France's housing sector seeks heat‑wave solutions amid rising temperatures

In the Lyon region, a retiree’s bioclimatic house demonstrates how new construction can keep indoor temperatures below 27 °C during extreme heat, using cellulose insulation, triple‑glazed windows, shading caps and a double‑flow ventilation system. The design costs about one‑third more than conventional builds, and owners cite a lack of public incentives such as MaPrimeRénov', which have been reduced and are not targeted at summer comfort.

Meanwhile, in Occitanie, real‑estate group ACAPACE, a partner of Bouygues Immobilier, offers short‑term rentals of air‑conditioned apartments to seniors whose homes are poorly adapted to heat. With 9,450 cooled units across 108 establishments, the service targets the roughly five million French households classified as thermally vulnerable. The initiative underscores growing business interest in providing cooling solutions as heatwaves become more frequent and severe across France.