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Cool Roofs Initiative in Ahmedabad Aims to Combat Extreme Heat
For the inhabitants of an informal settlement in Gujarat, India, addressing rising temperatures may be as straightforward as applying a fresh coat of paint.
Specifically, they are using white paint infused with highly reflective materials such as titanium dioxide.
Over the last two months, numerous roofs have been treated in an effort to keep homes more comfortable as the peak heat season approaches.
With climate change escalating the intensity of summer heat in India, residents in Ahmedabad have faced soaring temperatures exceeding 115 degrees Fahrenheit in recent years.
This painting initiative forms part of an international scientific experiment aimed at exploring how indoor heat affects health and economic conditions in developing nations, while assessing the potential benefits of “cool roofs.”
“These roofs have a high reflective capacity and efficiently disperse heat,” explained epidemiologist Aditi Bunker, who is overseeing the project.
“We are assigning cool roofs to half of the community, while the other half will not receive this treatment. Our goal is to monitor various outcomes, including health metrics and indoor environmental conditions, to better understand how lowering indoor temperatures impacts these areas.”
Many homes in Ahmedabad’s densely populated Vanzara Vas slum are cramped, single-room structures with inadequate ventilation.
Resident Suman Pravin Vanzara shared her experience prior to participating in the study, stating that the indoor heat was overwhelming.
“After the new color was applied, our home feels cooler. We previously couldn’t even sit on the floor; now it’s comfortable. Even without the fan at night, it remains bearable,” she noted.
The Ahmedabad trial is set to continue for one year.
Similar studies are also being conducted in Burkina Faso, Mexico, and the Pacific island of Niue.
Initial findings from Burkina Faso indicate that the cool roofs successfully lowered indoor temperatures and correspondingly reduced the heart rates of residents.
Source
www.yahoo.com