40도 '지옥 폭염', 병원도 에어컨 못 달았다?.."이런 경험은 처음" 파리서 직접 본 비극 / SBS / AFTER 8 SPECIAL / 권영인 파리 특파원

1. Enduring with Fans and Swimming in the Seine In Paris, it is currently impossible to install air conditioners, even if one wanted to. Most people are simply holding out with fans. It was so hot that the City of Paris opened three public swimming pools along the Seine. I visited one, and even an hour before closing time, people were standing in a line stretching dozens of meters outside, waiting to enter. This was happening even though the Seine swimming pools are always plagued by water quality issues. The reason is that it is much cooler than their homes, and they do not have air conditioners at home. [Eliyas/Paris Citizen: I have a fan at home, but even when it blows, the breeze is weak and actually hot. So, it doesn't really help in cooling down.] Leaving aside the situation at home, it was common for mothers to endure the sweltering 40-degree heat with their newborns in hospitals because there were no air conditioners. I simply couldn't understand why there were no air conditioners or why they couldn't be installed. So, I looked into it a bit. From our perspective, it is a structure that is difficult to comprehend. First of all, to install an air conditioner, you must obtain permission from the City Hall. Do you get approved simply by submitting an application? No. You must prove, by submitting projected structural drawings, site photos, and installation plans, that the outdoor unit will not detract from the building's aesthetics. You must submit precise details regarding where, at what height, and how the unit will be installed. If your home is located near a cultural heritage site, the review process becomes even more stringent. Even if you fail to obtain permission, you can make a second or third attempt. The problem lies in what comes next. Once you receive approval from the City Hall, you must obtain the consent of the residents of the apartment complex where you live. You need to obtain consent from more than half, not just one-third. Furthermore, this is a "one strike and you're out" policy. On top of that, you must go through procedures such as a residents' general meeting, which takes at least two or three months. Even if you experienced a 40-degree heatwave last month and thought, "Ah, this won't do, let's install an air conditioner!", it essentially means this summer is already a lost cause. You must start preparing now, thinking ahead to next summer. Consequently, some people took the risk entirely, skipped the resident consent process, and installed the unit without permission. They reasoned that it was better to have it removed later than to be rejected. [Philippe / Paris Citizen: Neighbors can object for no reason. If that happens, there is nothing we can do. So, I chose not to ask at all.] 2. '10 Million Won' for a Single Unit Installation? However, those who were lucky enough to prepare in advance and obtain consent starting last year or early this year—even after painstakingly completing their preparations—face another setback. It is the cost of air conditioner installation. Most buildings in Paris are over 100 years old. Even newly built houses are 40 or 50 years old. There is no way they would have air conditioner piping. By drilling through walls to run the pipes, constructing the outdoor unit according to installation standards, and keeping up with the slow pace of the construction schedule, the cost easily exceeds 10 million won. That means the installation cost for a single air conditioner is 10 million won. And this isn't even for a large unit like the floor-standing type we place in our living rooms. Those units have large outdoor units from the start and do not even pass noise standards. That is the cost for installing a wall-mounted air conditioner for a room. The problem is that most installation companies are already fully booked for this summer. Construction won't be possible until October. Now, even if you go through the permit and consent processes, overcome the financial burden, and install the air conditioner, it would be a huge mistake to think, "Now I just have to live enjoying the cool breeze." There is one final hurdle: the actual noise standards for air conditioners. According to French public health law, if the additional noise generated by the installation of an outdoor unit exceeds a certain threshold, its removal can be demanded. But what is that threshold? It is 5 decibels during the day and 3 decibels at night. I asked an AI what 5 decibels is like. It replied, "It is quieter than the sound of leaves rustling in a very quiet night sky." They said the sound of human breathing is 10 decibels. That says it all. Of course, since this is noise added to existing noise, the standard is slightly different. Nevertheless, the criteria for evaluating noise are that strict. Consequently, there are many cases in France where neighbors have sued and units have been removed due to outdoor unit noise. There are even cases where compensation was awarded for psychol...