France aircon rental business experiences surge in demand

A French start-up renting portable air conditioners has experienced rapid growth as repeated heatwaves push businesses and households to look for temporary cooling solutions. 

Climloc, launched in June 2025, now operates in several regions of France and reports that demand has increased dramatically compared with its first summer. 

The company reports almost 50 times more requests this year, during a summer marked by three major heatwaves and prolonged periods of extreme temperatures.

The surge in demand comes as many workplaces, shops, event venues and homes have struggled to cope with extreme temperatures. For many customers, renting also offers an alternative to buying a new unit, which can represent a significant expense. 

During periods of intense heat, some retailers have also experienced shortages of lower-cost portable air conditioners as consumers rushed to buy cooling equipment at the last minute. 

"Our clients are mainly professionals: companies, showrooms, event organisers, retailers and healthcare establishments," Victor Nihoul, Climloc’s co-founder told The Connexion. "We also support private individuals who need a temporary solution during a heatwave." 

This demand is not only linked to comfort but can sometimes involve health concerns. “In healthcare establishments and facilities welcoming elderly people, children or other vulnerable groups, the absence of a cooling solution can quickly become a serious concern," Mr Nihoul said. 

Scaling up from a summer experiment

Since its launch in the summer of 2025, when Mr Nihoul and his associates had started by storing the units in their own homes, the company has expanded this summer from a small operation into a large logistics network, with equipment stored in warehouses and deliveries organised across several areas of France. 

"The main challenge with our model lies in creating a complete logistics chain, particularly for last-mile delivery, capable of covering an entire city, a region and now several territories across France," Mr Nihoul said. 

He explained that the service involves many stages and it’s not simply providing a machine. 

"It isn't enough to have air conditioners," he said. "We have to buy them, transport them, store them, prepare them, organise delivery rounds, deliver them, sometimes install them, collect them, clean them and recondition them before they can be rented again." 

Additionally, a big challenge is anticipating demand before heatwaves arrive. "We have to forecast periods of extreme heat, secure sufficient supplies across Europe and position the equipment in the right cities before demand becomes urgent," Mr Nihoul said. 

The biggest difficulty for the company is maintaining their rapid response time, which is usually a two-hour or same day delivery after a customer places their order. 

"The biggest challenge has been scaling up while maintaining our speed of intervention, because behind the logistical challenge there can sometimes be a genuine public health issue," he said. 

How Climloc works 

The company currently operates in Paris, Lille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Toulouse and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region using local warehouses to organise deliveries. 

Customers begin the process online at Climloc’s website by entering their home address and their contact details. The booking form then asks for practical information to plan the delivery, including the floor where the unit will be installed and whether the building has a lift. 

Regarding prices, a booking simulation tested by The Connexion for Paris and Lille showed rentals starting at €12.50 per day, with a €25 delivery fee and an optional €49 installation service. 

Mr Nihoul said prices depend on multiple factors. "Our prices may vary depending on the city and region, as logistics costs are not the same everywhere. They are also influenced by the availability and purchase price of air conditioners in Europe, which can fluctuate significantly during periods of high demand," he said. 

Criticism over profiting from heatwaves 

The company’s fast expansion also attracted criticism. Some people have accused it of profiting from increasingly frequent heatwaves, while others have raised concerns about the environmental impact of wider air conditioning use. 

"We understand that a business this new, faced with demand that can become extreme within a few days, still has room to improve," Mr Nihoul said. 

However, he believes the debate around Climloc is part of a bigger issue facing France as summer becomes hotter. 

"The controversy highlights a wider problem: climate change, the lack of cooling equipment in many buildings and establishments in France, and the country's insufficient preparation for more frequent and more intense heatwaves," he said.

"Our role is to provide a fast, temporary solution when a situation becomes urgent, while continuing to improve the way we operate, explain our model and respond constructively to criticism."