As climate change accelerates, rising temperatures and extreme heat events are putting increasing pressure on both urban and rural communities. Settlements that rely on conventional construction, heat‑absorbing materials and active cooling can lock in high energy use and expose occupants to unsafe temperatures, particularly during power disruptions. This leads to higher cooling demand, higher energy consumption, and increased health risks for everyone but particularly the impact is more on vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, outdoor workers and low‑income households. Reducing heat stress across different geographies requires an integrated approach that combines passive cooling solutions, climate‑responsive architecture, efficient technologies, nature based solutions (NbS) such as urban greening, shaded landscapes, water bodies and ecosystem restoration, along  with clean energy use, all tailored to local contexts, climatic conditions and livelihoods.

We support public and private stakeholders in addressing heat risks by developing strategies and solutions that keep indoor and outdoor spaces cooler while reducing energy demand and emissions. Our approach spans settlement- and building-level analysis of heat risks, integrating climate-responsive architecture with nature-based solutions such as tree cover, shaded landscapes, water-sensitive design, and green infrastructure to reduce ambient temperatures and improve microclimates. We promote design strategies that enhance shading and ventilation, along with materials and layouts that minimize heat gain across both dense urban areas and dispersed rural settings. This is complemented by efficient cooling technologies and rooftop solar to support net-zero and resilience goals. Drawing on experience from schools, affordable housing, women’s hostels, and community infrastructure, we facilitate collaborative processes and capacity building to embed heat mitigation into planning, design, construction, and operation.

How we can serve you
We assist governments, cities, rural local bodies and businesses in understanding and mitigating heat risks across buildings and communities. Our services cover a wide range of areas, including:

• Assessing heat exposure, thermal comfort, ecosystem conditions and vulnerability in urban and rural settlements to inform planning and design decisions 
• Supporting the design and application of passive cooling strategies, nature based solutions, architectural techniques and climate-responsive materials for cooler, more resilient buildings and public spaces
• Designing integrated blue‑green infrastructure and nature-based cooling strategies for campuses, industrial sites and settlements to reduce heat stress, manage water, improve biodiversity  and enhance resilience
• Integrating efficient cooling equipment and lighting with rooftop solar and broader net‑zero strategies to reduce energy demand and operating costs
• Developing landscape and urban greening strategies, including tree cover enhancement, shaded corridors, wetlands, permeable surfaces and water-sensitive planning to improve outdoor thermal comfort
• Building capacities of practitioners, contractors, developers and community stakeholders on heat‑aware planning, design, construction and maintenance of cooling solutions and resilient infrastructure.