Heatwave: should you install air conditioning at home?

Unless you have health problems or your home is uninhabitable.

This is an exceptional weather event. At the end of May, France is experiencing a heatwave. In these circumstances, many people are considering installing air conditioning in their homes. Should they give in to that temptation? The answer is complex and requires considerable nuance, as we shall see.

BFM recently referred to a 2025 Que Choisir study which found that air-conditioning installation prices rise by 10% during heatwaves. It is therefore advisable to wait until the peak heat has passed.

Air conditioning costs and energy use

Installing a portable monobloc air conditioner is certainly an appealing and relatively affordable option. However, it still costs between 300 and 600 euros, even if it can lower the indoor temperature by five degrees within a few minutes.

That said, its energy consumption becomes substantial when outdoor temperatures are very high. According to our colleague, it adds roughly 4 euros a day to the electricity bill, resulting in a significant expense over an entire summer.

The other option is fixed air conditioning, with outdoor and indoor units. Fitted by professionals, these systems cost considerably more but are also more effective. In 2024, figures collected by Le Monde put the price of this equipment, excluding installation and taxes, at between 4,800 and 8,700 euros, although some people report much lower costs, particularly with financial assistance.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has already addressed these technologies in its reports, observing that “air conditioning can reduce risks for individuals, but is poorly suited at a societal level”.

What are the alternatives to air conditioning?

For an individual resident, installing air conditioning can therefore be a rational decision for comfort, health or even survival. Collectively, however, it has fairly negative consequences.

The environmental effects of air conditioning

Our colleagues point first to electricity consumption, which produces greenhouse-gas emissions. According to the IEA, it contributed significantly to rising emissions in the energy sector in 2024, especially in India, China and the United States, where thermal power stations were used to meet demand. France is somewhat different, as its energy mix relies heavily on nuclear power.

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In France, the more concerning issue is refrigerant fluids. These gases have particularly high warming effects and can sometimes leak from appliances into the atmosphere. Better regulation and changing practices have undeniably delivered progress. Nevertheless, they accounted for 2.4% of national emissions in 2022, with 82% attributed to the combined refrigeration and air-conditioning sector.

Lastly, air conditioning worsens the urban heat-island effect. Cities already retain more heat than rural areas because of dense development and sealed surfaces, producing noticeably higher temperatures, particularly at night. These installations only make the problem worse.

In response to these drawbacks, organisations such as the Foundation for Housing the Disadvantaged advocate alternatives including equipping every home with air circulators, or ceiling-mounted fans. They consume far less electricity while reducing the temperature felt indoors. Similarly, energy-efficient building renovation can greatly improve comfort in both winter and summer by limiting heat and cold.