Saturday July 23, BFMTV broadcasts a report on a refrigerated room in Amnéville in Moselle which offers skiing. To maintain a negative temperature in this scorching weather, the snow cannons must operate at full speed. In this context of extreme heat, this activity obviously raises its share of criticism, in particular for its environmental impact.
“We come to train in the domes because the conditions on the glaciers are very average. It’s hot, there is no snow”, explains in particular a sports trainer. On site, individuals also benefit from the infrastructure: “A chance to have this room a few kilometers from where we live, to be able to ski in the middle of July and to escape this heat wave”, confides a father of family.
Understandable circumstances but which are no less appalling given the current heat wave that is hitting Europe. This type of activity is obviously not without consequences for the environment, as the equipment must consume a lot of energy to keep the thermometer at -5°. All the more so when the French people are called upon to make efforts and show solidarity in the face of this exceptional situation. Earlier in the week, Olivier Véran, spokesman for Emmanuel Macron’s government, had issued a series of tips, such as “turn off the wifi when you leave home”, in order to limit its ecological impact.
Small gestures to which many Internet users did not hesitate to refer to comment on their annoyance at this report.
The HuffPost also points out that this room had already been reported in 2016 by the French Court of Auditors for its huge operating deficit. In addition to not being profitable, the financial jurisdiction had denounced astronomical electricity bills.