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Exposure to high ambient temperatures increases the risk as health problems such as heat stress, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, older people and those with pre-existing health conditions. As climate change is predicted to worsen over the next several decades, so will the adverse effects of extreme heat. The impact of increased heat in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) threatens to worsen global health inequities by disproportionately affecting those without access to the social determinants of health.
Cool roofs are an efficient solution for lowering indoor temperatures without the need for expensive air conditioning or other energy intensive coolers. Its benefits encompass passive operation, low-cost, and durability. Cool roofs can work to mitigate adverse health, environmental, and economic impacts by:
Exposure to high ambient temperatures increases the risk as health problems such as heat stress, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, older people and those with pre-existing health conditions.
Cool roofs are an efficient solution for lowering indoor temperatures without the need for expensive air conditioning or other energy intensive coolers. Its benefits encompass passive operation, low-cost, and durability. Cool roofs can work to mitigate adverse health, environmental, and economic impacts by:
Dr. Aditi Bunker is a researcher with experience running implementation trials aimed at identifying practical opportunities for adaptation and mitigation of climate change effects in vulnerable populations. Her work cuts across disciplines and sectors to highlight key structural housing improvements and occupant behaviour change strategies for achieving health and environmental co-benefits in low-socioeconomic housing.
Collin Tukuitonga, also known as Sir Dr. Collin Tukuitonga, is a prominent figure in Pacific public health. He has made significant contributions to healthcare improvement, disease prevention, and wellness promotion in the Pacific region. With expertise in medicine, leadership, and policy, he advocates for culturally sensitive approaches, collaboration, and equitable healthcare access.
Dr. Aditi Bunker is a researcher with experience running implementation trials aimed at identifying practical opportunities for adaptation and mitigation of climate change effects in vulnerable populations. Her work cuts across disciplines and sectors to highlight key structural housing improvements and occupant behaviour change strategies for achieving health and environmental co-benefits in low-socioeconomic housing.
Collin Tukuitonga, also known as Sir Dr. Collin Tukuitonga, is a prominent figure in Pacific public health. He has made significant contributions to healthcare improvement, disease prevention, and wellness promotion in the Pacific region. With expertise in medicine, leadership, and policy, he advocates for culturally sensitive approaches, collaboration, and equitable healthcare access.
Dr. Noah Bunkley, a medical doctor and public health registrar, leads the REFLECT project at NZ's College of Public Health Medicine and pursues a PhD at the University of Auckland. He prioritises global health equity, focusing on environmental challenges like climate change and commercial health factors. His Pacific research covers surgical care access and trade agreement impacts on nutrition policy. Beyond work, he enjoys guitar, climbing, and chess. Based in Auckland, he fights global climate change effects.
Jose Antonio is a professor-researcher at Tecnologico Nacional de Mexico/Instituto Tecnologico de Hermosillo for 35+ years, holding degrees in Power Electronics. He served in diverse academic roles, including Director and Head of Graduate Studies. A Senior Member of IEEE societies, he's a recognised Researcher Level I by SNI. Jose leads applied research projects on energy efficiency and focuses on wireless sensor networks for Energy Management and low-power sensors.
Health (cardio-metabolic biomarkers, physical health, mental health, comfort, sleep, physical activity, social connectedness, coping ability) environmental (temperature, humidity, energy consumption) and economic outcomes (heating and cool expenditures, food consumption, productivity, clinic and hospital utilisation) will be collected on the study populations for one year.
We will use wearable smart devices to capture continuous measurements of heart rate, physical activity and sleep. Household surveys, physical examinations, and blood tests will determine the participant’s health and wellbeing outcomes. Arrays of environmental sensors will measure home temperature, humidity, air flow, and roof reflectivity.
Health (cardio-metabolic biomarkers, physical health, mental health, comfort, sleep, physical activity, social connectedness, coping ability) environmental (temperature, humidity, energy consumption) and economic outcomes (heating and cool expenditures, food consumption, productivity, clinic and hospital utilisation) will be collected on the study populations for one year.
We will use wearable smart devices to capture continuous measurements of heart rate, physical activity and sleep. Household surveys, physical examinations, and blood tests will determine the participant’s health and wellbeing outcomes. Arrays of environmental sensors will measure home temperature, humidity, air flow, and roof reflectivity.
A formative qualitative study will provide information on community perspectives on heat, climate change, and cool roof technology. This study will establish the acceptability of cool roofs in the community and form the foundation of our community engagement.
A cool roof mechanism study will be conducted in two houses at each site. We will install an array of sensors to collect data for 12 months to measure the physical impacts of cool roof materials on house characteristics.
A multi-centre, single-blind, pragmatic two-arm, parallel group cluster-randomized controlled trial will be conducted. The trial will consist of 408 houses at each study site followed up for 12 months. A range of health, economic and environmental outcomes will be measured to identify the causal relationship between cool roofs and occupant health and wellbeing.
