France Energie, with OpinionWay, therefore questioned the relationship of the French to existing solutions. An investigation which reveals an awareness of the French in the face of these repeated heat waves for equipment more respectful of the environment and allowing to preserve the health of the most fragile.
“This survey confirms that the habits of the French in terms of air conditioning are changing fundamentally. Environmental issues are becoming an increasingly powerful brake, prompting the French to do without air conditioners or to turn to more virtuous solutions ” says Frédéric Micheau, Deputy Managing Director at OpinionWay.
37% of French people are warm in their home
According to the study carried out by France Energie and OpinionWay in July 2021, more than a third of French people say they suffer from heat in their home in summer, with a peak of 54% for 18-24 year olds. The type of accommodation is decisive, since 48% of French people living in apartments feel the heat more intensely.
Faced with the repetition of these phenomena, 9 out of 10 French people believe that it is important to have an installation allowing cooling:
- 83% of them consider that they are beneficial for protecting the health of isolated elderly people in the event of confinement, for example
- 63% to optimize teleworking conditions
- 53% to improve indoor air quality
However, 75% of French people are not currently considering purchasing cooling equipment to combat the heat. There are indeed many brakes:
- Two thirds of French people mention economic reasons
- The energy consumption of air conditioners is an obstacle for 49% of French people
- Environmental and health reasons are also taken into account by 41% of them as a constraint when purchasing a cooling device.
Increased environmental concerns
In fact, this ecological awareness is occurring in a global context of global warming, where heat waves are increasing (up to 25 days per year by 2050 according to Météo France), which increasingly worries the French. :
- 81% of them find that there are more heat waves every year
- To fight against the effects of global warming, 78% of French people want to reduce their energy consumption, and even 58% of them would prefer to suffer from the heat rather than installing an air conditioner that consumes too much energy, to the point of experiencing it for 49% of them feel guilty about using it. This feeling is exacerbated among the younger generations (56% among those under 50)
Growing interest in solutions with low environmental impact
In this context, the study reveals that 53% of French people would be interested in an air conditioning solution produced in France and respecting environmental standards.
“The French responses to this survey confirm the value of water loop heat pumps. While conventional air conditioners are increasingly rejected, our technology - made in France - is the most promising alternative to regulate the temperature of buildings ” declares Henri Marraché, Managing Director of France Energie.
France Energie, a French company based in Mayenne, has been offering a water loop heat pump solution for office buildings and hotels for more than 30 years. In particular, the company has equipped more than 3 million m², including the Banque de France building and the TF1 Tower. A fully equipped building can achieve energy savings of up to 40%.
Building on this experience, France Energie now presents a finely studied solution to equip collective residential buildings. Through a system of pipes filled with water which circulate throughout the building, the reversible Water / Water heat pump makes it possible to regulate the temperature according to needs, associated with an UCI (Individual Comfort Unit) which, in addition to providing thermal comfort, improving indoor air quality.
The key figures of the study "The French and air conditioning solutions":
- More than a third of French people say they suffer from heat in their home in summer, with a peak of 48% for those living in apartments and 54% for 18-24 year olds
- 9 out of 10 French people believe that it is important to have an installation allowing the cooling of the home… but 75% did not envisage the purchase of such equipment this summer.
- Towards a "responsible air conditioning"? 58% of French people would prefer to suffer from the heat rather than installing an air conditioner that consumes too much energy, until 49% of them experience a feeling of guilt when using it.
- 53% of French people would be interested in an air conditioning solution produced in France and respecting environmental standards.