BHEKISISA: Could a coat of paint help South Africans sleep better as the planet heats?
Could a coat of white paint help South Africans living in scorching shacks sleep better? Researchers are testing whether reflective roof paint can cool homes and improve people’s health as climate change makes our nights hotter. UCT epidemiologist Lara Dugas explains why heat is bad for sleep – and how a simple solution could make a big difference.
Could a coat of reflective white paint on rooftops help South Africans sleep better as the planet warms? Researchers in Cape Town and rural Limpopo are testing whether painting shacks with special reflective paint can cool homes and improve residents' health as climate change causes hotter nights. Lara Dugas, an epidemiologist at the University of Cape Town, explains why warm nights are bad for sleep and how a simple solution could make a big difference.
In South Africa and Ghana, scientists are testing whether this low-cost solution could reduce nighttime temperatures and improve people's sleep quality. The UCT-led study, Habvia, is funded by the Wellcome Trust. In informal settlements like Khayelitsha, where many people live in shacks with corrugated iron roofs that absorb heat, air conditioning is not a viable option for most.
The 2025 Lancet Countdown report found South Africans experienced an average of 13 heatwave days in 2024, with climate change responsible for about eight out of every 10 of those days. However, a small-scale experiment with a potentially big impact could help millions as world leaders gather for the UN climate conference in Turkey.
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