2 days ago
- Climate
- Wall Street Journal
In France, Sweltering Is a Climate Virtue
Most of France has been sweltering under a heat wave this week, so naturally air conditioning has become the latest flash point in climate politics. The climate scolds want to prod the public into adopting what they call 'energy sobriety,' and the French are discovering that in practice this means less AC.
This summer the French government suggested air conditioning should be used mainly by those 'who are very sensitive to heat (elderly people, etc.),' or who can't open the window at night because it's too loud outside. The advisory urges the rest of the public to opt for a fan instead, draw the blinds, and limit heat emissions from ovens, computers and game consoles.
