UN cites Tamil Nadu’s ‘Cool Roof’ project as a climate mitigation innovation

Perumbakkam was developed by the Rocky Mountain Institute, UNEP -led coalition and Tamil Nadu State Government.

Tamil Nadu’s ‘Air Roof’ attempt, in a new United Nations (UN) report, referred to as an innovation that helps to oppose climate change in urban environments. According to the report, the global organization is also trying to multiply these cool roof technologies in the national capital Delhi.

As part of the Urban Heat Reduction Project, the TN GOVT Environment and Climate Change Department in cooperation with the UN Environment Program applied a cool roof technology in a settlement of Chennai. A recent note on passive cooling solutions by UNEP states that this intervention leads to a decrease in a temperature of 5 to 8 ° C in buildings in the summer months.

The Environmental Secretary, who announced the air roof project, said that the Lighthouse Project Site in Perumbakkam in Perumbakkam is selected as a pilot location in a mission of Supria Sahu, TN GOVT, X. “Silka cool roof paint was applied to two housing blocks consisting of 102 High Sun Reflection Index (SRI) and 200 houses. This passive cooling intervention has led to a temperature reduction in the most intense summer months.

The UN report says Chennai’s positioning as a large industrial and high -rise buildings and green space scarcity is tended to punish heat waves. “In order to reduce the so-called heat-in the effect, UNEP’s coalition and Cept University of India mapped and provided the hottest regions of the city [state] Authorities who have suggestions on how to use nature and passive cooling to reduce temperatures. ”

Financing mechanisms

UNEP also partners with various agencies in TN to develop financing mechanisms to support the integration of passive cooling into social housing provided by the state.

Passive cooling solutions ranging from reflective roofs to cool sidewalks, the shadow -providing tree cover are mentioned as several ways for cities to overcome the rising heat. “India emerged as the passive cooling champion who integrates these approaches to national policies and city planning with the support of UNEP,” the report said.

He also talks about other examples in India, where UNEP’s interventions with other stakeholders help to defeat heat.

To help passengers relieve the heat in Delhi, the coalition, led by UNEP, in collaboration with the national and local government organs, sets out a “cool roof ına to the Kashmere Gate Interstate bus terminal. “The roof, which covers approximately 150,000 feet frames, will be strengthened with a surface that reflects at least 80 percent of the sun temperature and helps to cool 100,000 vehicles per day,” he says.

UNEP also helps Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) to integrate passive cooling properties such as natural ventilation and insulated walls – the government integrates by the government to 10 million homes.

Published on June 14, 2025