Summer is just around the corner, and Chennai homes will soon start feeling like an oven. Roofs trap heat, rooms stay unbearably hot even after sunset, and electricity bills keep rising. For many low-income and vulnerable communities, escaping the heat may be impossible.

It was in this context that IAS officer Supriya Sahu began searching for a solution that could help residents cope with rising temperatures.

Chennai’s intense summer heat last year was making daily life difficult for many households. As temperatures climbed, homes retained heat long after the sun had set. Inside cramped houses, the air remained stifling through the evening and night. Cooling appliances were not always an option for vulnerable communities, and rising electricity bills added to........

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