A Breath of Cool Air: Tamil Nadu Launches Its First Climate-Resilient School in Chennai

A Cool Revolution Begins in ChennaiIn an inspiring step toward climate resilience, Chennai has launched its first “green and cool school” at the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kizh Ambattur. The initiative, developed in collaboration with the UNEP Cool Coalition, addresses one of the city’s pressing challenges, rising classroom temperatures due to climate change. The school’s 3,206 sq. m roof area across six academic blocks has been coated with high solar-reflective paint (SRI 101) to combat heat accumulation. This sustainable intervention not only cools the learning environment but also sets a national example for integrating climate-smart solutions into educational infrastructure.Promising Early Results and Measurable ImpactInitial findings from the pilot project show a significant reduction in roof surface temperatures by over 5°C, with indoor classroom temperatures projected to decrease by 1.5°C–3°C. These temperature drops translate directly into improved student comfort, focus, and overall learning outcomes, a crucial factor in heat-stressed urban areas. The cool roof technology is also expected to deliver 15–20% more thermal comfort hours and achieve over 10% energy savings. By reflecting sunlight and reducing heat absorption, the intervention contributes to mitigating the urban heat island effect, a major concern for cities like Chennai, where rising heat poses health and productivity challenges.Scaling Up for a Climate-Resilient FutureEncouraged by these early results, the Tamil Nadu Government is preparing to scale up the initiative under its Green School Initiative, targeting 300 schools across the state. This expansion aims to provide thousands of students with a cooler, healthier, and more energy-efficient learning environment. The project underscores Tamil Nadu’s leadership in adopting climate-smart educational infrastructure and aligns with India’s broader commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.Through this forward-thinking collaboration, Chennai’s “cool school” stands as a model for how localized innovation can drive large-scale environmental transformation, ensuring that education remains not only enlightening but also comfortably sustainable.