Midea Duo Smart Portable Air Conditioner, which uses a dual hose system to exhaust hot air and bring in cool air simultaneously, is also suggested.
Investing in energy-efficient cooling appliances that deliver powerful and evenly distributed cooling, reducing discomfort in all parts of the home, is another proposed solution. These appliances can help reduce energy consumption and costs, making them a practical choice for homes facing energy poverty during heat waves.
Beyond system improvements and energy-efficient cooling solutions, simple and cost-effective measures are also recommended. The installation of external shading, such as external blinds on windows, is considered the simplest, least energy-intensive, and least expensive technique to lower the indoor temperature. This method can reduce solar gains by 85%, lowering the indoor temperature by 2 to 5°C.
Another suggested solution is the adoption of reversible air conditioning systems, such as air-to-air heat pumps. These systems can cool dwellings in summer and heat them in winter, capturing external calories and restoring them in the form of heat or coolness. This dual functionality makes them an attractive option for homes seeking energy efficiency and comfort year-round.
The reliability of the summer comfort indicator used in the Energy Performance Diagnostic (DPE) tool has been called into question, with incomplete algorithms, unevaluated homes, and a methodology that neglects essential parameters such as location or thermal inertia. To address this issue, the Ministry of Housing is urged to propose ways to better take into account summer heat in the DPE this summer.
With 16 French departments currently on heat wave alert red by Météo France, and temperatures in these departments expected to reach 40 or 41 degrees, it is crucial that action is taken to improve summer comfort and address energy poverty. Insulation of walls and roofs with biosourced materials like wood wool and Nita-Cotton cotton wool can delay heat penetration into dwellings, offering a delay of five hours in heat penetration for Nita-Cotton cotton wool and about eight hours for wood wool.
By implementing these solutions, French homes can become better equipped to face climate change and the increasing threat of heat waves, ensuring a more comfortable and energy-efficient living environment for all.
- To improve the summer comfort in regions most impacted by heat waves, Hellо Watt and the Housing Foundation recommend installing external blinds on windows as a simple, cost-effective, and energy-efficient solution.
- Beyond energy-efficient cooling appliances, the combination of reversible air conditioning systems like air-to-air heat pumps can provide cooling in summer and heat in winter, thus enhancing comfort and energy efficiency throughout the year.
- Scholarships and financing for investments in biosourced insulation materials, such as wood wool and Nita-Cotton cotton wool, could be provided to address the energy poverty issue and improve the resiliency of French homes against climate-change and heat-wave threats.