When the heat in his apartment became too much to bear, software developer Zak (24), took a radical step: he decided to cover over the velux windows with reflective foil, blocking out the relentless rays of the sun.<\/p>\n
\u201cI live on the top floor. It\u2019s just under the roof, and on some days the heat is unbearable,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are four windows in the roof.\u201d<\/p>\n
Excessive heat in homes, offices and public buildings has prompted a debate in France<\/a> this summer about the excessive use of glass in building design, which is being increasingly seen as impractical as global warming<\/a> drives up summer temperatures.<\/p>\n Videos explaining how to cover windows with reflective foil emergency blankets or paint the glass with Meudon white powder \u2013 quick methods to block out heat and glare \u2013 have gone viral on social media with many commenters describing their efforts.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are dying of the heat, there are floor-to-ceiling windows on every floor,\u201d Adrien (49), an office worker in La D\u00e9fense business district of France told news agency Agence France-Presse, which reported this week that excessive glass in office buildings was driving more people to work from home.<\/p>\n \u201cOne colleague cracked, she said her phone blacked out because of the heat.\u201d<\/p>\n [\u00a0\u2018We\u2019ve never seen anything like this\u2019: French heatwave breaking records as residents struggle to copeOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n At least 200 schools in France were forced to close in June as temperatures hit 38 degrees in a heatwave that struck right as many students were sitting end-of-year exams. Teacher unions pointed to poorly-designed buildings and bare concrete playgrounds that act as heat traps.<\/p>\n France recorded 3,700 heat-related deaths in 2024, with 17,000 people seeking emergency care. Once rare in France, temperatures of 40 degrees are becoming increasingly common, and the area affected has spread north.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, there are signs that building practices are not adapting fast enough.<\/p>\n The shiny new Nantes train station was built at a cost of \u20ac37.5 million and launched in 2020 with much fanfare over the panoramic views from its glass-walled, glass-ceilinged upper floor.<\/p>\n It was forced to close to the public this summer as internal temperatures reached dangerous levels. It reopened after industrial-size fans were placed inside, but internal temperatures still measured 32 degrees on a day when it was 26 degrees outside, according to a test by broadcaster Franceinfo.<\/p>\n