How can you cool down your apartment during the summer?

Summer is approaching, temperatures are rising, and your apartment is becoming too hot. The good news is that we can take immediate action, install more sustainable solutions, and even learn about our rights. We’re here to guide you and help you stay cool, protect your health, and avoid overheating due to global warming 🌿.

Actions and equipment that make all the difference

Keeping the heat out on a daily basis

The golden rule is simple: block out the heat during the day and ventilate at night. Close windows and shutters as soon as the sun comes out, especially in rooms facing south and west. Thick curtains and solar films on windows create a useful thermal barrier. The “pattern” is always the same: sun → window → ambient air → rising indoor temperature. By closing them early, you stop the phenomenon before it gets out of hand.

Ventilate late in the evening and early at night, when the outside air becomes cooler again. Create air circulation by opening two opposite windows for a real cross-ventilation effect. Avoid adding heat sources: ovens, space heaters, halogen lamps, even a kettle can raise the temperature in a small room. Manage humidity: very damp laundry in daylight can make the discomfort worse, but a light mist in front of a fan in the evening can help. These are simple but effective and inexpensive tips that are useful during heat waves and moderate heat waves.

Equipment: from fans to portable air conditioners

The right device depends on your home, the intensity of the heat, and your energy bill. Here is an overview to help you choose the right system.

A word about the environment: prioritize shading and natural ventilation first. Air conditioning remains a powerful tool, but should be used as a last resort to limit the greenhouse effect and your energy bill.

Solutions for lasting coolness

Shading without renovation: block the sun before it enters

To keep your apartment cool without any renovation work, focus on blackout curtains. Close shutters and blinds at the start of the day, especially on windows exposed to the sun: the idea is to stop the sun’s rays before they heat up the air inside.

Inside your home, light-colored blackout curtains reflect heat and lower the temperature of the room. Choose thick fabrics with thermal lining and press them tightly against the window frame to limit hot air leaks. Electrostatic heat-resistant films can be applied without glue or tools and removed at the end of the summer: they reduce the greenhouse effect behind the glass and improve thermal comfort at a low cost. You can also use “no-drill” blinds that clip onto the window frame, or suction cup sunshades for the most exposed windows, checking what is allowed if the facade is visible in a condominium. On a balcony, a light-colored reed screen creates soft shade and protects from direct sunlight, while allowing outside air to circulate. By combining these simple and reversible tips, you can reduce the intensity of the heat, protect your sleep at night, and avoid overheating… without affecting the building or your wallet. ☀️🧊

Heat waves: health tips and legal recourse

Protecting yourself during periods of extreme heat

During a heatwave, drink plenty of fluids, preferably cold water, cool your wrists and neck, avoid exertion during the hottest hours of the day, and seek out the coolest room. Air your home at night, close the windows during the day, and create a gentle breeze with a fan. Be aware of the risks of heatstroke: headaches, nausea, confusion, high body temperature. Young people, frail individuals, and workers experience discomfort that can become a health problem. If in doubt, call the public health services. In Paris, as elsewhere, there are cool public spaces (libraries, municipal centers). 🧊

Your rights: what the law says today

In France, landlords are not generally required to install air conditioning. However, they must provide decent housing (Building and Housing Code): waterproofing, ventilation, ventilation systems in good working order, safety of equipment, and heating that guarantees a minimum temperature in winter. To date, no legal maximum temperature has been set for housing. In new buildings, RE2020 imposes a limit on summer discomfort, but this is not a single quantified “threshold” for your apartment. Installing a fixed air-to-air heat pump or external blinds may require the agreement of the co-ownership association and sometimes planning permission. A tenant cannot make any installations that alter the facade without the written consent of the owner, and the matter may be referred to a judge in the event of a dispute.

In practice, start with a written request for amicable resolution, propose “light” insulation solutions, and remind the other party of their obligations to maintain ventilation systems. If the situation affects health (e.g., room under the roof without blackout curtains, persistent overheating), have it assessed, document it (photos, temperature readings), and, if necessary, refer the matter to the departmental conciliation commission before going to court. These procedures may evolve: public climate policies are gradually strengthening the importance of summer comfort.