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Why Louvre’s Mona Lisa keeps a smile: Paris’ cooling system

A worker leaves part of Fraicheur de Paris' underground cooling system near the Seine in Paris, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. When the Seine's water is cold enough, a machine captures it and uses it to chill the system's water. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) A worker waits near an elevator at part of Fraicheur de Paris' underground cooling system on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Paris. Paris City Hall has signed an ambitious contract to triple the size of the network which would make it the largest urban cooling system in the world. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) Machines work at one of Fraicheur de Paris' underground cooling sites on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Paris. Paris City Hall has signed an ambitious contract to triple the size of the network which would make it the largest urban cooling system in the world. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) Laurent Le Guedart, the Louvre Museum's Heritage Director, walks through the underground cooling system run by Fraicheur de Paris, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Paris. The system, which uses electricity generated by renewable sources, is the largest in Europe and goes unnoticed above ground. "It allows us to benefit from energy with a lower carbon footprint available all year round," he said. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) The elevator on the energy production level, showing it is 24 meters below ground, is displayed inside an underground cooling system in Paris, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The system, which uses electricity generated by renewable sources, is the largest in Europe and goes unnoticed above ground. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) A map is displayed of the operating sites of Fraicheur de Paris, an underground cooling system in Paris, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The system, run entirely by electricity generated by renewable energy, is the largest in Europe and goes unnoticed above ground. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) Employees walk through the cold transmission machine room of the Louvre Museum in Paris, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The museum benefits from one of Paris' best-kept secrets, an underground cooling system that's helped the Louvre cope with the sweltering heat that has broken temperature records across Europe. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) An employee cleans a room inside the Louvre Museum in Paris, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The museum benefits from one of Paris' best-kept secrets, an underground cooling system that's helped the Louvre cope with the sweltering heat that has broken temperature records across Europe. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) A man goes down the stairs inside the empty central hall of the Louvre Museum, in Paris, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The museum benefits from one of Paris' best-kept secrets, an underground cooling system that's helped the Louvre cope with the sweltering heat that has broken temperature records across Europe. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) A woman observes paintings inside the Louvre Museum in Paris, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The museum benefits from one of Paris' best-kept secrets, an underground cooling system that's helped the Louvre cope with the sweltering heat that has broken temperature records across Europe. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) The Mona Lisa hangs inside the Louvre Museum in Paris, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The museum benefits from one of Paris' best-kept secrets, an underground cooling system that's helped the Louvre cope with the sweltering heat that has broken temperature records across Europe. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) A pressure gauge works at one of the Fraicheur de Paris' underground cooling sites on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Paris. The system, which uses electricity generated by renewable sources, is the largest in Europe and goes unnoticed above ground. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) Maggie Schelfhaut, communication manager of Fraicheur de Paris walks through one of the company's underground cooling sites during a visit in Paris, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. Paris City Hall has signed an ambitious contract to triple the size of the network which would make it the largest urban cooling system in the world. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) Maggie Schelfhaut, communication manager of Fraicheur de Paris, takes a staircase to visit one of the company's underground cooling centers, in Paris, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The system, which uses electricity generated by renewable sources, is the largest in Europe and goes unnoticed above ground. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly) A worker inspects machines at part of Fraicheur de Paris' underground cooling system, in Paris, Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The system, which uses electricity generated by renewable sources, is the largest in Europe and goes unnoticed above ground. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)