Summer Heatwave: How You Can Adopt A Greener Lifestyle To Cool Down Indian Cities

With the heatwave gripping India, here are some measures that can be taken to help cool down our cities and avoid such hot summers in the near future.

How You Can Adopt A Greener Lifestyle To Cool Down Indian Cities

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Cities, though small in land area, contribute a whopping 70% of carbon dioxide emissions, exacerbating the urban heat island effect. By cutting emissions, we directly combat heat build-up in our cities. (Image Source: Getty)

Sustainable Transportation: Shifting to electric vehicles and beefing up public transport reduces emissions as well as temperatures. For instance, transitioning to electric buses can drastically cut per capita emissions by 70% compared to diesel buses. (Image Source: Getty)

Sustainable Urban Planning: Green infrastructure like rooftop gardens and urban forests helps trap carbon and cool down our cities. Simple fixes like using reflective materials on roofs can bring down temperatures significantly, making cities more bearable during the peak summer months. (Image Source: Getty)

Architectural Innovations: Designing buildings for better ventilation and insulation keeps interiors cool and reduces energy needs. These measures can reduce cooling energy needs by up to 30%. Green roofs, for instance, can bring indoor temperatures down by up to 5°C. (Image Source: Getty)

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Building energy-efficient structures and tapping into renewables like solar power is key to meeting net zero goals. Buildings consume 40% of global energy, so adopting solar panels and smart energy systems not only cuts down emissions but also reduces urban heat. (Image Source: Getty)

Waste Management: Efficient waste disposal and management practices curb methane emissions, which have more than 25 times the impact on climate change compared to carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. By tackling waste effectively, we lower heat generation and contribute to emission reduction efforts. (Image Source: Getty)

Climate Resilience and Adaptation: Making cities resilient to heatwaves and extreme temperatures is crucial for public health and infrastructure. Cooling strategies like reflective materials and planting native vegetation can cut heat-related deaths by up to 75%. (Image Source: Getty)

Inputs by Manit Rastogi, Founding Partner, Morphogenesis (Image Source: Getty)