As heatwaves push temperatures to 40 °C, reducing reliance on air‑conditioning could curb a sector that accounts for roughly 10 % of global electricity use, creating opportunities for passive cooling technologies and energy‑efficiency investments
Executive summary: Le Monde published a guide on staying cool without excessive air‑conditioning, emphasizing that AC accounts for roughly 10 % of global electricity use, especially relevant as temperatures reach 40 °C. The article underscores the energy and climate implications of cooling demand, highlighting opportunities for efficiency measures and possible changes in building operations during heatwaves. Households, building owners, HVAC manufacturers, energy utilities, and policymakers focused on building efficiency and heat‑wave response. Greater adoption of passive cooling designs, increased investment in high‑efficiency or district cooling systems, and potential regulatory incentives to limit AC use during extreme heat.
The Le Monde article explains how households can stay cool without overusing air‑conditioning, noting that cooling represents about one‑tenth of worldwide electricity consumption. It arrives amid a widespread heatwave that has driven temperatures to 40 °C in many regions, raising concerns about peak grid demand and carbon emissions. By highlighting behavioural and technical alternatives, the piece points to a potential shift in how buildings are designed and operated during extreme heat.
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