In France, Sweltering Is a Climate Virtue

Paris wants you to use a fan and limit the AC to a single room

WSJ editorial. Excerpts:

"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.

The government added that if you must use AC, don’t set it below 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and air condition only one room. While it may be “tempting to set your air conditioning to a very cool temperature to cool down quickly,” the French state said that’s a green faux pas that “results in excess electricity consumption.”"

[France's plans call for] "“intelligent building control systems” that ensure nobody’s setting the temperature lower than authorities want."

 and

"encouraging children to “wet their skin” to cope with the heat"