A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (cRCT) Evaluating the Effects of Cool Roofs on Mental Health Outcomes in Ahmedabad, India
A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (cRCT) Evaluating the Effects of Cool Roofs on Mental Health Outcomes in Ahmedabad, India
Ambient air temperatures in India have broken record highs. Solutions are needed to build heat resilience in communities and adapt to increasing heat from climate change. Sunlight-reflecting cool roof coatings may passively reduce indoor temperatures and energy use to protect home occupants from extreme heat. Occupants living in poor housing conditions are susceptible to increased heat exposure.
Heat exposure can instigate and worsen mental health. The worst adverse health effects are experienced in communities that are least able to adapt to heat exposure. By reducing indoor temperatures, cool roof use can promote mental wellbeing in household occupants.
The long-term research goal of the investigators is to identify viable passive housing adaptation technologies with proven health benefits to reduce the burden of heat stress in communities affected by heat. To meet this goal, the investigators will conduct a cluster-randomized controlled trial to establish the effects of cool roof use on mental health in Ahmedabad, India.
Increasing heat exposure from climate change is causing and exacerbating heat-related illnesses in millions worldwide - particularly in low resource settings. June 2024 was the 13th consecutive hottest month on record globally - shattering previous records. Heat exposure can instigate and worsen mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety and aggression. Adaptation is essential for protecting people from increasing heat exposure. The built environment, especially homes, are ideal for deploying interventions to reduce heat exposure and accelerate adaptation efforts. However, there currently is a lack of evidence on a global scale - generated through empirical studies - guiding the uptake of interventions to reduce heat stress in low resource settings.
Sunlight-reflecting cool roof coatings passively reduce indoor temperatures and lower energy use, offering protection to home occupants from extreme heat. The investigators therefore aim to conduct a cluster-randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of cool-roof use on mental health outcomes in Ahmedabad.
The trial will quantify whether cool roofs are an effective passive home cooling intervention with beneficial health effects for vulnerable populations in Ahmedabad. Findings will inform regional policy responses on scaling cool roof implementation to protect people from increasing heat exposure driven by climate change.
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