In the age of globalization and modernization, everything that is western is being followed blindly in India. From food habits to living culture, everything has been dominated by western thinking. Despite being geographically, culturally, economically, or even socially different from these western countries, the world mimics it. But in the form of climate change, the adverse effect of the same has now started to affect normal human life.
Artificial Climate Change in India
The tropical climatic condition of India is attributed to its geographical location. Due to this, the living culture developed over the years is highly influenced by the climate. But globalization induced cultural hegemony of the west has developed into a status symbol and this brainless following has been costing human lives.
Although climate change has been the result of mass consumerism and industrialization of the west but the constant increase in the temperature in India have some sort of different reasons.
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In recent years it has been seen that the Indian cities become heat islands in summer season. The summer becomes unbearable due to the temperature reaching almost 50 degrees Celsius. Leaving the classical cause of the effect, the local reason for this temperature rise is the urban building and planning style on the western line.
Indian cities are full of multi-story buildings and glass façade architecture. The glasses-induced buildings have some basic features like, it allows ample light into rooms, reduces the load of building on the foundation as glasses are lightweight and provide simple solutions for the maintenance of buildings.
But all of the aforementioned qualities are suitable in western temperate climatic conditions as they receive less sunlight and due to this, it becomes compulsory to let the sun rays enter the building to increase the warmth. Indian conditions are different, the sunlight here is sufficient and summer is harsh. There is no need to trap heat by the construction of such glass façade buildings.
The mass construction of such type of buildings becomes dangerous for the environment in summer conditions as the trapping of heat creates an artificial ‘global warming’ conditions in small areas and reduces the albedo effect of the earth ultimately leading to an increase in the average temperature.
This artificial creation of global warming conditions almost balances out in cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, or Bengaluru due to the respective temperate climate but cities like Delhi, Kanpur, Bhopal, or Patna cannot cope-up with the problem because these cities are landlocked and it becomes difficult to transfer heat due to the slow or non-movement of air.
Further, it becomes compulsory to attach ACs in homes and offices to cool down the temperature. Moreover, the use of AC further multiplies the problem because the Hydro fluorocarbon (HFC) gases released by the use of air conditioning and refrigeration units are the most powerful greenhouse gases and they help in increasing global warming which ultimately increases the earth’s temperature.
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What is the solution?
The blind walk resulting in an average rise of temperature can be solved by following the local architecture building style. Most of the homes built on old architecture are adaptive to the local climatic conditions and help in creating natural cooling effect in homes. Also, involvement of ventilation, veranda, multiple windows, rainwater harvesting system, and more importantly the use of natural paints & colors suits the local climate.
Moreover, the best example of this solution is the ancient temple architecture. Every temple built in the ancient architecture style gives a different soothing effect to the body. Despite the warmness of the surrounding area, every such temple provides a cooling effect and doesn’t let in outer heat.
It is now very important for the government to bring a model layout for buildings in the line with local climatic conditions and restrict the use of glass facades in building architecture. The blind following of the West has already cost human lives; if instant action is not taken at the highest level it will be very difficult to reverse the situation.
