Accessible home cooling solutions in India
Millions across India face unrelenting heat during the scorching summer months. Temperatures regularly climb to 104°F, while indoor temperatures soar even higher, reaching as much as 122°F. For families living in these homes, the heat is not just uncomfortable – it’s life-threatening.
Since air conditioning costs are unaffordable for most households, these communities need a simple, affordable way to make their homes livable without relying on power.
We’ve turned to a proven method to solve this problem: heat-reflective roof paint. The technology is effective, but we need to ensure this technology could be used on the types of roofs – like tin or concrete – that are often found in these communities. So, we worked alongside residents and a research partner in coastal Tamil Nadu to measure its cooling power in these cases.
The results were clear across multiple homes: Indoor temperatures dropped by as much as 9°F.
This data was backed by the experiences of community members like Devi:
“Our house would get so hot, we used to sleep outside,” she says. “Now, we get a full night’s sleep indoors.”
Since it’s a simple coat of paint, homeowners can even apply it themselves. The next focus of the project is increasing access. We’re partnering with local companies to help bring the product to neighborhood hardware stores at prices families can afford.