UV rays are severe in the tropics as a result of global warming heating rooftops how does one overcome dilema

Question

Most homes in the tropics are roofed with clay tile or dangerous asbestos and since of late both material are heating up excessively making the interior of homes equivalent to an incubator or even worse, like a microwave oven as one can feel the radiation within, actually piercing the skin leaving blisters or rupture of the skin in areas of the body exposed to spasms of the radiation of heat. People are painting the rooftops as a remedial measure but doesn't arrest the problem saisfactorily, would someone come up with an inexpensive practical solution OTHER THAN WETTING WITH WATER

Answer 1

aluminum is the quick answer; it can be applied as a foil to prevent the radiation of heat into the structure -- but some engineering is required to keep the foil from degrading in the weather, etc. (and, depending on the sophistication of the locals, to prevent the house from becoming a solar oven).

a long-term solution would be to employ concrete as a construction material, and to insulate it using an inexpensive, low-density material derived from sand (like the "ceramic" used to make the tiles on the Space Shuttle).

with careful engineering, natural ventilation can mitigate against the problem of excess humidity (thus minimizing the health problems associated therewith)

Answer 2

"UV rays are severe in the tropics as a result of global warming"

Wrong. Global warming has NOTHING to do with it!
UV rays come from the Sun and are severe in cold or warm weather the same. More severe at high altitudes, eg., people in Denver get more skin cancer.

"Most homes in the tropics are roofed with clay tile or dangerous asbestos and since of late both material are heating up excessively making the interior of homes equivalent to an incubator or even worse, like a microwave oven as one can feel the radiation within"

You are getting heat, which the UV rays convert into when they hit the roofs, not direct UV rays!

", actually piercing the skin leaving blisters or rupture of the skin in areas of the body exposed to spasms of the radiation of heat."

HUH!?!?

"People are painting the rooftops as a remedial measure but doesn't arrest the problem saisfactorily, would someone come up with an inexpensive practical solution OTHER THAN WETTING WITH WATER"

1. Roof venting to get rid of heat buildup under roofs.
2. Get an AC for the house.
3. Use fans to ventilate.
4. stay in the shade and or build another shade for the roof. eg a tree or make a canvas shade that is above the roof (like a 2nd roof) then the heat wont get to main roof.
5. If you are outside in the tropics on a sunny day, and dont want UV skin damage, wear sunblock.

Answer 3

Not knowing your circumstance - rural or urban - I'll give a couple of suggestions, some easier than others.
Reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the roof is necessary, since there is apparently little insulation below the roof. If you are in a rural situation, then something as simple as throwing some straw or other similar material on the roof to diffuse the suns rays would help prevent the roof from heating up so much, as long as the roof pitch is not steep. Obviously, wind velocity is a factor in this too.
Ventilation of the roof would also help, but that would also require reconfiguring the roofline, which may not be feasible or affordable. It it were affordable, actually changing the pitch of the roof to make it steeper would help considerably, since the suns rays would not be striking the roof directly - much could be reflected off instead of being absorbed.
If you could put insulation between the roof and the inside of the building, that also would help. The thought about painting the roof white would help some, so you were correct in thinking about that, but it solves only part of the problem.

Answer 4

Sadly the cheapest way would be to paint the roof tops white...besides that maybe mirrors, just something that would not conduct heat but will reflect "all" the harmful rays.

Answer 5

Yes sir the globe is warming. I hope you have the sense to realize it is a cyclical moment of our planet. I have lived through 4 volcanoes. I hope you aren't one of the people who think people cause global warming. The volcanoes put out more green house gases than man could in a 100 generations of existence. Please be honest for the sake of the children who read things on this site.