The Impact of Cool Roofs on Energy Consumption, Thermal Comfort and Learning Outcomes: A Pilot Study in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala

Previous research confirms that average global temperatures have increased by 1.1 degrees Celsius at the least in the previous century and half. Increasing temperatures can have productivity effects, and has also shifted the demand for cooling. In India, this demand translates into per capita energy consumption levls of 69 kWh, compared to world average of 272kWh. This demand is expected to significantly increase in the coming years on account of economic growth, rising levels of urbanisation, population growth and other structural changes in the economy. Researchers are interested in designing and testing low-cost solutions which can potentially reduce ambient temperatures in public buildings such as schools, Anganwadi centres, or primary health facilities. Working with the Energy Management Centre (EMC) in Kerala, the research team is piloting innovations to cool rooftops of government buildings in Thiruvananthapuram, with the aim of testing through a randomized evaluation. The researchers will measure outcomes pertaining to indoor temperatures, energy usage, thermal comfort, and learning outcomes of school students, as well as understand willingness for adoption by utilizing household surveys and focus group discussions, in collaboration with women’s self-help groups in Kerala.