For many Indians, summer has always been a season to endure. But in recent years, something has changed. The heat feels harsher. Nights offer less relief. Stepping out during the afternoon has become an exercise in caution rather than routine.
Ask anyone living in a large city, and they are likely to tell you the same thing: “It wasn’t always like this.” Part of this shift is linked to the broader reality of climate change. However, another factor is quietly amplifying the problem within our urban centres – the way our cities are being built.
Take a drive from the outskirts of a city into its commercial core on a summer evening. The difference is often noticeable. Areas with open spaces and vegetation tend to cool down more quickly, while neighbourhoods dominated by concrete, asphalt, and glass continue radiating heat long after the sun has set. This phenomenon, known as the Urban Heat Island effect, causes cities to become significantly warmer than their surrounding regions. While the term may sound technical, its consequences are deeply personal.
It is the street vendor trying to continue business through an unforgiving afternoon. It is the traffic police officer standing for hours on busy roads. It is the construction worker exposed to direct sunlight for most of the day. It is the family living in a top-floor apartment that turns into an oven every summer. It is also the parent worrying about the electricity bill because air-conditioning has shifted from being an occasional comfort to an everyday necessity.
Heat is no longer just a weather issue. It is beginning to influence health outcomes, household finances, workplace productivity, and the overall liveability of our cities.
India’s urban story makes this conversation especially important. Over the coming decades, millions of people will continue moving to cities in search of better opportunities. Alongside them will come the need for new homes, schools, hospitals, office buildings, factories, shopping centres, and public infrastructure. According to projections, the country’s urban population is expected to reach around 600 million by 2036, making the need for climate-responsive urban planning and resilient infrastructure more urgent than ever. In many ways, this presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
Unlike countries where much of the urban landscape is already established, India is still actively building its future. The choices we make today will shape not only our skylines but also the quality of life of those who inhabit them. Yet, despite knowing that temperatures are rising, many of our buildings continue to be designed as though climate is an afterthought.
Large expanses of glass have become synonymous with modern architecture, even in regions that experience intense solar exposure. Dark roofs absorb and retain heat. Dense developments leave little room for natural airflow. Green spaces are often sacrificed in favour of maximising built-up area.
Also Read: The ₹10,000 crore skills gap: India’s public sector workforce crisis and how to fix it by 2027
The result is a built environment that frequently works against its occupants rather than supporting them. This challenge becomes particularly visible indoors.
Many people assume that the heat problem exists only outside. However, poorly designed buildings often trap heat, making indoor spaces uncomfortable and increasing reliance on mechanical cooling systems. For households, this translates into higher energy bills. For businesses, it means rising operating costs. At a city level, it creates additional pressure on electricity infrastructure. Ironically, our efforts to cool ourselves can sometimes worsen the broader problem.
Air-conditioners are essential during extreme heat events and have an important role to play in protecting health and well-being. But if cooling becomes our only response, we risk entering a cycle where hotter cities require more cooling, greater cooling demand increases energy consumption, and the heat expelled from these systems contributes to warmer urban environments.
Breaking this cycle requires us to rethink a fundamental aspect of urban development: how we design our buildings.
Climate-smart buildings offer one of the most practical pathways forward. The phrase itself can sound intimidating, often conjuring images of highly sophisticated technologies or expensive sustainability features. In reality, climate-smart design is rooted in common sense.
It starts with asking simple questions. How can a building make better use of natural light without increasing heat gain? How can ventilation be improved to enhance comfort? Can materials be selected based not only on cost but also on how they perform in local climatic conditions? Can shading elements reduce direct exposure to the sun? Can landscapes be designed to create cooler microclimates? The answers to these questions often lead to solutions that are both effective and achievable.
Interestingly, many of these principles are not new. Traditional Indian architecture evolved in response to local environmental conditions. Courtyards encouraged air circulation. Verandas created shaded transition spaces. Jaali screens filtered sunlight while maintaining airflow. Thick walls provided insulation against extreme temperatures.
These design features were not aesthetic choices alone; they were practical responses to climate. Of course, today’s cities operate under very different circumstances. Higher population densities, changing lifestyles, and evolving expectations mean that we cannot simply replicate historical models. However, we can certainly draw inspiration from the wisdom they represent.
The future of climate-smart construction lies in combining traditional understanding with modern innovation. Encouragingly, examples of this approach are beginning to emerge.
Across the country, developers are increasingly exploring passive design strategies that reduce energy demand. Some institutions are integrating cool roofing solutions that minimise heat absorption. Corporate campuses are recognising the importance of shaded outdoor spaces and landscape planning. Green building certifications have helped bring sustainability considerations into mainstream conversations around development. These are important steps, but they must move beyond isolated examples.
Across the country, developers are increasingly exploring passive design strategies that reduce energy demand, while institutions are adopting cool roofing solutions and integrating shaded outdoor spaces into their projects. One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding climate-smart buildings is that they are relevant only to premium developments. This could not be further from the truth.
Climate resilience cannot become a privilege reserved for a select few. In fact, some of the most impactful interventions are often the simplest. Improved ventilation, better roofing materials, strategic shading, and thoughtful orientation can significantly improve thermal comfort without dramatically increasing costs.
For low-income communities, such measures can make a meaningful difference in everyday life. For middle-income households, they can help manage energy expenses. For businesses, they can improve operational efficiency and employee well-being. In other words, climate-smart buildings create value at multiple levels.
There is also a strong business case for embracing this transition. The conversation around sustainability has evolved considerably over the past decade. What was once viewed primarily as a corporate responsibility initiative is increasingly recognised as a strategic imperative.
Buildings that perform efficiently tend to have lower operating costs. Comfortable indoor environments can support productivity and occupant satisfaction. Climate-resilient assets may prove better equipped to navigate future environmental risks.
For developers and organisations alike, resilience is becoming synonymous with long-term value. At the same time, meaningful progress cannot happen through the efforts of any one stakeholder group.
Policymakers have an important role in creating enabling frameworks. India has already taken meaningful steps towards climate-smart urban development through initiatives such as the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), Eco-Niwas Samhita for residential buildings, various state-level cooling action plans, and green building certification systems such as IGBC, GRIHA, and LEED. While these frameworks have helped mainstream sustainability in the built environment, the next challenge is ensuring that climate-responsive design becomes the norm rather than the exception. Urban planners must recognise the importance of integrating green infrastructure into city design. Architects and engineers need to prioritise climate responsiveness from the earliest stages of projects. Businesses can lead by investing in resilient assets. Communities themselves have valuable insights into the challenges they face and the solutions that may work best in their local contexts.
The transition towards climate-smart cities will require collaboration. But perhaps the most important shift is one of mindset.
****
Insights shared by: Minal Srinivasan, Managing Director of Kesari Infrabuild Pvt Ltd