The French power utility EDF has announced a commitment of €80 million aimed at providing cooling solutions for schools, nurseries, and daycare centers. This funding is intended to support a variety of measures, ranging from fans, misting systems, and portable air conditioning units to fixed air-conditioning systems and long-term structural renovations designed to protect buildings during future heatwaves.
Bernard Fontana, the chief of EDF, stated on Friday that the organization wanted to take concrete action as heatwaves impact the country. He noted that the goal is to assist schools, nurseries, and leisure centers in equipping themselves with both immediate cooling solutions and more sustainable facility upgrades.
The financial package is split evenly, with €40 million allocated for quick-deployment equipment such as misting systems, fans, and portable air-conditioning units, with a limit set at 10 units per facility. The remaining €40 million is earmarked for structural improvements, which will include the installation of reversible air-to-air heat pumps.
These initiatives come as France deals with recurring extreme heat that is increasingly disrupting public services. The education sector has been particularly affected, with many classrooms struggling to remain functional during periods of intense temperatures. On Thursday, education unions called for staff to utilize their right to strike where necessary to protest the lack of improved working conditions, as temperatures have climbed above 30°C and even exceeded 40°C in certain regions.
The unions expressed in a statement that staff are working hard, both literally and figuratively, to keep public education services running under exceptionally difficult conditions. They further argued that the national education system remains poorly prepared for heatwaves that are becoming both more frequent and intense due to the ongoing effects of climate change.
