Protect your property from heat and preserve your heritage

An alarming observation: unsuitable housing for heat waves

New studies show that many homes, offices, and professional buildings are not suitable for heat, and that the temperature that is humanly bearable is lower than previously thought. Heat is already affecting living and working conditions, but how can we take action? What can be done when one is a property owner or manager of a property exposed to heat, and what should be noted from these studies?

The study published recently 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. Those most affected by excess heat are renters (63%) and those living in apartments (62%).

Summer 2023 was marked by several heatwave events. Summer 2024 has been hot, and projections from the IPCC in the coming years raise questions about the ability of the affected homes to remain habitable. The study by the Abbé Pierre Foundation brings us back to the notion of using exposed properties to protect inhabitants from the health and social consequences of heat. 93% of the building stock will be exposed to a high risk by 2050.

Obsolete constructions in the face of climate challenges

In France, about 85% of homes are over 10 years old and meet standards that have not integrated resilience to heat. In the absence of adaptation investment, the heritage value of a home can only decline. This is a subject that should seriously concern banks. Properties often serve as collateral for loans, and the outstanding amount of mortgages in France amounts to 1.3 trillion euros. Today, the energy performance diagnosis (DPE) mainly evaluates the housing impact on the environment (greenhouse gas emissions, insulation, and thus energy performance), but nothing is done to assess the impact of climate change on real estate. This is especially true for heat resilience.

A problem affecting all real estate sectors

Property owners are not the only ones lacking visibility on this peril. Many daycare centers are located in buildings that are over 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 has been dedicated to safety and accessibility, but not to heat resilience.

The situation is no different in the healthcare sector. The average age of nursing home buildings is 30 to 40 years. Hospitals range from 40 to 50 years old.

Finally, offices and industrial premises are not to be outdone by the public real estate stock. Many buildings were constructed in the 1960s to 1980s during the industrialization period. Even though some buildings have undergone renovations or rehabilitations, there is no indication that working conditions in the heat are bearable today or in the coming years.

Heat and health: underestimated tolerance thresholds

The other aspect we need to consider concerns physiologically tolerable heat and how to measure it. It is known that the higher the heat rises, the more productivity decreases, and that beyond 30 degrees, it drops by half. What recent studies cited in 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" temperature (WBT), a measure of perceived temperature that combines temperature and humidity, at which a healthy young adult could theoretically survive for six hours, is 31°C. For older individuals and workers 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 first and foremost, buildings need to be adapted.

Adapting your building: an essential investment

The report from the Abbé Pierre Foundation suggests "systematically integrating adaptation work for heat waves into energy renovations funded by the state." Mandatory diagnostics (DPE, Georisques, etc.) do not require evaluating the resilience of a residential or industrial property to climate hazards. Regulation is evolving slower than the climate.

Acting without delay to preserve real estate

A property owner who wants to preserve their heritage and the habitability of their home, a business leader who wants to ensure the safety of their employees and the profitability of their business, a mayor or regional president who wants to preserve 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 assessment of current climate conditions and their evolution affecting their property.

Climate Performance Diagnosis: an essential tool for anticipation

This is precisely what the Climate Performance Diagnosis (DPC) does. 
For your home, your offices, your factories, your schools, your health establishments, if you do not know the value and the evolution over time of the temperature anomaly, the number of hot days, or perceived temperature beyond 25°C, 30°C, or 35°C that will need to be managed, the number and intensity of heat waves, 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 property from 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 cooling costs, and accelerating the deterioration of materials. According to recent studies, 93% of the building stock will be exposed to a high risk by 2050, which could lead to significant devaluation of properties that are not adapted.

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 drops by half. For older or vulnerable individuals, these thresholds are even lower, making the adaptation of homes crucial.
(H3) What is the Climate Performance Diagnosis (DPC)?
The Climate Performance Diagnosis is an evaluation tool offered by Tardigrade AI that measures the resilience of a building to current and future climate conditions. Unlike the classic DPE that 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 bearable indoor temperature.

What concrete solutions exist to adapt my property to heat?

Adaptation solutions include improving thermal insulation, installing solar protections (blinds, shutters, awnings), greening facades and roofs, optimizing natural ventilation, and installing energy-efficient cooling systems. These investments not only preserve the comfort of occupants but also the heritage value of the property.
(H3) Are old buildings more vulnerable to heat waves?
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 rather than coolness in summer.