What happened to all the temporary air conditioning units at the Olympic Village?
With the Paris Olympics now concluded, the temporary air conditioning units that were brought in for athletes are set for a second, and possibly a third, use.
The story of these air conditioning units is quite eventful. Initially, planners did not include them in the design for the athletes’ accommodations, choosing instead more energy-efficient options. Given that cooler climates in Europe had historically not required air conditioning, and it remains relatively uncommon in homes there, this decision was understandable. However, the recent increase in heatwaves has highlighted the risks for athletes, many of whom opted to bring their own mobile units to stay cool.
Thousands of these units were reportedly ordered for the Olympic Village, which housed over 14,000 athletes during the Games. Although the Olympics wrapped up on August 11th, the AC units will remain in place for the Paralympics, running from August 28th to September 8th.
While Olympic competitors had to cover the cost of their own air conditioning, organizers will provide units to Paralympics athletes at no cost, due to medical considerations. According to an email from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to The Verge, a ratio of one unit for every three athletes will be supplied. This is important as some athletes with disabilities may struggle to regulate their body temperature. The Paralympic Village is expected to host around 8,000 athletes.
Heat was a significant concern during the Olympics. Beyond affecting athletic performance, extreme temperatures can lead to exhaustion and heatstroke. Paris experienced temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in July, with a heat dome exacerbating the situation for several days.
Previous Olympic events have faced similar issues, but climate change is making the risks more pronounced each year. “The world watched athletes suffer in 35°C heat. Without the emissions from burning fossil fuels, Paris would have been about 3°C cooler and safer for sports,” said Friederike Otto, a physicist with World Weather Attribution, on X on July 31st. The group’s analysis indicated that the heatwave would not have occurred without human-induced climate change.
The Paris Olympic organizers had a challenging task. While air conditioners help manage heatwaves, they also contribute to the climate crisis by consuming significant energy and stressing power grids, which can lead to dangerous outages. Urban planners are exploring more sustainable alternatives, such as energy-efficient heat pumps or green roofs, to mitigate heat.
The Paris Olympic Village employed a geothermal cooling system that used cool water underneath the floor, alongside other insulating features. This system aimed to maintain a target temperature of 23-26°C (73.4-78.8°F) during peak heat hours, as detailed in the IOC email.
Despite these measures, concerns from competing teams led to the rental of additional air conditioning units. After the Paralympics, these units are scheduled to be refurbished and reused by the supplier.
Post-Games, the Olympic Village will rely on its built-in cooling system and is planned to evolve into a new “sustainable city district.” This includes the development of 2,500 homes, a student residence, and a hotel, all designed with environmental sustainability in mind.
“We aimed to balance the need for high-performance conditions for athletes with our long-term goal of creating a sustainable neighborhood,” said IOC spokesperson Arthur Fel in the email. “Air conditioning is widespread in some parts of the world but remains less common in France.”
source: Photo by Aurelien Meunier / Getty Images | theverge.com
