In the middle of a scorching summer, Lyon mayor Grégory Doucet announced that “excessive heat” will now be treated as a criterion for assessing whether a home is fit for habitation. The move is unprecedented in France and reflects growing concern that housing quality can no longer be judged only by winter insulation and energy efficiency, but also by how well homes protect residents from extreme heat.

The decision comes as heatwaves become more frequent and intense, putting renewed pressure on cities to adapt housing standards to climate change. By adding thermal discomfort to the definition of salubrity, Lyon is effectively broadening the debate on what makes a dwelling decent and safe. It also raises wider questions about how energy renovation should be designed: not just to reduce heating demand, but to ensure homes remain livable during increasingly severe summers.

Au coeur d'un été caniculaire, le maire de Lyon, Grégory Doucet, a annoncé intégré une « chaleur excessive » comme critère pour évaluer le caractère salubre d'un logement. Une initiative inédite en France qui ouvre des questionnements plus larges sur la manière de penser la rénovation énergétique.