A pioneering climate adaptation project called Habvia is demonstrating how reflective roof paint can significantly improve living conditions in heat-vulnerable communities. The study found that homes with specially coated roofs were typically 3-4°C cooler during the hottest parts of the day. The project, which spans sites in South Africa and Ghana, aims to assess how cooler homes affect sleep, health, and overall well-being. Residents report better sleep, greater comfort, and improved quality of life during increasingly intense heatwaves linked to climate change. Researchers emphasize that improved sleep from cooler homes carries measurable health benefits, since poor sleep worsens conditions including hypertension and mental health. With many low-income households living in heat-trapping structures, scientists believe scaling up roof-painting programs could become an affordable and effective climate adaptation strategy for schools, clinics, and homes across Africa.
The Guardian