‘Climatic shelters’: libraries, shops or even tunnels are called upon to serve as ‘fresh places’ in case of high heat

In a report posted by this last town (see the map above), you can read: “Several fresh places have been identified for Ixelles: green spaces, places of worship, fountains, museums or cinemas. Furthermore, We note that the entire municipality of Ixelles is less than 400 m from at least one fresh place “. For example, But there is no trace of it as such in the action plan. Similarly, The street nursing association, for its part, made a map of the drinking water fountains (and showers) available in Brussels.

“In Belgium. In addition, in Wallonia, we are not still very far awaydeplores Joël Privot, professor of urban planning at the Uliège. Furthermore, Cities with a precise cartography of all places of freshness. In addition, I don’t know, but that’s what we call for all our wishes! Moreover, “

Operate metro ‘climatic shelters’: libraries, shops even tunnels in Liège

Two of his memorators work on the subject: “In Liège. In addition, there are lots of old unused metro galleries since it has never been finished. Therefore, We are in the process of identifying the traces of these old tunnels. In addition, to see how we could still access them. In addition, It’s part of a whole reflection. Therefore, It is still a stammering but we will have to do it.”

Use tunnels, underground car parks. There is a way to be creative. Barcelona. ​​in addition to her “Climatic shelters “also offer “Climatic microfexy “ : places that offer a free interior space to protect themselves from extreme temperatures for a short time. This may be a pharmacy, or another business.

A dormitory park in Lyon

Lyon. like other cities, extends the opening of its parks in the event of “Orange or red heat wave vigilance“, And ‘climatic shelters’: libraries, shops even it even opens a park all night in the event of”Red heat wave vigilance “. “In a secure perimeterexplains the city. Enjoy the natural freshness of the park at nightfall in a peaceful atmosphere (music and noise are prohibited). If you can come with your sleeping bag, the tents are prohibited. Toilets accessible to people with disabilities are made available as well as water points.”

All of this must be planned, negotiate. With the police for example to secure a park at night. with traders to give access to their stores or shopping centers, with libraries or museums so that they may extend their opening hours. “”It’s quite doableestimates the Joël Privot. Each Walloon municipality must have an emergency planner, it is a legal obligation. He or she can do this job. “” It’s like floods, he continues. When emergency planners discovered land. sports halls that were high, sheltered from ‘climatic shelters’: libraries, shops even floods, in which beds can be deployed, they negotiated contracts. And in extreme cases, the bourgmestre or the governor may have to requisition a certain number of elements. “

Avoid individual air conditioning

For Yannick Vesters. project manager in climate resilience at Ecores, a design office that accompanies municipalities in their climate change adaptation plan, you must take two elements into account, when creating a map: “You must first avoid putting people endanger themselves by going to these refreshing places. Avoid that an elderly person finds himself for example walking in full sun at noon. The time slots must therefore be sufficiently extended“Then. the places must constitute a kind of mesh, one must find one every 500 meters, ideally every 200 meters.

The municipalities are already active of course. They often offer an air -conditioned room for the elderly, CPAS also try to follow up. But it would therefore be ‘climatic shelters’: libraries, shops even necessary to go further. Finding collective solutions would prevent everyone with their air conditioning accommodation. “”We see it in the southern cities, the hot air outlets involved in these air systems to warm public space. We can have roads that take 5 more degrees because of these breaths. “Not to mention the energy consumption that this induces.

And this kind of cartography must obviously be combined with other types of measurements: vegetation. white paint on roofs or roads, insulation and protection of housing, discount of open watercourses, etc. So many measures to combat urban heat islands. In a city like Brussels, it is on average 3 degrees more than in neighboring rural areas. There are also an average of 3 times more hot periods on average. And these episodes, as we know, will multiply.