Indian cities embrace white rooftops to beat rising temperatures without fans or ACs

More Indians are adopting white rooftops to combat rising temperatures. Summers are getting longer and hotter, especially in urban areas. Staying cool is becoming more challenging and expensive.

For many low-income families, air conditioning is not an option. Painting rooftops white is a simple solution gaining popularity. This technique, called cool roofing, lowers indoor temperatures without using electricity. It’s affordable and low-tech, making it a game-changer.

In 2024, the Union Ministry of Health reported 360 heatstroke deaths. However, another report recorded 733 deaths and over 40,000 cases across 17 states. From March to June, India faced record-breaking temperatures with 37 cities exceeding 45°C.

A news analysis by HeatWatch revealed discrepancies between government figures and media reports on heatstroke deaths. The National Programme on Climate Change & Human Health issued guidelines to reduce heat-related deaths. However, many healthcare professionals remain unaware of these protocols.

Experts say regular roofs can reach temperatures over 65°C. A coat of white or reflective paint can keep roofs up to 28°C cooler. This method reflects sunlight instead of absorbing it, keeping rooms cooler even without fans or air conditioning.

Sugeet Grover from the Centre for Science and Environment noted that a drop of just 2-5°C can significantly help families in small homes. He cautioned that not all white paints reflect heat equally.

"Different paints have varying reflection values," he explained. "Some reflect more light than others." Still, any white paint is better than none.

Sugeet emphasized that comfortable indoor temperatures lead to less reliance on cooling systems. “A reduction of just a few degrees saves electricity,” he said.

In Ahmedabad’s Vanzara Vas slum, over 400 homes had their roofs painted white with titanium dioxide paint. Residents reported better sleep and reduced fan usage after the change.

In 2023, Telangana became the first Indian state to introduce a Cool Roof Policy. This policy mandates white roofing for government buildings while encouraging its use in homes as well.

Telangana has about 40 million residents and faces frequent heatwaves due to climate change. The state capital Hyderabad is rapidly growing with around 3.9 million people living there.

The Mahila Housing Trust in Delhi helps residents apply cool roof paint in resettlement colonies. Even densely packed neighborhoods see lower indoor temperatures and reduced electricity bills from this initiative.

Similar projects are expanding across Surat, Bhopal, Jodhpur, and Ahmedabad with support from various organizations focusing on low-income communities affected by extreme heat waves.

Sugeet mentioned that India's Energy Conservation Building Code mandates cool roofs for commercial buildings to improve energy efficiency further promoting their use through the Telangana Cool Roof Policy (2023-2028).

The ECBC requires new commercial buildings with significant energy loads to use cool roofs as part of energy-efficient design standards.

Applying cool roofs is straightforward and doesn’t require specialized tools or equipment. Many citizens do it themselves or hire local contractors for assistance.

However, dirt can reduce the reflective power of the paint; occasional cleaning helps maintain effectiveness.

Researchers at the Centre for Climate Change and Food Security (CCCFS) advocate for climate-friendly housing solutions in Ghana but face challenges promoting adoption among locals.

Umar Faruk Apord Karim from CCCFS highlighted that cool roofs could enhance comfort during high temperatures in Ghana's hot areas. Their advocacy focuses on promoting widespread adoption through awareness campaigns and training professionals for installations.

He suggested integrating cool roofs into school infrastructure should be a government priority before commissioning public structures.

Umar proposed starting with pilot initiatives where each district designates a building as a control group for testing cool roof systems' effectiveness.

He warned against delaying action until health infrastructure strains under extreme heat leads to illnesses like heat exhaustion or stroke.

“Vulnerable Ghanaians face greater health risks,” he said about rising medical costs threatening financial stability.