EDF invests one hundred thirty million in cooling for ten thousand French schools

Published on June 28, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

France faces a relentless climate reality. After a heatwave that forced the closure of thousands of schools, the public company EDF and other investors have committed over 130 million euros. The goal: to install cooling systems in more than 10,000 schools, ensuring that children can study without high temperatures disrupting their learning.

engineering visualization of school rooftop cooling installation, workers in hard hats and safety harnesses installing modular heat pump units and ductwork, sunlight reflecting off metallic condenser coils, thermographic camera display showing cool airflow patterns entering classroom windows, blue and red temperature gradient lines tracing refrigerant flow through pipes, crane lifting chiller unit onto flat roof, panoramic view of school buildings with solar panels on adjacent roof, distant heat haze over city skyline, photorealistic technical render, cinematic lighting with golden hour shadows, ultra-detailed mechanical components

Efficient climate control and school adaptation to extreme heat 🌡️

The technical solution involves installing reversible heat pumps and low-energy climate control systems. EDF will deploy equipment with eco-friendly refrigerants and smart control systems to optimize energy use. The plan prioritizes the southern regions of the country, where thermometers exceed 40 degrees. Work is expected to begin in the coming months, with a schedule spanning three years to cover all affected classrooms.

Happy children, relieved parents, and the tamed thermometer 🍦

While the little ones will enjoy cool classrooms, parents can forget about emergency calls from school telling them to pick up their children due to the heat. Of course, we'll have to see how teachers manage when children don't want to go out for recess because the air conditioning is too good. The next step will be installing freezers with ice cream at every desk. All in the name of education.