Geothermal energy, trees: apart from air conditioning, what are the alternatives for cooling buildings?

While Marine Le Pen is calling for the widespread use of air conditioning in the face of the heatwave affecting France, many voices are advocating for other, less energy-intensive solutions to combat the extreme heat.

Because while buildings already need to be better insulated, there are solutions for cooling them: "There is geothermal energy and cooling wells: these are very good solutions that require investment, time and planning in advance," said Sylvain Waserman, president of Ademe , the environment and energy management agency, on RMC Story this Tuesday.

"Climate wells circulate air through pipes two meters above the ground and recover coolness and heat," explains Matthieu, a business manager in the field. "It's a passive form with zero energy consumption, and you can change the temperature by up to + or -12 degrees," he assures, grateful to be "preaching for his parish."

"Putting air conditioning everywhere is absurd when we're trying to have passive buildings that self-regulate," he adds. He acknowledges that installing climate wells in existing buildings is complicated but feasible. However, "everything remains complicated with the French procedure."

And while many schools remain closed due to the extreme heat, Grégoire Ensel, vice-president of the FCPE, the leading parents' federation, is calling for the widespread use of green roofs: "We can install air conditioning, but it depends on each room, each school. We have to work on a case-by-case basis to lower the temperature by 5 degrees. This could be a double-flow CMV, a green roof, or ensuring that the courtyard is no longer paved but becomes an oasis courtyard with trees and shaded shelters, or even a change of window frames.

"It costs more to invest, but it immediately pays off in terms of operation for users," assures the parent.

Air conditioning is "a local matter," says engineer Jean-Marc Jancovici. "When you have a building with a south-facing glass surface, you can think about awnings, blinds, or darkening the surfaces," he assures on RMC-BFMTV . "There's not just one thing to do," he concludes.