Reflective roofs combat extreme heat in Sierra Leone

Reflective panels installed on homes in Freetown, Sierra Leone, are helping residents cope with extreme heat by reducing indoor temperatures by over 6°C.

Jake Wood reports for BBC.


In short:

  • Reflective roofs in Kroo Bay, Freetown, are mitigating extreme heat, making homes more livable.
  • Panels made from recycled materials reduce indoor temperatures and are more durable than traditional paints.
  • MEER’s project in Sierra Leone aims to expand to India to tackle similar heat challenges.

Key quote:

“People are effectively baking inside their own homes.”

— Peter Dynes, managing director of MEER

Why this matters:

Extreme heat increases health risks and reduces quality of life, especially in densely populated informal settlements. Innovative cooling solutions like reflective roofs can significantly improve living conditions in vulnerable regions.

About the author(s):

EHN Curators
EHN Curators
Articles curated and summarized by the Environmental Health News' curation team. Some AI-based tools helped produce this text, with human oversight, fact checking and editing.

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