Paris has established Europe's largest urban cooling network, featuring 110 kilometers of underground pipes that reduce reliance on traditional air conditioning. This sustainable system, which cools buildings by transferring heat to chilled water, is essential as the city faces intensified heatwaves. Managed by Fraicheur de Paris, the network promotes energy efficiency and decreases harmful emissions. As temperatures could reach 50C by 2050, stronger climate action is needed to ensure urban livability, highlighting the risks posed by conventional cooling methods.
Air conditioning accounts for seven percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to the urban heat island effect, increasing overall temperatures in city environments.
The cooling network works like a district heating network in reverse, transferring heat from the air to chilled water, providing an eco-friendly alternative to conventional air conditioning.
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