Assessing the Effects of Cool Roofs on Indoor Environments and Health

Ambient air temperatures in Asian, Latin American, African, and Pacific climate hotspots have broken record highs in 2024, driven by man-made climate change. Solutions are needed to reduce heat exposure in communities. Sunlight-reflecting cool roof coatings passively reduce indoor temperatures and energy use to protect home occupants from extreme heat. Occupants living in poor housing conditions globally - for example in informal settlements, slums, and low-socioeconomic households - are especially vulnerable to increased indoor heat exposure. Heat exposure can instigate and worsen numerous physical, mental and social health conditions. The worst adverse health effects are being experienced in communities least able to adapt to heat exposure. By reducing indoor temperatures, cool roof use can promote physical, mental and social wellbeing in occupants. The long-term research goal is to identify viable passive housing adaptation technologies with proven health and environmental benefits to reduce the burden of heat stress in communities affected by heat globally. To meet this goal, the investigators will conduct a cluster-randomized controlled trial to establish the effects of cool roof use on health, indoor environment and economic outcomes in five urban climate hotspots: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Colima, Mexico; Ahmedabad, India; Niue; and Tavua, Fiji.

NCT Number	NCT06579950
Lead Sponsor	Aditi Bunker Collaborators: Sika Services AG, SOPREMA, Engineered Polymer Solutions (EPS B.V.), Resene, Pacific Community, Habitat for Humanity, The Tindall Foundation, Rutgers University, Boston University, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Heidelberg University, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Indian Institute of Public Health, India, Fiji National University, Universidad de Colima
Conditions	Resting Heart Rate, Blood Glucose Control, Depression, Heat-related Symptoms, Physician Diagnosed Heat-related Illnesses, Food Insecurity, Diet Quality, Health-related Quality of Life +17 more
Enrollment	3,200 participants
Start Date	2024-09-04
Primary Completion	2027-09-30 (estimated)
Study Completion	2027-09-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-02-27