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Apur, The Parisian urban planning workshop on the scale of Paris and Greater Paris documents, deciphers, supports, illuminates, projects, explores and shares diversity.

Air-conditioning in Paris

Part 1: Forms, integration, pollution

With climate change, the rising temperatures observed during the summer and the peaks reached during heat waves, the demand for air cooling solutions is spreading on a huge scale throughout France. In the metropolises, its massive and rapid spread raises several issues which include its production systems, the different forms, their integration and the negative aspects arising from their use.
Icône de la catégorie Air-conditioning in Paris - Part 1: Forms, integration, pollution
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The air-conditioning systems in an EHPAD-type residence, here located in the basement, discharge hot air into the public space © Apur – Julien Bigorgne

Although Paris has very little air-conditioning compared with other metropolises like New-York, Rio de Janeiro and Seville, where air conditioning units can be seen on each windowsill and every public, indoor space in cooled, the Parisian landscape is nevertheless, filling up with various different systems. Not yet widespread, not yet a common sight, but already very much present. For pedestrians air-conditioning is being developed in street level commercial premises, in shopfronts and chain stores. The rooftops of terraced office and amenity buildings, as well as gable roofs and those with zinc covering are being invaded by it.

This first part of the study dedicated to air conditioning, carried out by Apur, aims to document the different forms of air-conditioning in Paris. In addition to the usual definitions of the main groups of air-conditioning technologies, it lists and classifies the most commonly used ways of integrating air-conditioning into Parisian buildings. It also endeavours to explain the different inconveniences which result from its use, such as heat emission, examples of which have been illustrated by photographs taken with thermographic cameras.

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