It is currently summer in India.
Are there any behavioural or infra modifications that would help handle the increased heat?
I have read about how white roofs would reduce heat absorption and energy needed for cooling
Are there other things like that? Especially ones that regular people can try? The other type(policy decision type) are ok too tho. Would be good to know them.
Also, are there any communities that would have discussions on such topics? Like a TIL or DIY community where people talked about general issues and solutions.
Is it this community?
Reflectrix on the inside/underside of the roof.
- It’s a cheap material.
- It’s quick to install.
Besides that, better insulation and the use of high efficiency heat pumps.
I assume you are looking for passive methods that aren’t air conditioning.
As others have said, thick walls that have a thermal mass. It helps if you open the building at night to help cool the walls.
The structure should be as light as possible, both the walls and roof, to reflect back light.
Windows should have large awnings so direct light doesn’t enter during summer. Everything should be in the shade.
If you can, you can create a solar chimney by having a large and dark chimney on the south side of your building. Set your building up so that there is a natural air intake which comes from below ground, so you naturally pull in cool air.
Thick (~1m) mudbrick walls. I lived in a house like that for 2 years, it felt cold inside in summer.
There is research that shows that white coloured roofing causes increased heating elsewhere, so it’s not a fix-all solution.
I live in Australia and during summer use a lawn sprinkler on the roof. Using a tap timer, it runs for 10 to 30 seconds every 10 minutes.
Just enough to wet the roof, so that the water evaporates and cools it down.
Other things you can do is growing creeper vines over a wall where the sun hits in the afternoon to keep direct sunlight off the wall.
If you have sash windows, you can open it at the top and bottom, creating a thermal airflow that will cool the house.
Adding sunshades and building housing with awnings makes a massive difference.
Lots of research associated with passive solar temperature regulation.
Thank you.
There is research that shows that white coloured roofing causes increased heating elsewhere, so it’s not a fix-all solution.
Is it that the roof would reflect it back to the sky and heat the air, intensifying the greenhouse effect or so?
Would it be better overall than homes heating up and even more energy and heat used to cool it? Or would it that be worse off?Lots of research associated with passive solar temperature regulation.
Cool. Are there any sources that share info on the ones that would be useful and available/suitable for regular use?
Thank you
If it’s not overly humid, evaporative air conditioners are a cheap to run way to keep cool. The personal units (Convair Classic etc) are typically about 50 to 80 watts, so a single solar panel, battery and inverter should guarantee safe, grid free cooling for one or two people.
my broke ass method on dealing with high temp + high humidity is 2 fans, 1 for me and 1 pointing outside (either the door or window, maybe around an elbow length)
I think humidity in India is generally rather high?
Thank you.
I’m in Kerala. We do have decent humidity in most areas here.
If you’re open to it, please consider an AMA or a write-up on Kerala on Hexbear.
I’m sure people would love to hear about the political situation and life there!
Thank you.
I do support the left front, but I am not an official member, so would a casual regular person AMA on the politics be ok?
Who should I contact regarding the AMA? Hexabear mods
These might be worth trying, I don’t know.
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/g44762001/best-wearable-neck-air-conditioners/
Arabian here, uhh - it’s insanely hot here too. Lol. Outside, i try to move to shade and trees as fast as possible, carry two water bottles all the time and relax in shadows when i can.
At home? ACs.
My advice isn’t too useful sadly, but i hope you can use it a little.
Thank you.
Trees are great.
Which tree would be good for India/Kerala?
Best economical shade trees to plant near a home in Kerala, India:
-
Indian Almond (Terminalia catappa) Fast-growing, wide canopy, beautiful layered horizontal branches. Deciduous in Kerala’s dry season, so you get sunlight in winter. Bonus: Leaves have medicinal uses, and the nuts are edible.
-
Neem (Azadirachta indica) Hardy, pest-repellent, medicinal, and provides good shade. Less lush-looking than others and may thin out in extreme drought. Bonus: Leaves and bark are naturally antibacterial.
-
Rain Tree (Samanea saman) Rapid-growing with a massive canopy—perfect for sitting or playing under. Widely used in parks and schoolyards. Needs space and should be planted away from the house due to wide roots.
-
Indian Beech / Pongam (Millettia pinnata / Pongamia pinnata) Shade-giving, low-maintenance, and soil-improving thanks to nitrogen fixation. Bonus: Seeds are rich in oil, traditionally used in lamps and now in biofuel.
-
Jackfruit Tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Excellent shade and yields large, edible fruit. Can be too large and heavy for close proximity to windows or footpaths. Best planted a bit farther from the house.
Bonus: Coconut Palm Very common and useful. Provides filtered shade rather than dense cover. Can be dangerous near homes due to falling coconuts—best at the edge of a yard.
Top Recommendation for Quick, Wide Shade: Rain Tree – Fast growth, huge umbrella canopy, great for kids to play under. Just give it space from buildings.
Thank you.
-
Shade is everything. Tree shade is the best, because trees transpire, cooling the ground beneath them even more than shade would alone.
Inside your house (depending on what kind of home you have), you can also take a look at your overall energy efficiency, including windows, doors, insulation in walls and attic, and weather stripping to seal all gaps
Chimney. If you have a chimney, open it.
Any air passing above will create a suction effect below and suck all the hot air out of the room.
I feel like there aren’t a lot of chimneys in India, but I don’t have the wherewithal to defend my assertion.
stay right there, I’m going to visit you and I’m bringing a camera to disprove your LIES!
(then we can play mario kart or something, whatever I’m easy)Double Dash?
No, no, I’m married.
Didn’t know it could be used like that. There are many Mario Kart games, like Double Dash and then the less important ones.
Bucket of cold water, stick your feet into it.
Tin foil in the windows to reflect radiation.
Cold tap over inside of forearms and wrists (iirc ears work well too, but of course a more awkward reach if you’re just using a bathroom tap).
Install solar panels on the roof and use the power to run air conditioning.
Drink a ton of water.
Plant as many plants as possible. Trees are best. Make sure to use species native to your region that deal well with the prevalent weather.
Take an undershirt you’re not wearing, get it soaking wet, drape it around your neck
On top of white paint, if it’s legal, try putting up some camo netting above the roof to provide shade on top of the reflectiveness of the white paint. Shades over windows.
drink water, loads of it; if you have to go out, always keep a bottle at hand. wear less clothes and keep your house fresh and ventilated, open all windows if possible. buy a/c for your bedrooms but use them just in the night, when you have to sleep. use fans where you have to work or stay during the day. to cope with the higher electric bill, consider installing solar panels on your roof, or a small wind turbine.
Not sure how your buildings are built over there so this may not apply. But an exhaust fan for the space between the ceiling and roof does wonders to cool a house after a hot day. Those attic spaces get crazy hot and hold the heat well after the sun sets and it keeps your house hotter longer. This won’t necessarily help with mid day heat, but help cool the living space as the sun goes down.
Definitely mostly brick and mortar construction therefore no attic space in India
