Let’s understand the cool roof policy

The winter is slowly going away, and the heat is already starting to intensify. With the official start of summer approaching, concerns about how the situation will unfold are beginning to arise. In this context, real estate experts are reminding about the Cool Roof Policy related to construction in Telangana. The state government introduced the Cool Roof Policy for residential and commercial buildings in 2023. So, what is the Cool Roof Policy, and what are the benefits it brings to homes and buildings? Let’s understand.

The Meteorological Department has already warned that the heat will be intense starting from March. With rising temperatures, people in cities, towns, and rural areas are expected to face unbearable heat. As a result, there will be situations where people cannot stay in their homes. In such circumstances, the usage of air conditioners to seek relief from the heat has increased drastically. This, in turn, is leading to higher levels of pollution emissions. Not only that, but electricity consumption is also soaring. On the other hand, common people who cannot afford air conditioners are suffering from heat strokes and health issues due to the rising temperatures. To address this, the Telangana government, in 2023, collaborated with Administrative Staff College of India, Natural Resources Defense Council, IIIT, and GHMC to develop the Cool Roof Policy.

The Telangana Cool Roof Policy, formulated in 2023, will be in effect for five years, until 2028. The government has issued orders to implement the Cool Roof Policy for existing homes and buildings, as well as for new residential and commercial buildings. In the state, residential and commercial buildings larger than 600 square yards will be required to mandatorily implement the Cool Roof Policy. The government is considering providing incentives for the implementation of this policy in homes built on plots smaller than 600 square yards.

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The Cool Roof will be mandatory at the time of obtaining building permits. After inspecting the Cool Roof, an occupancy certificate will be issued. This policy will apply to government and private buildings, those constructed by builders, educational institutions, bus stations, bus stops, convention centres, community halls, hotels, resorts, hospitals, clinics, and other such buildings. The policy will also be implemented for double-bedroom houses and Indiramma houses built by the government. IT office buildings, SEZs, retail complexes, shops, malls, function halls, industrial buildings, and several other types of buildings will fall under this policy. The Cool Roof system must be implemented in all of these buildings.

The Cool Roof system significantly reduces indoor temperatures by enhancing the roof’s properties. By making changes in the materials used for the roof with modern technology and employing special chemicals, it is estimated that temperatures can drop by 2 to 5 degrees Celsius. This helps in reflecting solar radiation back into the atmosphere, reducing the amount of heat entering the house.

There are several methods to implement Cool Roofs on already constructed buildings, such as applying cool paint on the roof slabs, laying vinyl sheets, using tiles, growing plants on the roofs, and installing solar panels, all of which help in reducing temperatures. Experts suggest that the maintenance costs for Cool Roofs are minimal. A Cool Roof can be installed at a cost of 300 per square meter. As a result of reduced heat, the usage of coolers, air conditioners, and fans inside the house also decreases. This is expected to save 600 million units of electricity annually in the state, starting three years after the policy implementation.