“It’s tiring, we cogitize to find sleep”. Léon Bentafrit is looking forward to getting out of the heat wave in Aubervilliers, a popular city north of Paris: like a third of the accommodation in France, his apartment is a “Thermal kettle”, Very difficult to refresh. Tuesday evening, the 38 -year -old man scans his thermometer: 31 ° C inside. “It’s a warmth anyway … You have to bear them”testifies to AFP this father, living since 2016 with his wife and three children in his social housing since 2016.
Shutter closed in all the rooms, and a fan lit for her daughter who takes the nap, the thirty -something, yet in good physical condition, is out of breath in her movements. The building, a former converted fire station, is poorly isolated, without air conditioning. The fans are running there continuously. “The fans, in fact … When you are in front, it’s okay, you are relieved. But as soon as you go away or turn them off, you are even warmer”notes Léon Bentafrit, technician in the automobile.
“It must be hydrated all the time “. The nights are short. “It’s tiring. We cogitate, we cogitize to find sleep”
In these dwellings nicknamed “Thermal kettles”failing insulation lets heat in summer. During the heat wave peaks, the interior temperature climbs quickly, making the space suffocating. However in France, housing in three (35 %) is a kettle, according to the foundation for the accommodation of disadvantaged (ex-Abbé Pierre), which published a report on this subject last week.
Léon Bentafrit is particularly worried about his one -year -old daughter. “”It must be hydrated all the time “. The nights are short. “It’s tiring. We cogitate, we cogitize to find sleep”he breathes, explaining not to fall asleep before 2 a.m., despite the use of an electric fogger.
Fortunately, the lessor has announced to come to come, relating to the installation of VMC (mechanic ventilatione cOntrique) and improving insulation. But the father remains cautious: “We have heard that for a while, but nothing moves.”
The Ignes building alliance regularly alerts the inappropriate unit in hot weather. It concerns nine out of ten homes, indicates this professional organization on the faith of the summer comfort indicator of the energy performance diagnosis (DPE). The Ignes is a delay in the energy renovation of housing. “Not all players in the sector have been put around the table to discuss this indicator”indicates Brice Brandenburg, his manager of public affairs and institutional communication. “The 2030 horizon mentioned for the adaptation of housing is not early enough”.
Faced with the scale of the phenomenon, the foundation for the housing of disadvantaged has announced that a transpartisan bill, supported by deputies of seven political groups, would soon be tabled in the National Assembly to fight against “kettle housing”.
In the meantime, Léon Bentafrit is planning to invest more and more in an air conditioner. “Maybe next year, if it continues”says the father. Not really convinced, however, by this solution: “The problem is the electricity bill …”
