Telangana Cool Roof Policy [UPSC Notes]

Telangana Cool Roof Policy 2023-28 was launched by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister of the state. In this article, you can learn what the Cool Roof Policy of Telangana is all about, its features and benefits for the IAS exam government schemes segment.

Telangana Cool Roof Policy 2023-28

The scheme aims to make the state more thermally comfortable and heat-resilient by reducing the urban heat island effect and heat stress. Cool roofs reflect sunlight and reduce heat retention in indoor spaces. Telangana becomes the first state in India to introduce a cool roof policy.

Features of Telangana Cool Roof Policy 2023-28:

• Adoption of cool roofs as a measure for building resilience against extreme heat.
• Government and commercial buildings are mandated to have cool roofs.
• Compliance with the policy would be mandatory for occupancy certificates.
• Optional for residential buildings with a plot area of 600 sq yards or less.
• Modest target of covering 5 sq km in Hyderabad and 2.5 sq km in the rest of the state by March 2024.
• Long-term target of 200 sq km in Hyderabad and 100 sq km in the rest of the state by 2030.
• The policy aims to have a cool roofed area of 7.5 sq km in the first year (2023-24) of the five-year policy. By the end of the policy year, a total cool-roof area targeted is  300 sq km in the State including 200 sq km in the Hyderabad agglomerate.
• The policy also aims to save 600 million units of power through the reduced demand for air-conditioning by 2028-29.

What is a Cool Roof?

• A cool roof is a surface that will reflect sunlight back to the atmosphere and can emit any absorbed heat. 
• This reflection of sunlight by the cool roof helps to reduce the temperature inside a building and cuts the power consumption by the air conditioners to cool the interiors.
• The products available for cool roofing are cool metal roofing, coatings, membranes, tiles, terra-cotta tiles and white tiles. 
• Different types of reflective paints are also available in different sizes and prices.

Need for Cool Roof Policy: 

• Studies have shown that the Urban Heat Island effect, which occurs as a result of the absorption of heat by concrete structures and concrete lanes, increases the temperature by 2-4 degrees Celsius.
• The Urban Heat Island effect causes a place to be warmer than surrounding rural areas.
• According to the cool roof policy, cool roofs can reduce inside temperature by 2.1 -4.3 degrees Celsius and this will also subsequently reduce power consumption as the load and demand for air conditioning will also come down.

Benefits of Cool Roofs:

• Reduction of urban heat island effect and heat stress.
• Energy savings due to decreased need for cooling.
• Cost-effective with investment recoverable in less than two years.
• Contribution towards energy conservation and de-carbonisation initiatives.
• Incentivizing the adoption of energy-efficient machines, systems, and electric vehicles.

Implementation and Awareness:

• Self-regulation is emphasized as a key factor for effective implementation.
• Government to implement cool roofs in its housing schemes, offices, roads, pavements, and cycle tracks.
• Sensitization campaigns to create awareness among citizens about the benefits of cool roofs for existing buildings.

Conclusion:

• Telangana’s Cool Roof Policy 2023-28 aims to combat heat stress, reduce energy consumption, and make the state more resilient to extreme heat.
• The policy sets an ambitious yet achievable target for cool roofing in Hyderabad and the rest of the state.
• The adoption of cool roofs is a significant step towards sustainable urban development and environmental conservation.

Telangana Cool Roof Policy:- Download PDF Here