Protect your property from heat and preserve your heritage

An alarming observation: housing unsuitable for heatwaves

New studies show that many homes, offices, and professional buildings are not suited to heat, and that the temperature which can be humanly tolerated is lower than previously thought. Heat is already affecting living and working conditions, but how do we take action? What should owners or directors of exposed properties do, and what should be remembered from these studies?

The study recently published by the Abbé Pierre Foundation, which relies on the 2023 energy-info barometer from the National Energy Mediator, indicates that 55% of French households reported suffering from heat in their homes in 2023 for at least twenty-four hours. The most affected by heat extremes are tenants (63%) and those living in apartments (62%).

The summer of 2023 was marked by several heatwave episodes. The summer of 2024 has been hot, and projections from the IPCC for the coming years raise questions about the ability of the affected housing to remain habitable. The Abbé Pierre Foundation's study brings us back to the notion of the use of exposed properties, to ensure that they protect residents from the health and social consequences of heat. 93% of the built environment will be exposed to high risk by 2050.

Obsolete constructions in the face of climate challenges

In France, about 85% of homes are more than 10 years old and meet standards that have not integrated resilience to heat. Without investment in adaptation, the heritage value of a home can only decrease. This is a subject that should seriously concern banking institutions. Properties often serve as collateral for loans, and the outstanding mortgage loans in France amount to 1.3 trillion euros. Today, the energy performance diagnosis (DPE) primarily assesses the impact of housing on the environment (GHG emissions, insulation, and thus energy performance), but nothing is done to evaluate the impact of climate change on real estate. This is particularly the case for resilience to heat.

A problem that affects all real estate sectors

Property owners are not the only ones lacking visibility on this peril. Many childcare centers are located in buildings that are more than 30 years old. The average age of primary schools exceeds 40 years. The same goes for middle and high schools, many of which were built between 1970 and 1980, and most renovation work was dedicated to safety and accessibility, but not to heat resilience.

The observation is no different for the health sector. The average age of nursing home buildings is between 30 and 40 years. That of hospitals ranges from 40 to 50 years.

Finally, offices and industrial premises have nothing to envy in the public real estate sector. Many buildings were constructed between 1960 and 1980, during the industrialization period. And even if some buildings have undergone renovations or rehabilitations, nothing indicates that working conditions in the face of heat are bearable today or in the coming years.

Heat and health: underestimated tolerance thresholds

The other aspect we must consider concerns the physiologically tolerable heat and how to measure it. We know that as heat increases, productivity decreases, and that beyond 30 degrees it falls by half. What recent studies referenced by the publication Nature show is that the threshold beyond which we are physiologically in danger is much lower than we thought.

Research from the University of Sydney has shown that the "wet bulb" (WBT) temperature limit, a measure of perceived temperature that combines temperature and humidity level, at which a healthy young adult could theoretically survive for six hours, is 31°C. For older individuals and workers engaged in physically demanding jobs, deadly conditions could occur at lower temperatures.

The study explores various methods to keep the human body cool in extreme conditions, such as using fans, skin humidification, and the type of clothing, all adaptation elements to help individuals manage heat without compromising their health. But above all, buildings need to be adapted.

Adapting your building: an essential investment

The Abbé Pierre Foundation's report suggests "systematically integrating adaptation work to heatwaves into energy renovations subsidized by the State." Mandatory diagnostics (DPE, Georisks, etc.) do not require an assessment of the resilience of a residential or industrial property to climate hazards. Regulation is not evolving as quickly as the climate.

Act without delay to preserve your real estate

An owner who wants to preserve their property and the habitability of their home, a business leader who wants to ensure the safety of their employees and the profitability of their company, a mayor or regional president who wants to maintain the learning conditions for children do not need to wait for the state to regulate. The urgency is human, physiological, and economic. They all need to know what remediation actions they can implement, based on a transparent and scientific observation of current climate conditions and their evolution that affects their property.

The Climate Performance Diagnosis: an essential tool for anticipation

This is precisely what the Climate Performance Diagnosis (DPC) does. 
For your home, offices, factories, schools, and health establishments, if you do not know the value and evolution over time of the temperature anomaly, the number of hot days or perceived temperature above 25°C, 30°C, or 35°C that need to be managed, the number and intensity of heatwaves, the number of tropical nights, the energy required to keep premises below an acceptable temperature, contact us without delay for a complete diagnosis. 

FAQ Protect your real estate against heat

How does heat affect the value of my property?

Excessive heat can significantly reduce the value of your property by making it less habitable, increasing air conditioning costs, and accelerating the deterioration of materials. According to recent studies, 93% of the built environment will be exposed to a high risk by 2050, which could lead to significant devaluation of unsuitable properties.

What are the dangerous temperature thresholds for health in a home?

Research from the University of Sydney shows that the tolerable "wet bulb" (WBT) temperature limit is 31°C for a healthy young adult for six hours. Beyond 30°C, productivity falls by half. For older or vulnerable individuals, these thresholds are even lower, making housing adaptation crucial.
(H3) What is the Climate Performance Diagnosis (DPC)?
The Climate Performance Diagnosis is an assessment tool offered by Tardigrade AI that measures the resilience of a building against current and future climate conditions. Unlike the classic DPE which evaluates the impact of housing on the environment, the DPC assesses the impact of climate change on real estate, particularly its ability to maintain a tolerable indoor temperature.

What concrete solutions exist to adapt my property to heat?

Adaptation solutions include improving thermal insulation, installing solar protections (awnings, shutters, sunbreaks), greening facades and rooftops, optimizing natural ventilation, and installing energy-efficient cooling systems. These investments not only preserve occupant comfort but also the heritage value of the property.
(H3) Are old buildings more vulnerable to heatwaves?
Yes, about 85% of homes in France are over 10 years old and were built to standards that did not incorporate heat resilience. Buildings constructed between 1960 and 1980 are particularly vulnerable as they often prioritized heat retention in winter over coolness in summer.