Assessing the Effects of Cool Roofs on Mental Health 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.

NCT Number	NCT07251218
Lead Sponsor	Aditi Bunker Collaborators: Heidelberg University, Rutgers University, Boston University, Indian Institute of Public Health, India, Sika, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Conditions	Eco-anxiety, PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Resilience, Anxiety
Enrollment	800 participants
Start Date	2024-12-01
Primary Completion	2026-03-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-03-01 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-02-27