A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (cRCT) Evaluating the Effects of Cool Roofs on Health, Environmental and Economic Outcomes in Niue

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Other
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Ambient air temperatures in the Pacific have broken record highs in 2024. Solutions are needed to build heat resilience in communities and adapt to increasing heat from climate change. Sunlight-reflecting cool roof coatings may passively reduce indoor temperatures and energy use to protect home occupants from extreme heat. Occupants living in poor housing conditions in the Pacific are susceptible to increased heat exposure. Heat exposure can instigate and worsen numerous physical, mental and social health conditions. The worst adverse health effects are experienced in communities that are least able to adapt to heat exposure. By reducing indoor temperatures, cool roof use can promote physical, mental and social wellbeing in household occupants. The long-term research goal of the investigators is to identify viable passive housing adaptation technologies with proven health benefits to reduce the burden of heat stress in communities affected by heat in Niue. To meet this goal, the investigators will conduct a cluster-randomized controlled trial to establish the effects of cool roof use on health, indoor environment and economic outcomes in Niue.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Healthy Volunteers: t
View:

⁃ Participant criteria:

• Consenting adults aged 18 years and over.

• Expected to be available to participate in the study for at least nine months in the next 12 months.

⁃ Household criteria:

• House has a metal roof.

• House is single-story.

Locations
Other Locations
Niue
University of Auckland
RECRUITING
Auckland
Contact Information
Primary
Aditi Bunker, Dr
aditi.bunker@uni-heidelberg.de
+49 (0) 6221 56-5040
Backup
Noah H Bunkley, Dr
noah.bunkley@auckland.ac.nz
Time Frame
Start Date: 2024-09-04
Estimated Completion Date: 2026-01-31
Participants
Target number of participants: 800
Treatments
Experimental: Intervention
Households will receive sunlight reflecting 'cool roof' coating on their roofs.
No_intervention: Control
No cool roof application. Households will keep their original roofing for the duration of the trial.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Collaborators: Pacific Community, Boston University, The Tindall Foundation, Labfront, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Secretaría de Educación Pública, México, Resene, University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Habitat for Humanity, Heidelberg University, Rutgers University, CogniFit Limited, Indian Institute of Public Health, India
Leads: Aditi Bunker

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov