Mon Mar 10 08:50:44 UTC 2025: ## Cool Roofs Combat Heat in Gujarat’s Informal Settlements
**Ahmedabad, India** – A global scientific trial is underway in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, testing the effectiveness of reflective, white roof coatings in combating extreme heat in informal settlements. Over the past two months, 400 households have had their roofs painted as part of the project, led by epidemiologist Aditi Bunker of the University of Heidelberg. The initiative, supported by the Wellcome Trust, aims to study the impact of indoor heat on health and economics in developing countries.
With Ahmedabad experiencing temperatures exceeding 46°C in recent years due to climate change, residents of slums like Vanzara Vas are already reporting positive results. Nehal Vijaybhai Bhil, whose roof was painted in January, notes a cooler home, lower electricity bills, and improved sleep.
The project uses a white coating containing highly reflective pigments to send solar radiation back into the atmosphere, reducing heat transfer into poorly insulated homes. Researchers compare data from households with cool roofs to those without, collecting health and environmental information over a year. Similar trials are also taking place in Burkina Faso, Mexico, and Niue. Preliminary Burkina Faso results show cool roofs reduced indoor temperatures by 1.2-1.7°C, leading to lower heart rates among residents. The Ahmedabad trial hopes to provide crucial data on the effectiveness of this affordable, scalable solution to mitigate the health and economic impacts of extreme heat in vulnerable communities.
First Piper 