Riding a crowded bus during the summer months in India can feel like sitting in an oven. It’s a welcome relief to step off the bus and into a bus stop equipped with sprinklers that provide a refreshing mist.
Rising heat is a problem for millions of people in India. In the city of Ahmedabad, temperatures this year have already reached 42 degrees Celsius (107 Fahrenheit). With the help of climate and health researchers, city officials have implemented two simple yet effective solutions to support those most affected by heat.
By painting tin-roofed households with reflective paint, they’ve reduced indoor temperatures, which might be up to 5 degrees Celsius hotter than outside.
More recently, the city hung curtains woven of straw and water sprinklers at one bus stop so commuters can get relief from the sun and heat.
